Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Hyundai Kona - part 1

The vehicle all shut off as I slowed down for a stop sign. Put in park turn the key off restarted it got to the next stop sign same thing. Also the red light same had to shut it off put it in put in park shut off and then restart and step on the gas so I can get through before a car hit me. Happened several times till I finally got the car home done it started knocking loudly and shut off just as I got into my driveway. Check the oil. The oil is fine. Occasionally the oil light would come on if you put in dr. . It is knocking really loud. The engine light keeps flashing constantly. I called brown dobb Hyundai in easton pennsylvania. They told me this recall has nothing to do with my car because of the VIN number. But everything that is happening to it is is under recall 187. But because of the VIN number they are insisting it’s not my car. What can I do before I get in an accident? I don’t have any other cars to rely on. I have a son with autism and I am a single mother. What else can I do? I had this car not even three months.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

Engine light comes on starts flashing as well as the oil light occasionally. If you slow down or have to stop it completely shuts down you have to put in park and restart the car to get anywhere and start stopping in front in the middle of traffic. So if you slow down to go up a hill or anything, it just stops completely. Also making a clicking or grinding sound not sure.

96,247 mi engine knock and complete oil loss within 3,000 miles of last oil change symptoms consistent with NHTSA recall 21v301 (Hyundai recall 203) and warranty extension txxm coverage.

See all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, he noticed he had an engine knock, and noticed that the engine was consuming a good amount of oil with no warning lights or oil leaks. The contact pulled over to the side when the knock started and noticed the vehicle was starving of oil although a recent oil change shows it was recent. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed to have poor service, and engine sludge although dealer stated there was none. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,132.

Vehicle frequently and quietly stalls while driving in active traffic, creating an immediate safety hazard. Vehicle is a 2019 Kona with the 2. 0l nu mpi engine, which is the exact subject of NHTSA safety recall 21v301 (recall 209). Hyundai motor America (case #42541672) is actively refusing to honor or inspect the vehicle under the safety recall mandates, claiming a lack of dealership service history overrides a federal safety defect.

Engine blew a head gasket so had to have the engine rebuilt @ a cost of $13,000. Car only had 22,500 miles on it. I think that should instigate a recall.

Last week just driving to school, my engine started to knock. So the next day we take it to a local mechanic shop and it exploded while they were test driving it and they diagnosed it with rod bearing failure. So I contact Hyundai and get it towed to the Hyundai dealership for them to inspect it and eventually do an engine swap, but after it got dropped off I was told it’d be $360 to get it diagnosed and filed and they said that I have no warranty. I explained to the rep that the class action lawsuit regarding the theta 2 gdi engines extends the warranty to 15 years/150,000 miles for all subsequent owners especially since I’ve had the ksds installed. They’re refusing to cover damages even though my car was affected by a manufacturing issue on their end and was part of major recall campaigns. My car failed at 94,000 miles while up to date on services and the representative was recommending I ask Hyundai for “good-will funding” but I don’t need their “good will” I need them to make the situation right and cover all my expenses related to my blown engine.

The vehicle suddenly stalled while driving on the highway at normal speed without warning. The engine lost power completely, creating a dangerous situation and a risk of collision with surrounding traffic. The vehicle had to be towed to a repair shop, where the issue was diagnosed as engine failure. There were no warning lights or prior symptoms before the incident. This appears to be a serious safety-related defect. I am aware that similar engine issues have been reported in Hyundai vehicles.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

My 2019 Hyundai Kona is equipped with a 2. 0l nu mpi engine covered under recall 203 (NHTSA campaign 21v301) for defective piston oil rings. The recall inspection was performed and closed at a Hyundai dealership in September 2023. The engine was passed and not replaced. Following that recall closure, the vehicle has required the same repair four times: replacement of the cvvt assembly-exhaust, camshaft assembly-exhaust, and timing chain tensioner. Each repair was performed under warranty. The recurring diagnostic code is p0017 (crankshaft/camshaft position correlation - exhaust). Total warranty expenditure on these repeated repairs exceeds $7,800. During one of these visits (January 2025), the technician noted the cvvt had a "slight hold on rotation" and flagged possible exhaust camshaft damage. The vehicle has also experienced stalling while driving, creating a direct safety risk to the driver and others on the road. An independent repair facility has evaluated the vehicle and provided a written assessment concluding that full engine replacement is required, and that an underlying engine defect is causing the repeated component failures. It is my position that the recall 203 inspection was performed inadequately — the defect was present at the time of inspection and was not identified. The recall remedy did not resolve the condition it was designed to address. Hyundai has since declined to replace the engine despite the documented failure pattern and independent shop recommendation. The vehicle is available for inspection. The problem has been confirmed by both a Hyundai dealer and an independent shop.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was unaware of the warning lights that were illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was unable to be restarted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the piston rings had failed and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the piston rings had failed and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

