10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
6,263 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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problem #14

Apr 032023

Kona

  • miles
Car stalled while driving. This happened 5 times in a 5 day period. 2 times while crossing traffic. Oil was checked and found to have less than 1 quart of oil. No low oil level warning light came on.

- Old Lyme , CT, USA

problem #13

Feb 252023

Kona

  • miles
Oil change was on 1/13/2023 at 33,505 miles. On 2/25/2023 at 35,366 miles after driving on the highway for about 30 mins at 65 mph, the oil light came on and car was making a loud noise as I pulled in to park. My car was parked for about 1.5hrs at my destination. I attempted to drive home and get back on the highway when my engine stalled at about 40 mph and my engine and battery light came on. I had to pull over to the shoulder as my car would not drive anymore. My car was then towed to my house and later to the hyundai dealer where they determined that my engine stalled due to lack of oil because my drain plug was missing. Hyundai refuses to fix this under warranty because the drain plug is missing and they are insisting this is because of the oil change place I went to nearly 2 months ago. When I went to the oil change place, they insist that they didn't do anything wrong, and if they did incorrectly put the drain plug on, my oil would've leaked much sooner than it did. There is currently and investigation with NHTSA with my exact issue where the oil drain plug still falls out, even if the person performing the oil change puts the drain plug on exactly how it should be. Directly from the NHTSA site: "Apparently, the thin metal, along with engine vibrations and expansion/contraction tend to loosen the drain plug without any other intervention. NHTSA is investigating this as a factory defect issue." My safety was deeply put at risk as I was driving on the highway when this happened and I could've easily gotten into an accident and faced injuries. I'm stuck in the middle as the oil change place denies it is their fault and hyundai refuses to fix under warranty strictly because the oil drain plug is missing. When I explained to them that I would've have this issue with my engine if the drain plug was present, they agreed. They are stating that it is $10,000 to repair my car and that I have to pay upfront and cannot do multiple payments

- Katy, TX, USA

problem #12

Oct 072022

Kona

  • miles
This Hyundai Kona SE 2018 model comes with a key start and we are not getting recalls for a free fix with an engine immobilizer. Hyundai dealership is asking me to pay more than 800 dollars in installing thier fix which they caused. Even our family 2006 Corolla has the simple engine immobilizer chip on the key. Please help us.

- Mount Prospect, IL, USA

problem #11

Jun 062022

Kona

  • miles
Vehicle engine randomly stalls when slowing down, at intersections, and while driving down the road in traffic. The lives of my children and I were directly put at risk by narrowly avoiding collisions due to the engine stalling. There are multiple lights that come on when engine stalls including the check engine light, and a car with a key, as well as several others. I have contacted the manufactures due to other vehicles of the same make model and year being under a recall for the exact same issue of engine stalling. Manufacturer is failing to acknowledge that the engine stalling is a serious safety concern, as seen in the same make model and year model vehicles. Manufacturer unwilling to help reconcile issues without me paying upfront for towing, repairs, and getting my own rental/loaner vehicle. I was referred to a dealership who told me it was my responsibility to ensure that the vehicle made it to them for an inspection, no towing, no loaner or rental vehicles. I am approximately 8 hours away from home at this time and unable to drive the vehicle at this time. Reference number for call with manufacturer. Reference for call #19850095

- Alexandria , LA, USA

problem #10

Feb 212022

Kona

  • miles
I purchased my Hyundai Kona SEL 2.0 new. I have maintained this vehicle exactly by owner's manual using only synthetic oil. This auto ran good for 110000 miles with no indicator lights present on the dashboard. After a personal trip I began to experience stalling issues without any warning or indicator lights or messages. This auto stalled a total of 10 times without warning almost causing rear end collisions. I just barely got the vehicle home. When I just made it into my driveway a loud noise emitted from engine and auto then stalled again. Next day my mechanic came over who is ASE certified. He proceeded to hook up a computer to check for codes. No codes were present in its history or report. I cannot drive this vehicle safely on the highway and it sits idle in my driveway. I phoned dealer and response by Major Hyundai of Stroudsburg PA where I purchased vehicle new was sorry there are so many people ahead of you and we are having parts problems. We have no loaner vehicles available, and we cannot even look at your vehicle until March 16th. This would be 19 days after my call to bring auto in for service. There is no way a person should have this type of problem with an automobile when records and service were followed per manual for the mileage indicated. Technical Service Bulletin # 21-EM-004H sent to dealerships indicates this model may need Bearing Clearance Test Procedures to be performed on the engine. I was never notified by dealership or Hyundai Motors of this adjustment when published March 2021. NHTSA ID # 11430714 describes the exact same problems my vehicle is experiencing by another consumer. I am requesting remedy by the dealership and respectfully ask that this problem be addressed in an orderly fashion. I am now out transportation with a vehicle I owe two- and three-quarter years payment

