Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Hyundai Kona - part 2

Engine light was on - I was told by belmont enterprise on sept 17th to keep driving the vehicle even though it needed repairs immediately.

See all problems of the 2025 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

The piston went through the top of my engine with my entire family in the car. We managed to get to a mechanic. And bring it to the dealership. We are very lucky to be alive.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

The contact’s daughter owns a 2018 Hyundai Kona. While the contact’s daughter was driving approximately 65 - 70 mph, the vehicle started decelerating and sputtering before the vehicle coasted to the side of the road and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was informed and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

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I purchased a used 2020 Hyundai Kona with the nu 2. 0l engine. I drove the vehicle regularly without issue for several years, including two days before the incident. On the day of the incident, I attempted to start the vehicle but it ran irregularly. I shut off the vehicle after a few seconds and restarted. The vehicle stalled seconds after starting. On subsequent attempts it failed to start at all. I learned of recall 203 (defective piston rings), which affects this model year and engine. I contacted Hyundai, who recommended I visit a dealer. Upon inspection, the dealer recommended engine replacement. Hyundai denied engine replacement under recall 203, on the grounds that the recall was "closed" during an inspection in 2021 (prior to my ownership) despite the defective part not being replaced. This engine, with defective and recalled part, has now experienced sudden and unexpected failure. Hyundai has been uncooperative and I have been without a vehicle for nearly a month.

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The vehicle has ~51k miles. It has been maintained according to the manufacturer's recommended repair schedule. At low speeds (<10 mph) or when coming from a full stop the vehicle hard shifts. When driving up inclines at low speeds (<10 mph), the vehicle shakes and stutters on the verge of shutting off. This happened twice on [xxx]. I experienced a full vehicle shut off on [xxx} while the vehicle was stationary, but shifted into drive . In August, the vehicle stuttered and shook before shutting off. I have reported three instances of this issue to my local Hyundai dealership. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000. The VIN was not available.

About a month after purchasing my car it shut down on the highway while driving. It completely lost power so I could not accelerate or even press the brake. Only the emergency brake stopped me from going into other cars. I started the car up again and then it worked fine until about another month later it happened again. I was on an exit ramp on the highway and it lost power. Cars had to quickly go around me as I had no control of my vehicle. Neither brakes or gas pedal worked at the time and my check engine light stayed on. I then took my car to Hyundai service where they told me my car went through 2 quarts of oil in one month. They want me to drive this car another 1,000 miles knowing it’s dangerous, unsafe, a risk to me and other drivers and a fire hazard to have an engine consuming this much oil. I fear to drive this unpredictable car any more. The manager of Hyundai knows it’s unfair but must follow protocol. I just don’t understand how they can tell someone to drive a stalling car waiting for an accident to happen.

I own a 2019 Hyundai Kona with around 110,000 miles. The vehicle has been consuming an excessive amount of engine oil, approximately one quart every 1,000 miles. I first noticed the issue around 80,000 miles when oil levels began dropping significantly between oil changes. The problem has worsened over time, and during a long family road trip, I had to add a total of about 8 quarts of oil just to keep the engine from running dry. I took the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership for an official oil consumption test, which confirmed the loss rate (1 quart per 1,000 miles). However, Hyundai motor America stated that this level of oil consumption is "within factory specifications" and denied any repair or assistance. This seems unreasonably high for a modern engine and creates both a safety concern (risk of running low on oil during travel) and a financial burden (frequent oil top-offs between changes). I am concerned this may indicate a defect similar to oil consumption issues seen in other Hyundai and kia engines.

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Piston ring failure. No oil in car and no leaks. P0301 code and knocking sound. Unable to drive.

