2019 Hyundai Kona Electric Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric most often describe the battery recall (campaign 21V127000 and related campaigns), where replacement parts were reported unavailable and charging was limited while owners waited. Other recurring reports involve fire concerns about the battery, sudden loss of drive or shutdowns, and unexpected acceleration or braking. Where mileage is recorded it is mostly low, from about 1,000 to 70,000 miles, and many complaints do not list a figure.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Battery recall repair delayed or unavailable

   • 41 complaints (76%)
   • median 17,733 mi at 2.4 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2022

   Owners describe waiting for battery replacement or recall parts that dealers said were not yet available, sometimes for months, with no firm arrival date given. Many say their battery charging was limited while they waited, which reduced the distance they could drive, and some describe being offered only a software update in the interim. Some say the dealer could not request a replacement because the manufacturer would reject it, and some say they were told no remedy was planned. Where mileage is recorded it falls between about 7,000 and 21,000 miles, and several complaints describe waits of months for a remedy.

   Recall 21V127000Recall 20V6300004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the battery recall (21V127000) and any battery-management software recall (20V630000) have been completed on this VIN, and whether the charging limit is still in place. Ask the dealer for the current parts status in writing, and keep copies of recall notices and any correspondence about the delay.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “There is a recall on the EV battery system both on the Hyundai site and the ntsb site for this. Hyundai claims there is no such recall. My battery system does not function according to specifications. Hyundai says not to park the vehicle inside due to the possibility of catastrophic fire. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer will remedy the situation. They both deny there is any problem. I purchased the vehicle used from a dealer december 2020.”

   NHTSA complaint #11385986, filed 2021-01, 17,286 miles

   “I left my car with the dealer at the end of August for a repair, and they identified that Recall 200 had to be done. I received a rental car at that time. It is now February and I have still not gotten my car back. I have contacted both the dealer and Hyundai corporate to try to find out what is happened but they just tell me there is no ETA on the replacement part.”

   NHTSA complaint #11451836, filed 2022-02
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Fire risk, burning smell, or burned wiring

   • 15 complaints (28%)
   • median 17,286 mi at 2.3 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2025

   Owners describe concern that the high-voltage battery could catch fire or short-circuit, and some say they were advised not to park the car indoors. Others describe a wire-burning odor when the car warms in cold weather, and a charger plug that fused to an outlet and left the plug and wire burned. Some say the dealer described a software update as removing the fire risk, and they questioned how that could be done without replacing the battery. Where mileage is recorded it falls between about 1,000 and 17,000 miles, and a report describes the burning odor appearing when the car warms in cold weather.

   Recall 21V127000Recall 20V6300001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the battery recall remedy has been completed and what parking or charging guidance the dealer gives for the car. Ask the dealer to check for any burning smell or burned plug and wire at the charging connection, since some complaints describe these.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My vehicle is equipped with battery cells manufactured in the LG Energy Solutions China (Nanjing) plant in which the Anode (Negative) tab can be folded. Thus, this could result in my car catching on fire. I have had my car serviced for updates since March 2020. (Recall 196) As of today, the problem has not been fixed. My dealer tells me they are waiting for the Hyundai headquarters to remedy the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #11426290, filed 2021-07

   “The 2019 Hyundai Kona EV (my vehicle) is a fire hazard. I am not satisfied with Hyundai's current mitigation of limiting our battery (and so our range) to 80% of its capacity. A full battery replacement is planned, but there is no timeline, so it could take 1 year for all I know. 1 year during which I am stuck with 80% of my range (which is not what I purchased) and the potential, however unlikely, that my car is still a fire hazard. I wish Hyundai would do more!”

   NHTSA complaint #11420089, filed 2021-06
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Loss of drive, shutdown, or failure to start

