2019 Hyundai Kona Driver assistance Problems

While stopped our 2019 Kona EV at a traffic light with my foot on the brake, the car spontaneously accelerated and crashed into the car also sitting at the light about eight feet in front of us. If there wasn't a car in front of us, we would have gone through a busy intersection at very high speed. The front end of the car was destroyed and both airbags deployed. The car was towed to a collision center and is considered: "Totaled" . We tried to get it inspected for the computer system to confirm what happened, but there was no interest by any party. There was no pre-warning or issues with the vehicle before this happened. The incident happened about ten miles from our house, and we had been driving it for about 15 minutes. The temperature outside was extremely cold at about 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

NHTSA ID

11718156

Incident

Feb 7, 2026

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. When this happens in city traffic, it has resulted in near misses from vehicles behind and in the lane for which a legal lane change is being made to avoid stopping or slowing traffic in the initial lane. The driver should ALWAYS have such control. When this happens and the car is trying to be accelerated or at least maintain the current speed as the lane change is made, the brakes very aggressively counter the driver’s actions. Since this has happened more than a dozen times, including within the first few months of ownership, information in follow-on fields will use approximate most recent occurrence.

NHTSA ID

11677690

Incident

Aug 1, 2025

The button that sets or changes the speed control broke and no longer provided functionality, requiring replacing the whole right-side steering wheel button control module. This in turn required removing the entire steering wheel, which included removng the driver’s side airbag.

NHTSA ID

11677689

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

Car stalled while stopped in drive or while in park. Forward collision system error warning. Every yellow warning light illuminated. Car would restart and would shift gears up when accelerating but would not shift back down. Tachometer would not move although engine was revving. Park and turn off car. Open door. close door. restart and all lights off and engine runs fine until it stalls again. Repeat process. no accidents. car at 62000 miles. Very dangerous on highway.

NHTSA ID

11651838

Incident

Mar 4, 2025

Driving on the highway [XXX] ) during rain. Traffic moving stop and go slow. Before I knew what had happened, my car hit the back bumper of a Chevy Suburban. My car gave no auto warning, the windshield wipers barely worked, and I believe the electric systems had stopped. Radio and air-conditioning. [XXX] My car bumper and grill were messed up. And I received pain in my right shoulder. The Suburban had a trailer hook-up jammed inside my front bumper grill; my vehicle received all the damage. The other driver's vehicle had no harm. My vehicle damage to the car was over a thousand dollars. And I was left with a shoulder injury. Car insurance paid for the damage to my 2019 Hyundai Kona SUV's all-wheel drive, with me paying a portion. After work was completed, all the electrical systems, including air conditioning, lights, wipers, and radio, didn't work. Fuse work was checked and found, but no power was getting into the system to operate functions that required electricity. The car started up, but the side lights but not the front lights, air conditioning, and the issue of tight steering now. The car tech stated they only installed a new bumper, and the grill did not work on the areas that are now not working. Tech said the lights and wipers were working but are not working now. Driving the vehicle will be limited based on these issues. The fuses appear good, but no power is getting into the box that powers the various items that are not working. I believe this car is a Lemon, and the dealership was aware of these issues and never told me the car had recalls. According to the internet, the tech who replaced my bumper stated that these issues are what the 2019 Hyundai Kona vehicle. Today (7-22-24), I drove my car from the auto shop with a new bumper and with hesitation and fear because the wipers and lights were not working, the air conditioning was out, and it is about to rain. The tech stated they were working earlier but are not working now. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMA

NHTSA ID

11603909

Incident

May 12, 2024

I have two Hyundai vehicles one is a 2018 Tucson and a 2019 Kona. They both broke down at precisely the same time at 109,000 miles. One was the catalytic converter dealership was going to charge $5,000 for repair found a less expensive place to do it for $2,000. i was told by several of the mechanics at both places that it was a common problem. My point is I just paid the vehicle off it was just out of warranty then your stuck with it. Dealership just shrugged it off as maybe you should buy a new vehicle. The second vehicle Kona had some catalytic damage but not enough to replace the crankshaft positioning sensor failed caused the car to basically shut down on the roadway all of the ADAS systems failed. Again dealership was going to charge $2,000 found aftermarket place to do for $1,000. I'm sure nothing can be done for me but I feel it should be documented if people in the industry are telling me this is a familiar occurrence then maybe someone should look into it.