Vehicle showed these warning lights while stalling out at stop signs: fca, esc, and dbc. She was able to turn off the car and restart it. We took it to a Hyundai dealership and ran a diagnostic test where they found nothing wrong. They noticed her oil was low, so they topped it off. This was on a Monday. By Saturday, she had this issue again where she stalled out at a stoplight in the center lane of a 4 lane busy road and had to coast to a parking lot where she restarted the car. We then personally checked the oil again, she was almost out of oil!! we added more full synthetic oil. We googled the issue and saw other 2020 Kona's have this issue. I spoke with Hyundai consumer affairs to get advice but they said without any open recalls or extended warraties they couldn't help. They suggested the lengthy process of a repeated oil consumption test at the dealership. We are now taking it to an engine shop today (8-29-25) where he will try to put a syntheic blend in after taking out the full syntheic out. The mechanic said sometimes this helps the oil consumption. We will see how the car runs with the blend. He mentioned that his research shows older models had this issue and Hyundai replaced some engines.

The engine burns too much oil. I have to put it a quart every 2 weeks.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds in stop-and-go traffic, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle but almost immediately lost motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the piston oil rings, resulting in damage to the engine. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 21v301000 (engine); but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.

When I purchased the car with in 2 weeks epb , auto hold and auto stop all 3 lights on dashboard came on orange. Took to dealership and they fixed the problem. 4 months later now the lights are back on. The vehicle does not feel safe at pulls to the right , I have problems with my ac as well as my transmission is slipping. The car loses power when I accelerate. I believe was sold a lemon car I purchased from carmax.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

On Saturday, [xxx], while driving on the highway, the oil plug on my vehicle suddenly fell out, causing all the oil to drain rapidly. This created an extreme safety hazard not only for myself but also for other drivers on the road. I did not notice the oil spillage until the oil light on the dash appeared. At the time, I was in the leftmost lane traveling at highway speeds, so I could not stop immediately. I had to carefully veer across five lanes of traffic and navigate out of a construction zone before I was able to pull over safely. The engine lost lubrication during this process, and I was forced to have the vehicle towed to ed napleton Hyundai in hazelwood, the same dealership where I purchased and serviced the car, for inspection and repairs. This incident occurred just three weeks after I had an oil change performed at the same dealership. I have been attempting to contact the dealership for updates on the status of my vehicle and the investigation into potential engine damage for the past three days, but I have received limited information until today, when the service manager, jerry, stated that they installed a new plug and added oil, and since it's not ticking, it's okay. However, having worked in the automotive industry for years, I know that a full teardown is necessary to properly check for damage, including inspecting the bearings, rings, cylinder walls, and turbo for signs of oil starvation. This service was not performed. Additionally, jerry informed me that speaking to someone higher up would do absolutely nothing for me. This is not an isolated issue. Over the course of my ownership, the dealership has damaged my oil filter by over-tightening and stripping it on two separate occasions during routine maintenance, requiring me to return to the facility each time. On both instances, I had to wait an additional 2 to 3 hours while they installed replacement parts to correct their errors. These repeated mistakes have caused significant inconv information redacted pursuant to the freedom of informat.

The piston oil ring recall. I have had a mechanic determine I am having the exact same problem as the recalls but my VIN is not covered. Please update the recall so my repairs can be covered.

The contact owned a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving 50 mph, the vehicle stalled while driving uphill, and the contact heard a loud clanking sound coming from the engine compartment, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer suggested that an oil consumption test be performed and return the vehicle be returned to the dealer every 1,000 miles. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.

I have experienced the same issues with a known recall for my year, make and model. I am not sure why my VIN is not showing. Have records from a mechanic that there was a fire hazard. I have experienced stalling on several occasions. Could I have help getting my VIN recognized so Hyundai will help me?.