   Mentioned in 7 of 52 sampled complaints

   Owners describe the car losing propulsion while driving, a drive unit or reduction gear that locked up or failed, and a clicking or ticking noise that worsened before sudden loss of acceleration. Others describe a computer short that shut the vehicle down completely on a long trip, and a car that would not go into gear after a battery-management software update. Some cars failed to start or became inoperative after a battery failure, and some were towed to a dealer. Mileage is rarely recorded for these complaints, and the figure given is about 7,000 miles; the failures are described while driving or while parked.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any traction motor or drive unit replacement has been documented, and listen for clicking, ticking, or grinding during a test drive under acceleration and deceleration. Ask the dealer to check the software update and battery service history for any starts or shutdowns that followed those visits.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The vehicle was purchased 11/6/2019. On 1/11/2020 while driving from Oregon to California the main computer shorted out causing complete shutdown of the vehicle. It took the Sacramento Hyundai dealership almost 3 weeks to deliver the vehicle back to me. Since then the vehicle has appeared to run well. However, my faith in taking the vehicle on long drives is at least shaken. Several recall notices have been issued for my vehicle. Most notably is number 200. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11424438, filed 2021-07

   “4/7/21 while in Las Vegas parked at the Venetian Hotel, my 2019 Hyundai Kona EV battery failed causing the vehicle to be inoperative. I am still waiting for Hyundai to replace the recalled EV battery”

   NHTSA complaint #11418256, filed 2021-05
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Owners seek buyback, lease release, or compensation

   • 9 complaints (17%)
   • typically at 2.8 yrs old
   • filed 2021–2022

   Owners describe asking for a buyback or lease release after long battery-recall waits, and some say a buyback was offered but declined. Others say the compensation offered was inadequate, such as a small card, and some cite a state buyback request as the next step. Mileage is not recorded in these complaints, which describe buyback or lease requests after waits for the battery remedy.

   Recall 21V127000

   What to check: Ask whether the battery recall remedy has been completed before buying, and check the service records for any buyback, lease, or compensation offers. If you are considering a lease transfer or a trade-in, ask in writing about the remedy timeline and any outstanding recall work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Hyundai has a recall on my vehicle due to battery safety issues. They have reduced my battery storage to 80% capacity and this limits my ability to travel unless I stop for extended periods to recharge my battery. The only compensation they have provided was a $200 visa card, which is incredibly inadequate, for the time and money this is costing me. I've been without full battery capacity for over a month now.”

   NHTSA complaint #11415523, filed 2021-05

   “I was directed by Jennifer Kruger at the NHTSA to complete this form. My 2019 Hundai Kona EV is part of the EV battery recall. On August 27, 2021, my local dealer took my car while waiting for a replacement battery. I do have use of a rental vehicle. I've reached out to Hyundai Customer Service many times in an attempt to find out when my care will be fixed and returned to me. I've not been able to get any answers. My car is 17 months old and they have now had it for over 4 months. That is unacceptable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11446867, filed 2022-01
5. 5
   Brakes

   Sudden acceleration, unexpected braking, or stiff steering

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 70,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2025

   Owners describe the car accelerating on its own from a stop or while slowing for a parking maneuver, and a report says the brake pedal did not stop the vehicle. Others describe automatic emergency braking that engaged without an immediate collision threat, including on a highway with vehicles slowing ahead. A report describes steering that became stiff without warning at low speed, leading to loss of control. Where mileage is recorded it falls between about 6,000 and 70,000 miles, and the sudden braking or acceleration events are described at low speed from a stop as well as on a highway.

   Recall 20V748000

   What to check: During a test drive, check that the accelerator and automatic emergency braking respond normally from a stop, and ask whether brake-system recall 20V748000 has been completed. Ask the seller for any warning lights, service records, or collision reports involving braking, acceleration, or steering.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Automatic emergency braking activated unexpectedly while driving in a highway. Vehicles ahead were stopped or slowing down and I was starting to brake and the car activated the emergency braking bringing the car to a complete stop even though there was not immediate danger of collision, there was more than a car space between my car and the stopped car. The car behind me had to veer off the road not to hit me. A similar situation happened twice before.”

   NHTSA complaint #11300587, filed 2020-01, 6,000 miles

   “I started directing the car to the side of the road to park. As I was guiding the car to a stop, with my foot on the brake, I was about 12 ft. from the car in front of me when the car suddenly accelerated. The vehicle accelerated for approximately 10 ft. before the anti-collision system auto-braked the car just prior to impacting the car in front of me.”

   NHTSA complaint #11547485, filed 2023-09

Buying note. A buyer considering a 2019 Kona Electric may want to confirm that the battery recall remedy, including any battery replacement, has been completed on that VIN, and to check for open recalls before purchase. Asking for records of battery and battery-management software updates, and of any warning lights, drive problems, or shutdowns in the service history, can help set realistic expectations.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 52 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.