- Albrightsville, PA, USA

problem #9

Nov 192021

Kona

  • miles
-On numerous occasions my map on display enlarges itself on the screen all on it-€™s own. The only way this can occur is if I touch the screen and enlarge it myself with my finger. -My volume in settings were changed within a minute. I selected all settings to level 38 and then when I returned to the screen they had been changed. (See screenshot). This occurrence has happened so much, that I-€™ve lost count. -Furthermore, they have bypassed my key fob and have gained access to the inside of my vehicle. One would think that they would steal my vehicle, but instead, leave white marks all over my screen, pull up the break, turn on the windshield wipers and lights. Upon entering my vehicle, I notice these have are turned on when I know I always turn them off upon exiting and turning off my vehicle.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #8

Aug 072021

Kona 4-cyl

  • miles
I have owned the car for a little over a month, full warranty still on car. Two weeks into owning I noticed the steering wheel would effect the navigation, radio, camera...the console would go into a loop and keep restarting. Took in for service, the stated they would order a part. Saturday, August 7th, I was looking for a parking space in the Publix that is less than 1/2 mile from my home. As I was turning into the next lane at, approx 2 miles per hour if that, to find a space, the steerring held tight to the right, I felt the car lurch forward and accelerated and a turbo speed. I tried the brakes, they failed, I was not able to turn the steering wheel. I accelerated at a high speed from 2mph to whatever impact was slamming into a parked car. Had anyone been putting their groceries in that car, or standing in the way of my out of control vehicle they would be dead. I have a witness statement. My car is totaled. My car, turned into a monster and would not stop nomatter what I did. Insurance inspected. I already stated the issue I took the car into prior to the accident, which was pending service. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do you the right thing and get these cars off the road. I contacted the manufacturer and filed a complaint, no response. I have researched this and HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS of complaints describing the same the same thing. I am 48, been driving since 16, zero accidents as an adult, clean driving record, purchased new cars and driven for at least 10 years... this this is the first used car I purchased, and from Hyundai that I have ever purchased. I owned this car a little over a month before the accident. I have reasearched this online, and see this is NOT an uncommon problem in Hyundai or other cars. WHY ARE YOU NOT GETTING THESE CARS OFF THE ROAD"???"

- Alpharetta, GA, USA

problem #7

Oct 112020

Kona

  • 32,000 miles
When going from gas to brake, even at low speed the car lurches forward, even after the brake is compressed. I have been in two crashes now with the same car tis has happened. I see that in australia, over 4000 of the same cars were recalled for this issue. Two years ago I crashed into a tree. This morning I crashed into my garage door and demolished it.

- Jupiter, FL, USA

problem #6

Aug 072018

Kona

  • 14,000 miles
Car antenna broke off while driving on the interstate. Possible projectile that can cause an accident. Airconditioning system in the car smells like mildew. Possible prolong exposure that can cause a health hazard. It only happens when the car starts every time.

- Hollywood, FL, USA

problem #5

Apr 052019

Kona

  • 12,676 miles
When car she starts car and in morning and night, when I puts in gear and and steps on gas the headlights flicker off and on until she gets on road about a mile. Had this check at Hyundai dealer and they said nothing is wrong but it still continue to do this. This could be hazard when I drive in the dark.

- Sebastian, FL, USA

problem #4

Mar 282019

Kona

  • 5,000 miles
Blind spot warning ⚠️ appeared like this for about an hour. The system turned off for no reason at 5000 miles, this has never happened before or since. I was in cruse control but this was not affected. The system came back online by itself an hour later. I tried repeatedly to get it to come back on myself but it did not work. Clear weather, no traffic or other issues. I was driving on the highway.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #3

Nov 052018

Kona

  • 1,317 miles
Fca warnings come on when only northbound on the causeway in Louisiana. Happens daily

- Ponchatoula, LA, USA

problem #2

Nov 102018

Kona

  • 11,442 miles
3rd time now concerning bcw (blind collision warning) shutting off at highway speeds, no grime/mud/snow/bad weather to be the blame. The system just shuts down automatically leaving a orange safety triangle illuminated on dash. Button was never touched even if it was there would again be no error message and triangle. This time system stayed shutdown for longer than 15 min mileage 11442 9-10-18. This has become more of nuisance and major safety concern.

- Richland, WA, USA

problem #1

Nov 042018

Kona

  • 11,246 miles
Bcw (blind collision warning) now for the second time about 3000 miles apart from the first time at 8960 and now at 11246 automatically shut off while driving in perfect weather, no grime or mud anywhere near or on the sensors in rear bumper. Turns off warning triangle turns on for approx 15 minutes then turns on leaving without any warning.

- Richland, WA, USA