On Monday [xxx] I was driving to work when my vehicle abruptly stopped in the middle of traffic. I had several cars behind me slam on their brakes due to my vehicle stopping. It was super scary and dangerous and at a four way stop. There was loud knocking from the engine seconds before it stopped on me. I called roadside assistance and had it towed to the dealership I work at. I looked up my VIN and was informed that my vehicle has an engine recall. It was sent to Hyundai river oaks in calumet city who I do not recommend. They never once called me with an update. They then informed me via text that my vehicle would not be covered under the recall due to, “jumped timing”. I then opened a case with Hyundai and they were not any better and closed my case and said there was nothing they would do for me and case was closed. I am furious that my vehicle has an engine recall and my engine failed on me and almost caused a very serious wreck for myself and others. They can get away with not covering the recall due to “jumped timing”. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle with the check engine warning light illuminated. Upon inspection of the vehicle, the contact discovered that the engine oil was low, and the contact added oil to the engine. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 21v301000 (engine). The contact continued to investigate the failure and discovered that the vehicle was previously repaired before owning the vehicle. The contact reached out to several dealers and the manufacturer about the issue; however, no assistance was provided. The contact continued to speak with the manufacturer, and the manufacturer agreed to have an oil consumption test performed on the vehicle. The vehicle tested by two dealers for the consumption test and the results came back inconclusive. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

The engine on my 2020 Hyundai Kona failed suddenly while driving, causing complete loss of power. There were no warning lights until after the failure. The vehicle was towed to a Hyundai dealership. Initially, the dealership stated the failure was related to an open recall from 2021 and warned that repairs might not be covered because the recall had not been completed. I sent them a written request outlining both NHTSA recall 21v-301 (federally mandated) and service campaign 974, asking for documentation supporting their diagnosis and any communications with corporate. This request was ignored. Afterward, the dealership said they would replace the engine, but upon completion they recommended replacing certain bolts and hoses at my expense ($849), claiming that if I declined, any future related repairs would not be covered. When asked why these parts were not included in the repair or how their condition would void future coverage, I was told they were “normal wear” items not covered under warranty. No documentation or policy basis was provided. When asked whether the repair was processed under recall 21v-301 or campaign 974, they stated it was not tied to either and was filed under the powertrain warranty without corporate involvement. Multiple shop personnel had earlier confirmed verbally that the failed part matched the recall defect, but the service manager provided a different explanation and refused supporting documents. The dealership also claimed recall 21v-301 was “completed” in October 2021 via a software update, despite the vehicle never having been at the dealership since purchase. No proof of recall completion or cnds software installation was provided. The lack of evidence that recall 21v-301 was properly remedied, the possibility of an improper closure in Hyundai’s system, and the fact that the failure matched the recall defect raise serious concerns about compliance with federal recall requirements. I am waiting for corporate to contact me also.

Car has extreme oil consumption and power stalls which are related to a recall in 2021 for bad poston rings which werent properly heat protected. I brought in and they said it was checked for recall but engine was never actually replaced. My warning lights come on for oil when this happens. My engine could either seize or I could lose power on highway. Car dealership laughed in my face when brought and told me id have to fork over 10k for a new engine which doesn't seem accurate considering Hyundai manufactured this vehicle with bad piston rings.

Excessive oil consumption, over 3 quarts in just 4 months, caused the engine's timing chain to fail due to low oil levels, ultimately leading to a rod punching through the engine. There is a recall for this vehicle but not mine.

Car engine is loosing/burning oil at a high rate. This could be best described as an oil ring problem that is included in other Kona models but not my specific VIN series.