Basically normal driving the car stalled. It slowed to a stall. I had to restart the car. This has happened a couple to times.

Engine is consuming oil and developed piston slap, per the mechanic I took it to. Currently it sounds like there is gravel inside the engine and it does not seem safe to drive. The malfunction indicator lamp has also come on, the codes were cleared by my mechanic but they told me it likely will return. The piston slap developed a week ago today (Thursday), the mil started flashing 3 days later (Sunday), mechanic did the oil change on Tuesday and noted the piston slap at that time. All symptoms point to the issues noted in #21v-301, but my VIN is not included in that recall per the NHTSA website.

My car was taken in as a part of recall bulletin 203 for improperly heated piston rings treated pistons rings that result in premature engine failure and possible fire on 12/5/25. The knock sensor test was performed and the ksds software was installed. On 3/12/26 my daughter who was on the way home from a trip called because her checking engine light started flashing and the engine was knocking. We had it towed to Hyundai and they are denying service under the recall stating improper codes yet one of the codes is p1327 ksds detection which is related to the rod bearing failure the car currently has. They are trying to make me pay $4600 out of pocket plus the tow bill when this is directly related to the recall.

Vehicle struggling to accelerate and rolling back when brake is not being used. It stays at a few miles per hour even with full pressure on the gas pedal. A mechanic reviewed and stated the problem was due to low compression in the engine, causing the pistons to misfire. This issue has happened a total of 5 times and has almost caused other vehicles to crash into me due to sudden loss of speed and not being able to accelerate fast enough to properly get to safety.

I found a lot of shaved metals when I did the oil change for the gear reduction. It made a lot of noises when driving or the wheel of fortune sounds whether the car is in regenerative braking. The sounds developed as time goes on but Hyundai failed to recall this issue. I found this has been an ongoing issue since 2019 when Hyundai make this Kona ev, but their engineers didn’t fix this type of issue and continue to manufacture the Kona ev with the same gear reduction assembly and it caused a lot of noises with these shaving metals found in the oil changes. This is abnormal for a gru to have so many metals found in the oil. Thus, it made a lot of noises. Now my car can’t even drive because of this. The gru has been broken because of this issue that Hyundai didn’t even fix since 2019.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

The vehicle has 82. 000 miles on it, and the engine started to rattle as I entered the street to my house, and the motor quit running. I had the vehicle hauled to a repair garage for analysis, and they said the piston rings failed. The vehicle is in perfect shape except for the broken engine.

My 2020 Hyundai Kona (VIN: km8k62aa3lu561277) has a persistent engine stalling safety defect that matches recall 203 (22-01-042h, NHTSA campaign 21v301000 – nu 2. 0l atkinson engine inspection and replacement). The recall addresses improperly heat-treated piston oil rings causing cylinder bore scuffing, accelerated oil consumption, abnormal knocking, and potential engine stall while driving (increasing crash/fire risk). I first brought the vehicle to corona Hyundai for repeated stalling while driving. They performed the recall vibration inspection and software update (campaign 974), stated the test passed, and declared the vehicle "fixed", safe and "good-to-go" immediately after pickup, the stalling returned worse: approximately 60-80 miles later on I-5 near the leucadia exit (four-lane high-speed highway), the engine completely stalled at 65 mph while merging for an exit. This caused vehicles and semi-trucks behind me to swerve dangerously and very nearly collide with me. The vehicle stalled four more times on the way to my destination in encinitas. I then took it to the nearest dealer, carlsbad Hyundai for safety reasons. They performed the vibration inspection again, which also "passed," yet the real-world symptoms would continue unchanged: accelerated oil consumption (I monitor the dipstick and refill regularly), sputtering, knocking noises, and complete engine stalls (dozens of incidents, especially on local roads and turns). The vehicle remains undrivable due to imminent stall risk while moving and putting myself, my passengers and other commuters at high risk of severe injury or death. Both dealers and Hyundai customer care (case #42349744) have refused further action, stating the vibration test passed, they cannot duplicate the concern, and no additional claim can be submitted for engine replacement. Hyundai's TSB 22-01-042h requires only the vibration inspection; engine replacement is authorized if "no pass" – no separate oil consumption test or monitored drive.

