2019 Hyundai Kona Problems, Recalls & Reliability
245 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2019 Hyundai Kona, alongside 1 recall campaign and 2 defect investigations. It scores 100/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 70,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2019 Hyundai Kona sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings.
Avoid
Where 2019 sits among all Kona years
What owners report
“While driving, oil began to pour into the exhaust system and the engine stopped starting”— owner report to NHTSA, 2019 Kona
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 66 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 37,437 miles. Half of those reports fall between 8,000 and 94,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (1)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 22V063000.
Technical service bulletins
91 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2019 Hyundai Kona. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2019 Hyundai Kona reliable?
The 2019 Hyundai Kona drew 245 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 100/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2019 Hyundai Kona problems?
The top reported problems for the 2019 Hyundai Kona are engine (136 complaints), electrical (22), and other (20).
At what mileage do 2019 Hyundai Kona problems show up?
Owners most often report 2019 Hyundai Kona problems around 37,437 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 8,000 and 94,000 miles.
Does the 2019 Hyundai Kona have recalls?
1 recall campaign applies to the 2019 Hyundai Kona. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.