Purchased in cash at dan o'brien kia for 22,000. This dealership in concord nh (owner) was charged w/embezzlement soon thereafter & was found guilty & fined. My cash purchase was never given to Hyundai nor was the promised 10 year powertrain warranty which was told to me from the salesman on the day of purchase in 2019. My 2. 0 engine is knocking (undriveable) w/74 ,000 miles. Because Hyundai received no information on my purchase, I was never notified of recalls or class action suit recently won. I spoke to Hyundai (case #[xxx]) & was told to take it to irwin Hyundai for a diagnostic at $189. I'm told it does not meet an engine replacement yet it's doing the same exact issue affecting this very engine. I'm told it would cost me $11000. To replace. I'm [xxx], [xxx] & have no money to pay this amount, plus the car is literally listed for the same value give & take a few thousand $$ in value. I was lied to by the salesman about the warranty & had to find out myself there was a warranty but it went no further than my sales agreement which notes there's a warranty w/no explanation as to what it is. I'm now in a crisis: no car, & I just put $600 of tires on & it was inspected a week ago, quietly running - the tech had to ask if it was running as it was that quiet. What steps do I have to resolve this nightmare for engines failing & being told sorry your loss for nothing I have done wrong? if more information is needed I can get it. Dan o'brien did inspections oil changes & repair work if needed (brakes etc). My email is [xxx]. Phone [xxx] secondary or [xxx] primary. Somehow my phone switched to the secondary # & I'm trying to get it back to primary but it's a new phone & I have to figure it out. Please help me. Should I find a lawyer? so upsetting. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am the original owner of a 2020 Hyundai Kona equipped with the 2. 0l nu mpi engine. This engine has been subject to known manufacturing defects, including excessive oil consumption, timing component wear, and premature failure. Hyundai has acknowledged that my specific engine falls within the range of engines affected by this defect and has confirmed that it is part of a recall/service campaign group. However, Hyundai is refusing to repair or replace the engine because it passed a vibration test back in 2021. That test was performed over three years ago, and my vehicle is now experiencing major engine problems, including the activation of check engine light with code p0017, which refers to crankshaft-camshaft correlation issues — a known symptom of the engine defect. Hyundai is denying coverage based on a test that is now outdated and irrelevant, despite the fact that the engine is part of the known defect group and is showing signs of failure consistent with hundreds of similar cases. The vehicle is no longer under powertrain warranty, but the root cause of the failure is clearly related to the previously identified defect. Hyundai’s refusal to act puts me, and potentially others, at risk of sudden engine failure due to timing or lubrication problems. This is a potential safety issue if the engine stalls while driving. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate Hyundai’s use of past vibration tests to deny coverage for active and dangerous engine defects. Owners like myself should not be penalized for a test performed years ago when clear evidence of failure now exists.

The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

I was driving when I heard a rattle below the car. About a mile later, my engine died. Turns out the oil plug fell out causing irreparable damage to my engine. Was fortunate to be able to coast down the bottom side of the bridge I was on to a safe spot off to the side.

Car is losing power. Car is stopping in the middle of the road. Car was towed to my personal mechanic on June 21,2025 who has ran a diagnostic on vehicle & vehicle is throwing out an engine failure code. Check engine light is blinking ; car is making odd "knocking type" noises. First appeared June 20, 2025. Car is not safe to drive due to losing power. Vehicle is now being towed to the dealership (after multiple calls) and the loss of power is concerning/dangerous if vehicle looses power with traffic around. I feel I won't be able to get the vehicle and myself off the road safely before an accident/injury/fatality occurs. I will upload a copy of the diagnostic report.

On June 18th I was driving my car home when the engine shut off. I had it towed to my mechanic who ran a diagnostic test and told me the problem was under an active recall and I needed to take it to the dealership. I had it towed to the dealership, who informed me it would 300+ dollars to run a diagnostic test, I agreed to it, and then they took almost a month to notify me that my troubles were a timing chain and not the engine recall (which matches my symptoms exactly) the dealership said I could pay 5k+ to have the timing chain replaced but they would not be doing the active recall work on the vehicle and if I wasn't going to have the 5k in repairs done I could come pick up the car. I contacted the corporate complaint, and was assigned a case manager who just relayed the same information from the dealership, I asked to speak with a supervisor and was denied. Multiple times I asked and multiple times I was told there was no one above my case manager so I would not be transferred to a supervisor. The dealership relayed that it was "not practical" to fix the recall work until I had the timing chain repaired. On a recorded line they stated they would not be fixing the recall work.

