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2019 Hyundai Kona Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2019 Hyundai Kona carries 1 open NHTSA recall — most recently covering engine. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Recall 21V301000 remedy parts unavailable.” Hyundai's owner's manual splits service into Normal and Severe schedules. Most US drivers qualify as Severe due to short trips, extreme temperatures, or stop-and-go traffic. Hyundai Assurance covers the first 3 years / 36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance on new vehicles. The Theta II 2.0L and 2.4L engines (2011-2019) are subject to TSBs around oil consumption — strict adherence to oil intervals matters.

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1 Open Recall

Source: NHTSA

ENGINE

Campaign #21V301000 · Apr 28, 2021

Issue: 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.

Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.

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 August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

Recall data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2019 Hyundai Kona.

Reported to NHTSA

Recall 21V301000 remedy parts unavailable

ENGINE

11 NHTSA complaints · 2021-06 → 2022-01

“The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11435681
“The recall for my 2019 Hyundai Kona was issued 28 Apr 2021. It is now the middle of July 2021. How long should Hyundai owners need to wait for a remedy? I feel unsafe even driving this vehicle knowing it could possibly blow up”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11424378
“The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11429706

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Transmission hesitation on acceleration

POWER TRAIN

12 NHTSA complaints · 2018-12 → 2025-12

“This is my 2nd Hyundai Kona - the first had slippage in the DCT (dual clutch transmission) which the dealer adjusted for me”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11499070
“WHEN I COME TO A SLIGHT UPHILL INCLINE, SLOW DOWN WITHOUT FULLY STOPPING, AND THEN ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE, THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FEELS AS IF IT IS IN NEUTRAL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11290290
“A COUPLE HUNDRED MILES AFTER PURCHASING A NEW KONA, I HAD STARTED HAVING ACCELERATION ISSUES GOING FROM A DEAD STOP INTO FIRST GEAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11340900

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Rear door and trunk latch failure

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

5 NHTSA complaints · 2024-03 → 2026-02

“The rear left passenger will not open. The dealer thinks it is a faulty door latch actuator ($530 parts and labor)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11720849
“The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the front passenger’s door latch did not unlatch as intended”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11662267
“My rear passenger door and trunk will not unlock. The rear passenger door will not unlock from the inside or via the key fob”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11574849

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall and oil consumption from piston ring defect

ENGINE

118 NHTSA complaints · 2020-07 → 2026-07

“The vehicle suffered a sudden, severe loss of power while driving, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly. This created an immediate hazard to myself and other motorists on the road”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11750800
“I am reporting a recurring safety issue involving engine stalling in active traffic due to excessive oil loss and internal component failure”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11702467
“The vehicle has been consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, approximately one quart every 1,000 miles”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11692439

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Forward collision system false activation

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

7 NHTSA complaints · 2019-04 → 2025-08

“On multiple occasions the emergency braking system has engaged while making a lane change because the collision warning system thinks the vehicle is getting to close to the vehicle being passed”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11677690
“THE CONSUMER STATED THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. THE SYSTEM DOES NOT RESPOND TO SPEED LIMITS, DOES NOT ALARM, DOES NOT DISPLAY PICTURES, AND DOES NOT APPLY ANY BRAKING FORCE TO AVOID A CRASH”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11196351
“THE CAR BREAKS DOES NOT GET APPLIED INTERMITTENTLY, I HAD A FORWARD COLLISION. THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE / WARNING DID NOT WORK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11315334

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbag non-deployment or deployment injury

AIR BAGS

5 NHTSA complaints · 2019-11 → 2026-03

“When the airbags deployed, the plastic frame on the drivers side A-pillar broke and exploded out towards the driver”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11726951
“The air bags didn’t deploy”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11547336
“I was in a bad wreck on November 15th 2021 about 8pm I have pictures of car and air bags did not deploy was wondering because I thought as much damage they should have”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11440742

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 2 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 3,750 mi

Severe service: every 3,750 miles. Normal service: 7,500 miles. Theta II 2.0L/2.4L (Sonata, Santa Fe, Tucson 2011-2019): never extend — oil consumption issues are documented in Hyundai TSBs.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 7,500 mi

Rotate tires every 7,500 miles. AWD Tucson and Santa Fe owners benefit from rotation at 5,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, calipers, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Elantra and Sonata front pads typically last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 24 months. Required to maintain ABS and ESC pump life.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles. Severe service or dusty conditions: 15,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Severe service: every 30,000 miles. Normal: 60,000 miles. Use Hyundai SP-IV or SPH-IV — substitutes can cause harsh shifting and torque converter damage.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on Theta II, Lambda II, and Smartstream engines. 1.6T (Veloster N, Kona N): 60,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 30,000 mi

Hyundai Long-Life Coolant (pink): first change at 60,000 miles, then every 30,000. Do not substitute green or orange coolant — it damages the cylinder head gasket on GDI engines.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on most Hyundai models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect serpentine belt and tensioner every 60,000 miles. Replace at 90,000 miles on most models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

21 crashes 1990–2024

How the 21 occupant deaths break down

14

driver deaths

7

passenger deaths

21

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2019 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

11

complaints mentioning a crash

4

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2019 Hyundai Kona reflects Hyundai's published service intervals and the Service Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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