Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 28 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2025 Hyundai Kona, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and powertrain (other) categories. 24 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 2024 | 1 | 1 |
| May 2025 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 2025 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 2025 | 3 | 6 |
| Aug 2025 | 3 | 9 |
| Sep 2025 | 2 | 11 |
| Oct 2025 | 1 | 12 |
| Nov 2025 | 2 | 14 |
| Jan 2026 | 1 | 15 |
| Feb 2026 | 5 | 20 |
| Apr 2026 | 1 | 21 |
| May 2026 | 3 | 24 |
| Jun 2026 | 2 | 26 |
| Jul 2026 | 2 | 28 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
The dash will completely go black except for red words *no signal.* and all warnings are no longer visible, I cannot tell what speed I’m going, or what percentage battery my car is at. I don’t see visible lane or collision warnings. It is very unsafe and I have been to the dealership twice to try and fix it. The issue returned both times.
I purchased a used Hyndai Kona with 26,000 miles April 30 2026. I was told I have the balance of the manufacturer warranty of 5 years or 60,000 miles. I have not driven my car for 73 days because of extreme safety problems the Hyundai Kona. The car is very difficult to steer. The car pulls significantly to the right. One day after I purchased this vehicle the car jumped the curb and my face hit the steering wheel cutting my nose and creating a black eye. There is a lot of play in the steering wheel. When accelerating from a stop the car hesitates to move creating a safety concern. My rear view mirror does not stay in place. The mirror drops down and I cannot see behind me causing a safety concern. Both side view mirrors have to be adjusted each time I drive the car.
Power train the engine roars up and drops jarring you back and forth second car within a yr first blew up brand new both and Hyundia and dealership blew me off
Component or System: The brake system, specifically what appears to be a false ABS activation or IEB (Integrated Electronic Brake) system malfunction. The component is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: While braking at speeds between 25-40 mph, typically on dry pavement and more frequently on downhill grades, the brake pedal exhibits a chugging sensation, erratic stopping behavior, and pedal softening consistent with unintended ABS activation or IEB malfunction. This occurs on dry roads where ABS activation is neither warranted nor expected, creating unpredictable braking response and extended stopping distances. The defect has occurred 24 documented times since [XXX], and existed prior to that date. Dealer Confirmation: Yes. During a ride-along at Edmond Hyundai on [XXX], a technician directly witnessed and confirmed the occurrence. Despite this confirmation, it was not documented on the repair order. Two prior repair attempts returned cannot-reproduce results: March 2, 2026 at Bob Howard Hyundai and March 10, 2026 at Edmond Hyundai. Additional Repair/Inspection Attempts: On April 7, 2026, Norman Hyundai opened and closed a repair order without the consumer's knowledge and refused to provide a copy despite an explicit request. On May 23, 2026, a scheduled appointment at Bob Howard Hyundai was missed; a reschedule request was subsequently ignored by the dealership. HMA Case No. [XXX] is active. Warning Lamps or Prior Symptoms: No warning lamps have illuminated. The defect presents exclusively as a physical sensation—pedal/brake chugging, softening, and erratic stopping during normal dry-pavement braking. The issue has been present since delivery on [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed through an intersection, the vehicle collided with another vehicle that was towing a trailer. The contact stated that during the crash, the driver's air bag, located in the steering wheel, deployed; however, the air bag became inoperable and deflated. The contact further stated that smoke emitted from the deployed air bag and entered the passenger compartment of the vehicle. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained, and no medical treatment was required. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company and was deemed a total loss. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
My forward collision warning activates without cause. My automatic braking systems will engage.
The vehicle experienced a total electrical failure while driving. Dealer diagnosed the issue as a loose fuse box connector/power distribution connector. The vehicle and repaired component should be available for inspection through the Hyundai dealer service department. The vehicle suddenly lost all power while being driven on a public roadway. The engine shut off, dashboard went dark, and power steering assistance was lost, creating a risk of collision and leaving the vehicle disabled in traffic. A Hyundai dealer diagnosed and confirmed that a loose fuse box connector caused the loss of power. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealer service department. No police or insurance inspection was performed. No warning lights, messages, or symptoms appeared prior to the failure. The vehicle lost power suddenly without warning while driving.
The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving, she observed a loud explosion emanating from the roof of the vehicle. The contact slammed on her brakes and then steered the vehicle to the side of the road, where she observed crackling glass noises also emanating from the sunroof. The contact then exited the vehicle to inspect, where she observed the sunroof had a frisbee-sized hole in the middle. There was no impact on the sunroof. The contact called the police, but there was no police report taken. The contact stated that her ears began ringing, and medical attention was needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was no natural cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 5,798.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE
Some Kona (SX2) vehicles equipped with the 1.6L T‑GDI engine may exhibit false “engine left idling” notifications in the MyHyundai app, even when the engine is not running, due to a logic error associated with the front oxygen (O₂) sensor. This condition may also illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) and set DTC P223700 (O₂ Sensor Pumping Current Circuit/Open [Bank 1 Sensor 1]). This bulletin provides instructions to perform an ECU software update to correct the O₂ sensor logic and resolve the condition.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ENGINE
Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
AIR BAGS
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and underwent airbag replacement using non-genuine parts. These dangerous inflators have ruptured during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to metal fragments entering the vehicle cabin. To date, Hyundai is aware of three people who have died while driving a Hyundai vehicle with one of these substandard replacement airbag inflators that deployed in what likely would have been a survivable crash. NHTSA has issued a public advisory urging vehicle owners and service professionals to have vehicles inspected if there is reason to believe that a non-genuine replacement airbag may have been installed. Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, prior airbag deployments, or unknown repair histories may present a higher risk. NHTSA strongly cautions against self-inspection by vehicle owners and recommends inspection by trained technicians.
AIR BAGS
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may rupture during deployment, and have caused serious injuries and fatalities. Please see attached announcement, provided by NHTSA, for more details.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink functions. This may be due to an occasional disconnection on Verizon’s communication network. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to verify Bluelink Data Communication Unit (DCU) network connection and if needed, reset the DCU in Dealer Mode to resolve the connection.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.