This vehicle was sold to me advertised as a certified pre-owned by somersworth Hyundai in new hampshire. They have since shut down and I now see that they have a long history of bad reviews and scamming. When I had my first issue with this car, I brought it in thinking that it was covered by a certified pre-owned situation only to find out that it was not. I had a rare, bizarre, and expensive transfer case replacement done and was forced to pay out of pocket. Now, my check engine light has been flashing for about a month. It also started having a slight stutter or shudder in low speed acceleration. It hesitates or feels like I let off the gas for a split second even though I didn't. This happens everyday. I had the spark plugs replaced and that did not turn the flashing check engine light off. The service shop that installed the new spark plugs printed out an NHTSA recall bulletin on my vehicle for piston oil rings that may not have been properly heat treated which could result in engine damage. Consequences being damaged engines may stall and increase the risk of a crash. As well as oil leaks may leak on to hot exhaust components increasing the risk of a fire. Hyundai dealership and Hyundai corporate. Both say there are no open recalls on my exact vehicle. It is not included in this recall. I need the diagnostic process including knock test performed on this vehicle.

My wife was pulling into a parking place at home depot when the car suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb & hit a tree on the sidewalk. It did significant damage to the front bumper of the car but the airbags did not deploy & my wife was not hurt. I am guessing that it will be several thousand dollars to repair.

I'm the owner of a 2019 Hyundai Kona (us spec) imported to poland. The VIN is included in recall 21v-301 (fire risk). The engine showed symptoms consistent with this defect and failed at 44,000 miles. Photos confirm cylinder damage. Following Hyundai motor America (hma) instructions, I completed diagnostics at an authorized Hyundai service center in poland. Results: error p0366, compression 2–3 bar. Hma refused to accept these documents, demanding a specific “repair order” format, which european dealers cannot issue. No real coordination with regional offices occurred, making compliance impossible. Hma then issued a warranty-related denial (not requested), citing salvage status, although it is irrelevant to the mandatory recall remedy. Hma also stated diagnostics must be done in the USA, which is impossible for a non-operational vehicle located in poland. At the same time, Hyundai motor poland provided incorrect information (claiming two total-loss incidents instead of one) and advised dealers not to perform any work. As a result, Hyundai service centers in poland refused further diagnostics and repairs, blocking access to the recall remedy. The manufacturer provided no feasible path to obtain the remedy and created barriers that made the recall effectively inaccessible. I also incurred unnecessary diagnostic costs. I request that NHTSA review hma’s actions under campaign 21v-301 regarding my VIN, assess the creation of barriers preventing remedy access, evaluate Hyundai’s refusal to provide a feasible solution, and determine whether Hyundai fulfilled its obligations to ensure remedy accessibility for an owner located outside the USA. Additional evidence and a detailed timeline are attached. Details are provided in the attached file complaint. Pdf.

Radiator is failing between 60k and 70k miles with no check engine lights. Leaking an entire reservoir of coolant within a 24hr time period. Even when the temperature gage went above the middle mark and to the 3/4 mark the check engine light never came on.

Yes my 2019 Kona started sounding funny was having loss of power took it to have codes read it comes up as code p0011 which is timing issues bank 1 the next day went to start it and it would not even start have to have it towed to shop to find out there was absolutely no engine compression and will need a new engine I have had this car less than a year and still owe a balance of 12,000 and now stuck with a payment and no vehicle to drive and will cost upwards of 7000. 00 to fix further investigation found open recall for the engine not being properly heated rings on the motor but my VIN does not show mine to be affected so they will not cover the costs of replacing but it is the same year make and model ect. As the recall.

2020 Hyundai Kona wirh 22,000 miles, original owner, great condition(except oil usage). First consumption test used 3/4 qt. In 1,000 miles. Seems convenient that Hyundai says 1 qt & the dealership came up with 3/4 so there is no problem. Bull! no oil light came on to warn of low oil.