2023 Hyundai Kona N

The knock sensor on the engine fails when exposed to any amount of water. The car is designed in a way that lets on too much. It’s something that is VERY common amongst owners of these vehicles. It’s a safety flaw that needs to be fixed because it puts the car in “limp” mode. That makes the car instantly halt acceleration. Please hold Hyundai accountable

NHTSA ID

11576498

Incident

Feb 21, 2024

After washing my '23 Kona N in a hand car wash, I experienced a sudden, complete loss of power as I was pulling into traffic immediately afterwards, nearly resulting in a rear-end collision. There was a flashing check engine light (CEL or MIL) on the dash, and I had to have the vehicle towed to a dealership. The stored OBD-II code is P132600 (knock sensor). The car has only 16k miles on it. This is a KNOWN ISSUE, and there are complaints about it all over Reddit, Facebook, and other Internet sites, and it also affects the same generation Elantra N. This issue can occur ANY TIME THE VEHICLE GETS WET. It is unacceptable that simply washing my car or driving my vehicle in the rain can cause me to lose all power and create an unsafe driving condition. PLEASE compel Hyundai to address this safety issue with a recall.

NHTSA ID

11576357

Incident

Mar 7, 2024

Car tends to jerk and almost jump when first pulling out of almost anywhere. Seems to have happened with other people with the same car. When you turn after pulling out sometimes, the car will jump and the suspension sounds like it’s jumping. The particular issue makes it hard to steer and can easily make the car lose control for anyone not experienced.

NHTSA ID

11557297

Incident

Nov 28, 2023

I took my vehicle through a touch free car wash. After the wash the vehicle sat for about 10 to 20 minutes while I dried off the exterior and cleaned out my interior. After leaving the car wash the car made it less than a mile down the road and illuminated a flashing check engine light with a P132600 code implying a connection rod failure detected by the knock sensor. As of time of reporting the vehicle is still waiting to be serviced by the dealership as it is still under warranty. Safety can be impacted as the vehicle will immediately go into limp mode, throttling performance.

NHTSA ID

11544297

Incident

Sep 9, 2023

This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2026 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update Key Improvements and Additional Improvements tables in this TSB for a list of specific changes. The software can be downloaded via Navigation Updater (NAU) and updated by USB.

Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the PDW sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. This condition may be a result of external damage to the PDW sensor membrane or sensor cover from rock chips or road debris, a collision, or previous vehicle repairs or modifications.

Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this procedure should only be performed when deemed necessary based on inspection and diagnosis of the vehicle as outlined in TSB 26-EM-015H, Engine Oil Consumption – Inspection & Repair Guidelines, or the latest revision.

Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and maintenance history. Hyundai recommends following the prescribed maintenance schedule and periodically checking the engine oil level using the dipstick to maintain proper engine oil level.

This bulletin provides information related to a Transmission Control Unit (TCU) software update for some vehicles equipped with an 8-speed wet dual clutch transmission (8WDCT). The software update revises the touch point learning variation, improving drivability and judder symptoms. Certain 8WDCTs (indicated by a new part number) received an updated clutch spring. The correct TCU software update must be matched with the correct corresponding 8WDCT hardware, otherwise, drivability concerns may occur. This service procedure should be performed prior to any 8WDCT replacements done for drivability/judder concerns.

This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2026 1st Navigation Map and Software Update Key Improvements and Additional Improvements tables in this TSB for a list of specific changes. The software can be downloaded via Navigation Updater (NAU) and updated by USB.