NHTSA ID

11598034

Incident

Jun 1, 2024

My check engine lights come on and then the front collision lights come on which reduces speed while on highway and then the engine turns off making it very unsafe driving on the highway. I have tried to schedule appts with dealerships to have it checked telling them how unsafe it is and I need my car to get to work. But they never have any openings except months down the road. I am afraid it will cause a terrible accident. I have taken my vehicle to repair shops ... some said it was the spark plugs so I got them changed and other maintenance costing me over $800 and the problem still exists ... still trying to get an appt with the dealership which will cost me another $220 just to get it diagnosed. There need to be a recall if it's happening to alot of people. I am very afraid if this issue isn't fixed and it's gonna cost me to repair it in the thousands that I don't have. Someone is going to get into a bad accident because the engine will turn off while driving.

NHTSA ID

11596074

Incident

Jun 23, 2024

For about a month, the car is pausing for a second or two during acceleration. The car was brought for service to Great Lakes Hyundai of Columbus (Ohio) on 12/19/2023. This is diagnosis and remediation that was offered: Needs immediate attention 1 of 5 services Related requested service [Primary]: 10HYZ06 - C/S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECK AND ADVISE: C/S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CHECK AND ADVISE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT - DIAGNOSIS - CUSTOMER STATES THE CAR IS DRIVING ROUGH WHEN CHANGING GEARS, DOES NOT WANT TO ACCELERATE, HAS TO PUT THE PEDDLE ON THE FLOOR. [Other]: Transmission control unit update Speak with your service advisor for more information on this recommended service. There were no warnings. I just noticed to the problem, and it was getting worse.

NHTSA ID

11561487

Incident

Nov 15, 2023

After the recall was corrected, the engine light came on two months later. I noticed the car will not accelerate and now will not start. The engine rumbles on the occasion that it does start.

NHTSA ID

11518614

Incident

Apr 23, 2023

Oil consumption!! No low oil lamp!! Just cuts off. Then there is no oil. The engine can blow up and catch fire!! Having a oil consumption test now. First 1000 miles it's already burned half quart!!

NHTSA ID

11504658

Incident

Jan 31, 2023

Rad bearing defect. Engine needs to be replaced.

NHTSA ID

11494882

Incident

Nov 12, 2022

Driving down the highway going about 65 mph, I get a quick warning that flashed on my screen about the blindspot collision warning, too quick to actually read. Then the car jolts like I hit a giant pot hole, which I haven't, and the gears on my car drop and I am unable to accelerate or change gear until I pull over and turn the car off. This issue has occurred over 5 times and has been reported to Hyundai every time, with no success in getting the issue fixed and it keep occurring. Happened again today friving home on the highway, and now my check engine light is on.

NHTSA ID

11482917

Incident

Sep 5, 2022

1: car stopped abruptly without vehicle lights or warnings , stopped while driving 39 mph without any warning. 2: car engine smoking -fire d/y motor seize and oil leaking 3: motor seized piston bore hole in engine block appears to be of concern with other vehicles same year same model unsafe vehicle

NHTSA ID

11480862

Incident

Jul 17, 2022

After I had the car for about 10 months, the front collision warning system light came on while I was driving 65mph. There was a huge jolt, as if I'd hit something large and metal, and the engine revved as if stuck. I pulled over and found nothing in the road. It was terrifying, and I can't imagine it's safe to have this keep happening. This has happened numerous times now, at different speeds and in all types of weather, and sometimes accompanied by the blind spot collision warning system light. The dealership has kept my car many times, trying to replicate the problem, which they did-once. They replaced the camera and tcu. The car worked fine for a while, but the problem returned, and again, the dealership could not replicate or fix it. I have seen this problem mentioned on Hyundai forums, and it seems we're all having the same experiences with dealerships finding and fixing the issue. I turn the FCW system off every time I start the car, but now the BSCW (which I have also turned off) is coming on and jolting the car. Both warning systems have done this too many times to count at this point. I can't afford a new car and am scared to drive my Kona, but don't have a choice. This is not right and I do not feel safe in this car.

NHTSA ID

11449478

Incident

Feb 8, 2020

CAR LOST SPEED ON GOING UPHILL. TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY FOUND NOTHING RELATED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS RECALL. THE LENGTH OF TIME IT HAS TAKEN TO REPAIR AND THE FACT THAT THEY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO REPAIR THESE PISTON RINGS.

NHTSA ID

11427700

Incident

Jul 7, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI KONA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM SUDDENLY ACTIVATED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND THE DOORS WOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHEN SWITCHING TO THE DRIVE POSITION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. JIM BURKE HYUNDAI (4445 13TH ST NORTH, BIRMINGHAM, AL) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

NHTSA ID

11281003

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

8,000 mi

2019 HYUNDAI KONA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. *LD 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. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TWICE AND ADVISED THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *JS

NHTSA ID

11196351

Incident

Apr 23, 2019