The check engine light came on while driving. Vehicle was assessed by mechanic with strange diagnostic code; full oil and filter change done. Check engine light still on and engine stalled while driving on freeway. Took to dealer and was advised the car requires cvvts (which is essentially a new engine), serpentine belt and spark plugs (approx $3600). There is a known engine defect with the 2018 Hyundai but they refuse to do as a recall and refuse discounted repair on a vehicle that 8 years old with 92,000 miles. This vehicle is owned by my young adult child and I believe it is undriveable since stalling at full speed is quite dangerous.

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. While the contact’s son was driving the vehicle on the highway at an undisclosed speed, there was a knocking sound coming from the engine and the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The gear shifter was shifted into neutral(n) and restarted; however, the engine failed shortly afterwards, and the vehicle was unable to restart. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with piston rings failure and low engine oil. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, where it was confirmed that the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 21v301000 (engine); however, the recall repair was already performed. The approximate failure mileage was 108,000.

VIN: [xxx] 2021 Hyundai Kona experienced sudden engine failure at approximately 103,000 miles. The engine began knocking without any prior warning, and the check engine light came on at the same time the knocking started. The vehicle was not driven for an extended period after the issue began. There were no earlier warning indicators or drivability issues that would suggest neglect or lack of maintenance. The failure was immediate and unexpected. This vehicle had previously received Hyundai recall t8y, which involved an ecu update related to engine monitoring and performance. Despite this manufacturer intervention, the engine still experienced sudden failure. Hyundai has denied warranty and goodwill coverage for this failure. This appears to be a premature engine failure and raises concerns about reliability and safety due to the sudden nature of the issue. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai koa. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving the vehicle began to sputter and jerk before stalling. During the failure the oil warning light flashed off and on. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine had failed due to carbon buildup. The contact was advised that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA campaign number: 21v301000(engine) the contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 90,000.

On February 27, 2026, my 2020 Hyundai Kona (recall 203) suffered a catastrophic engine stall while driving, requiring an emergency tow. The dealership (rosen Hyundai) and Hyundai motor America are refusing to perform the safety recall 203 remedy unless I first pay $4,715. 26 for a timing repair. I was also required to pay $453. 05 for wiring repairs just to "enable" the recall test, yet the recall remains unaddressed because of a financial paywall. I am reporting an obstruction of a federal safety recall by the manufacturer.

Was driving when the car seemed to lose power and would not accelerate and started shaking. Check engine light came on and got it read, the code indicated a misfire and other errors. There was no one local to fix it as we were out of town. So we replaced the plugs that were indicated and noticed how badly damaged they were. Vehicle started to drive better before stalling out again and replacing the rest of the plugs. Was able to get it home and seemed to be driving normally but then we noticed it has an oil leak now. We have to keep a religious check on the oil because of the amount leaking and the fact the car isn't giving us a low oil warning. We took it to the dealership and they said we needed a new engine and it was just outside the power train warranty. All of this occurred our 78,000-80,000 mile mark. The dealer would not even change the oil before of how bad the leak was. This car was for our teenage daughter and its not safe for anyone to drive. I believe the dealership knew this car had issues, we bought it pre-owned and have only had it 6 months.

The cars engine vibrates when accelerating and hesitates. It is always dangerous to stall after hitting the gas. This issue causes many near accidents. It began to vibrate at less than 70k. It has 90k now. These engines have had issues and mine is no exception. They should recall this engine as it's dangerous. Top of the line and poop.

