2022 Hyundai Kona Electric Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
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What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2022 Hyundai Kona Electric, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1568.2%
- Brakes29.1%
- Engine29.1%
- Driver assistance14.5%
- Powertrain (other)14.5%
- Visibility14.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I found a lot of debris of metals contaminated in the gear reduction oil when I changed my gear reduction oil. I had a Vortex oil lug nut, which it sucks all of the metal debris in. I have pictures of that as a proof. I think this is a design flaw that Hyundai should recall, but they didn’t. Now it caused a clicking noise whenever I accelerate or step on the accelerator pedal. Additionally, their are some glitches with their software where it disconnected the wireless Apple car play and the back up camera didn’t show up sometimes whenever I put into reverse.
1. Component or System Failed or Malfunctioned: The primary component that has consistently failed or malfunctioned is the air conditioning (AC) system. The AC unit does not adequately cool the vehicle's cabin, especially in hot weather. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request; it has been previously inspected by authorized Hyundai dealerships. 2. How Safety was Put at Risk: The malfunctioning AC unit poses a significant health and safety risk, particularly due to the presence of a [XXX] infant who frequently rides in the vehicle. Driving in a hot car without effective cooling can lead to heat-related distress for a young child. There is also a concern that this persistent issue may indicate a broader manufacturing defect, potentially warranting a safety recall. 3. Problem Reproduced or Confirmed by Dealer/Service Center: Yes, the problem has been repeatedly reproduced and confirmed by an authorized Hyundai dealership. Paramus Hyundai has examined this specific AC issue on four separate occasions during the last summer, and a fifth visit is now scheduled/imminent. Despite these multiple service attempts, the issue remains unresolved. 4. Inspection by Manufacturer, Police, Insurance, or Others: The vehicle and its AC component have been inspected multiple times by an authorized Hyundai dealer (Paramus Hyundai). The manufacturer, Hyundai Motor America, is aware of this ongoing issue, as evidenced by two formal customer service cases: an older case (Case Number: [XXX]) handled by Customer Service Specialist Raghad, and a more recent, open case (Case Number: [XXX]) handled by Customer Service Specialist Simran. The repeated advice given for the new case is the same as previous attempts, indicating a lack of definitive resolution despite manufacturer involvement through their customer service channels. 5. Warning Lamps, Messages, or Other Symptoms: No specific warning lamps or messages have appeared on the vehicle's dashboard related to the INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving slowly less than 5 MPH into parking stall the vehicle accelerated excessively while trying to brake the vehicle it continued to accelerate and jumped the curb while I was still pumping the brakes to try to get it to stop and the car finally stopped after hitting the front of the establishment building. No collision warning went off at this time as well. I checked the mats to see if they were against the accelerator pedal and they were not.
The car turned into a bricked mode 3 times after I fully charged the car to 100%. The car cannot open or start the engine. The battery was dead or drained somehow. I have to jump start the battery and reset the battery terminals in order for it to work again. Now the braking warning light has stayed on after I reset the battery terminals. I think this 2022 Hyundai Kona EV has some electrical issues that Hyundai need to fix or be aware of.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
There was a parasitic or phantom drain on my 12v battery (after 7 months 6K miles) - DEAD. A dealer service tech determined it to be the Harman Kardon radio (KONA EV Limited). Drained 3 batteries before it was found to be the culprit. Radio on backorder with no sign of ever showing up. Car has been at the dealer long enough to trigger the lemon law in CA. Considering the buyback as I have made two lease payments without the car in my possession6 weeks.
After only having 2300 miles on my 2022 Kona electric I received a warning indicator on my dash, “Electrical system error.” I looked in the manual and was directed to take the car to the dealer. The dealer diagnosed the issue and shared that the battery itself is defective and a new one will need to be ordered. As a result, I began some online research into the issue. It appears that similar issues arose within previous year models, and some even resulted in fires once the battery reached 100%. I also read other stories about how batteries had inconsistent charging rates. I Experienced an issue with inconsistent charging rates prior to the error message but assumed it was simply me not remembering the percentage it was at when initially plugged in. After reading the issues I quickly realized it was not a fluke. I also felt it important to report bc I asked the dealer if they had encountered any other issues with the Kona EV and it’s battery units and they said no. Obviously, this was before I did my own research, and am more very surprised they said they have had no other issues knowing that their copy recalled nearly 100,000 cards recently for faulty batteries.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving slowly less than 5 MPH into parking stall the vehicle accelerated excessively while trying to brake the vehicle it continued to accelerate and jumped the curb while I was still pumping the brakes to try to get it to stop and the car finally stopped after hitting the front of the establishment building. No collision warning went off at this time as well. I checked the mats to see if they were against the accelerator pedal and they were not.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I found a lot of debris of metals contaminated in the gear reduction oil when I changed my gear reduction oil. I had a Vortex oil lug nut, which it sucks all of the metal debris in. I have pictures of that as a proof. I think this is a design flaw that Hyundai should recall, but they didn’t. Now it caused a clicking noise whenever I accelerate or step on the accelerator pedal. Additionally, their are some glitches with their software where it disconnected the wireless Apple car play and the back up camera didn’t show up sometimes whenever I put into reverse.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
During the winter the vehicle does not produce heat. There is a knocking sound from under the dash and only cold air comes out of all the vents. When it was 20 degrees out I measure 35 degree air out the vents over the couse of an hour drive. The car has been to the dealer multiple times for this issues. They have acknowledged the problem and have tried replaing different parts but the problem still occurs. It's very cold in the car when it's below freezing outside and it's difficult to clear the windows of fog, frost, and snow with no heat. The HVAC system will make the knocking sound when turing on the car and sometimes when driving also. Trying to adjust the temperature will sometimes trigger the noise. I feel the knocking sound and lack of hear are related.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .