Hyundai · Kona · 2019
2019 Hyundai Kona
1
Recall
173
Complaints
5/5
Safety Rating
The 2019 Hyundai Kona has 1 recall and 173 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 5 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (88 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2019 Hyundai Kona page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is engine with 88 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2019 Hyundai Kona currently shows 1 NHTSA recall listed on this page and 173 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 5/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are engine (88), unknown or other (10), power train (7).
- Vehicle
- 2019 Hyundai Kona
- Recalls
- 1
- Complaints
- 173
- Safety Rating
- 5/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
13.6% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: StandardLane Departure Warning: Standard
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 21V301000April 28, 2021
ENGINE
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.
Remedy Status
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 August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Owner Complaints
173 totalENGINE
Apr 8, 2026
Last week just driving to school, my engine started to knock. So the next day we take it to a local mechanic shop and it exploded while they were test driving it and they diagnosed it with rod bearing failure. So I contact Hyundai and get it towed to the Hyundai dealership for th...
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ENGINE
Apr 7, 2026
My 2019 Hyundai Kona is equipped with a 2.0L Nu MPI engine covered under Recall 203 (NHTSA Campaign 21V301) for defective piston oil rings. The recall inspection was performed and closed at a Hyundai dealership in September 2023. The engine was passed and not replaced. Following ...
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AIR BAGS
CRASH1 injuryMar 20, 2026
I am reporting this for my daughter, [XXX] , while she's recovering on pain meds. She is the owner and driver of the car. no passengers in this 1-car accident. the weather and road conditions were terrible. car skidded of side of road into a ditch. When the airbags deployed, ...
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ENGINE
Mar 13, 2026
Vehicle struggling to accelerate and rolling back when brake is not being used. It stays at a few miles per hour even with full pressure on the gas pedal. A mechanic reviewed and stated the problem was due to low compression in the engine, causing the pistons to misfire. This i...
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ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Feb 10, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle, with the low engine oil warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while checking the dipstick, the contact became aware ...
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES
CRASH3 injuriesFeb 7, 2026
While stopped our 2019 Kona EV at a traffic light with my foot on the brake, the car spontaneously accelerated and crashed into the car also sitting at the light about eight feet in front of us. If there wasn't a car in front of us, we would have gone through a busy intersection...
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UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 28, 2026
Attempted to sound horn when driver ahead of me crossed lanes at roundabout. Horn did not work. No warning messages appear on dashboard indicating an issue. Inspected the horn fuse in engine compartment and found it to be functional. Vehicle has not yet been taken for repair.
ENGINE
Jan 20, 2026
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was shutting down while on the way to work, with a knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact associated the failure with N...
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ENGINE
Jan 16, 2026
I was traveling on the interstate when my car began to slow down and the RPMs kept going up. I pulled over on the side of the highway and turned the motor off. I waited 10 minutes and started the car again thinking it was just a misfire. The motor began making weird noises and...
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ENGINE
Dec 26, 2025
Vehicle started to stall at low RPMs. While idling at red lights, engine would stall and go into limp mode. All safety features, such as forward collision would stop working. Car would need to be turned off and restarted for a temporary fix. No engine lights would come on. Car in...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 173 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2019 Hyundai models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
More Hyundai Kona Years
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2019 Hyundai TucsonAnother 2019 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.1r359c2019 Hyundai ElantraAnother 2019 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.1r235c2019 Hyundai Santa FeAnother 2019 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.2r183c2019 Hyundai SonataAnother 2019 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.146c2019 Hyundai VelosterAnother 2019 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.2r41c2019 Hyundai AccentAnother 2019 Hyundai option for same-year comparison.1r29c
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2019 Hyundai Kona have?
The 2019 Hyundai Kona has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
NHTSA has received 173 owner-reported complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Kona.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
The 2019 Hyundai Kona received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2019 Hyundai Kona are engine (88 reports), unknown or other (10 reports), power train (7 reports).
Does the 2019 Hyundai Kona have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2019 Hyundai Kona. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.