RoadVitals

2021 Hyundai Kona Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest May 1, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
10%
of 113 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2021 Hyundai Kona submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistance
Filed May 1, 2026

The automatic emergency braking system brakes way too hard causing the car to stop too fast and risks causing a rear end collision. This is not fixed by adjusting settings. It is a common complaint and the system needs to be calibrated to brake more smoothly.

NHTSA ID
11735057
Incident
Apr 30, 2026
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 11, 2026

The Blind Spot Collision Warning (BSCW) light comes on 10 minutes into a drive (we live in a rural area and drive two lane roads for at least 25 miles before multiple lanes). I have had the car in for service on the system twice before learning that this is built into the system. Others are having the same problem, (see the two Hyundai Kona forum links below). I've spent about $600 trying to solve a problem Kona already knows existed (see p. 5-52 of the 2021 Kona owner's manual). Of course I hadn't read the entire manual, but I feel the service technicians should have. I will attempt to put a more detailed description in the files below. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11710179
Incident
Apr 10, 2025
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 5, 2025

There has been a continuous popping noise on the right side of the vehicle near the tire like it’s an axle or something with the suspension. It has been checked and I was told it was normal. The horn will stop working along with the radio and other components in the car. The forward front accident component will say I’ve been in an accident when I have not even been near a vehicle. This has happened on several occasions. I don’t have all specific dates.

NHTSA ID
11665015
Incident
Jun 4, 2025
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Dec 11, 2024

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle started accelerating slowly. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was an abnormal dinging sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced, and the vehicle was experiencing excessive oil consumption. The mechanic recommended additional testing. The contact declined the additional diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.

NHTSA ID
11630098
Incident
Oct 1, 2024
Mileage
35,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 12, 2024

The 2021 Kona SEL PLUS AT AWD suddenly changed into the manual low gear and abruptly stalled in traffic. The Kona was stopped at a traffic light. When the traffic light turned green and the car was driven, the Kona's transmission seemed to switch into the manual low gear creating a high RPM. After it crossed the intersection, the Kona stalled and stopped abruptly in traffic. Shortly thereafter, the car was restarted and it went back to driving normally. The Kona was taken to the dealership but they could not find any code. So they say without a code, they can not do anything. This is a serious safety problem. I have a video of the incident. I have contacted HyundaiUSA and they will not do anything without a code.

NHTSA ID
11565025
Incident
Oct 27, 2023
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 19, 2023

the bcw tends to go on every time the vehicle is driven on a rural two way road to town, approx. less than 20 miles. been to dealership for the problem with the bcw ,paid for diagnostic and scanned for codes ,none apparent.the dealership did minimal calibration without realalinig the sensor. the vehicle will automatically downshift causing the vehicle lurch which is totally unsafe.this began at 6000 miles.no obstructions to sensors as per dealer inspection.a brand new suv awd never been offroad ,or any collision whatsoever.reading forums leads me to believe it occures quite often to this particular vehicle.i called the local global representative and have a case number of 21601680, i thank you for your prompt response to this issue.

NHTSA ID
11527785
Incident
Aug 30, 2022
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 24, 2023

My car has approximately 14,000 miles on it and was purchased brand new. It still has 1,000 miles to go before the next servicing. Saturday I when driving approximately 40 miles an hour, the engine suddenly cut off and the car stopped in the middle of the road. I was able to start the car and drive for approximately 15 minutes before it slowed to 3mph and shut off again. I called the dealership where I purchased it and explained what happened. Initially they said they had not serviced the car in a year. I let the car sit for a day then checked all the fluids. The coolant level was fine and so was the oil. Monday, it cut off twice on my way to work. I drove to the nearest dealership and left it there. I had to rent a car as no loaners are available. It has been at the dealership for 5 days. They thought they fixed but when they test drove it, the car cut out again. Later that day, I received an email from Hyundai Blue link with an Automatic DTC Notification that a possible condition has been detected with my Engine Control System.

NHTSA ID
11508959
Incident
Feb 18, 2023
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 10, 2023

Vehicle will not go out of 3rd gear when on the interstate. The vehicle will go pass the redline and hit the fuel cut off and will not accelerate. Have to slow the car down and attempt to speed up again. Vehicle has almost been in accident multiple times due to almost being rear ended because can not get the vehicle up to speed.

NHTSA ID
11506590
Incident
Nov 20, 2022
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 9, 2022

I’ve had this car since end of September 2021. The blind spot monitor on the right side of the vehicle lights up and beeps at random times, even when there is nothing in the blind spot itself. Happens mostly while driving on the highway.

NHTSA ID
11463808
Incident
May 8, 2022
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 8, 2021
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

The contact’s father owned a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while her father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was stuck and the seat belt did not lock the contact’s father into his seat during impact. The vehicle crashed into a traffic light pole, went uphill, and then flipped before stopping. The air bags deployed, but the steering wheel air bag caught fire. The contact’s father was able to exit the vehicle. The contact’s father suffered fractured back, chest, ribs, and lumbar spine injuries, as well as head injuries with a brain bleed. The contact’s father was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a police tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable.

NHTSA ID
11443128
Incident
Dec 8, 2021
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 2, 2021
Crash reported

We bought the car in July and owned it 70 days and 1,530 miles. The Automatic Emergency Breaking engaged several times without any reason. Sometimes at lower speeds <40 and sometimes on the freeway >60. The last time was at 20 mph in a school zone and we were rear ended because of the unexpected stop. We had several near misses on the freeway, but the cars behind us managed to avoid us. The car has severe damage to the bumper, tailgate and Blind Spot warning, parking collision warning and rear cross traffic warning because of the accident and the car has been in the body shop awaiting parts/repair for the nearly entire month of September. No one was hurt and we didn't have the car long enough to take it back to the dealer to have the brake system checked. The accident would not have happened if the Automatic Emergency Braking had worked properly.

NHTSA ID
11435237
Incident
Sep 8, 2021

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

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