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle, with the low engine oil warning light illuminated. The contact stated that while checking the dipstick, the contact became aware that the engine oil level was low. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Known problem of oil consumption . 1 week used 3 quarts . Wife driving down road oil light. Engine light seconds later engine seized at 55mph. Lucky to drift off road.

Many times a year, without warning, vehicle dash lights turn off and light up like a christmas tree, followed by fca warning sound and lights going off, and a loud mechanical thud. Lose engine throttle going highway speeds. This can occur at nearly any speed without warning. Car must be powered off and back on to get normalcy. This puts me, everyone in the car and everyone on the highway at risk. Dealership was not able to reproduce or pull error codes.

The car was burning through oil every 14 -21days. Car has been jerking and taking a while to accelerate. Went to machine to see what’s going he suggested I go to the dealership because there’s no leaks visible. But added more oil so I wouldn’t go without oil there was nothing available for me to come in right away and before my appointment my car started to speed up out of nowhere then completely slowed down then jerked until I could find a safe space to pull over. Check engine came on and the code was reading a misfire. Got a tune up still reading as a misfire now just stuck at the dealership playing guessing games with what’s wrong with the vehicle.

In January 2026, my engine light illuminated and the vehicle lost power. The dealership found a sudden loss of compression across all four cylinders, requiring a total engine replacement. This occurred without warning, only two months after a routine oil change at the same facility where no issues were reported. Despite opening a case with Hyundai corporate, there has been no progress. My research indicates that while NHTSA recall 21v301 (safety recall 203) specifies 2019–2021 models, the 2022 model shares the same engine design and identical reports of stalling and compression loss. My vehicle has been at the dealership for three months with no resolution. The dealership says they are running tests requested by tech line without providing documentation of the tests or the results. Although, the initial test performed indicated that it was a compression ring issue.

See attached document for complaint.

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine was shutting down while on the way to work, with a knocking sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA campaign number: 21v301000 (engine); however, the dealer refused to perform the recall repair, because there were other failures with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,902.

The vehicle displayed a warning lamp indicating a cooling system performance failure. The specific defect relates to the integrated thermal-management module (itm) and the thermostat opening prematurely, corresponding to diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p218100. This issue requires a repair outlined in technical service bulletin 25-em-007h, involving a spring installation and ecu update. This failure creates a serious safety concern because improper thermal management can cause the engine to overheat or force the vehicle into a reduced-power 'limp mode' without warning. A sudden loss of acceleration or engine stall while driving in traffic significantly increases the risk of a crash.

I was traveling on the interstate when my car began to slow down and the rpms kept going up. I pulled over on the side of the highway and turned the motor off. I waited 10 minutes and started the car again thinking it was just a misfire. The motor began making weird noises and shaking. My engine like came on the dashboard display reported major malfunction get help. I was told by my mechanic that I was lucky the car did not catch on fire. He determined that pistons 1 and 3 were misfiring. He said it was being flooded with fuel. I have complained about the excessive burning of oil and that there must be an issue. Several have been recalled but not specific car.

My vehicle started was burning oil having to add oil frequently. Then a knocking noise started coming from the engine (2. 0 l mpi nu). It began to have trouble starting and was not accelerating properly and the check engine light came on . Within two days I brought my car to my mechanic and he stated that there was no sign of an oil leak and felt it was a deeper problem. I brought it to a Hyundai dealership and they stated that the engine needed to be replaced/rebuilt. I feel that the lack of acceleration could have been a safety issue on the highway as it could have prevented me from passing in a timely fashion or just lose all power in traffic. There is an active recall for this type of engine starting with model year 2019.

The Kona barely wants to accelerate and stalls out while driving. Even though I recently got a oil change there’s oil consumption and the oil is black as if I never got a oil change. I took it to a Hyundai dealer ship, I told them what was wrong they said it’s the timing belt. When that’s not the issue. I recently took it to a mechanic to get a third opinion and to see and fix what is wrong. He declined fixing it saying there’s more to it that is wrong and looks like there’s an engine defect and even complained that the oil was so black. I told him that doesn’t make sense because I’ve been getting my oil consistently. He couldn’t fix it. So now I’m stuck with a vehicle that barely drives and stalls out while I’m on the road and it keeps burning more oil. No one knows what is wrong with it.