Equipment Problems of Hyundai Kona - part 2

I have had my horn replaced three separate times at my local Hyundai dealership. It recently passed the nc vehicle inspection, but the horn failed the third time sometime after that inspection in Feb-2025. I have never had a horn ever fail on any car I have owned for the past 50 years. A horn is a critical safety necessity and it is expected to work - especially in times of emergency. I was almost run off the highway, once by a semi-trailer and each time I discovered my horn had failed - it was due to my needing to use it to alert pedestrians or other motor vehicles to avoid accidents. The dealer would not reveal why this has failed three times except to state that they 'replaced the horn'. The dealer is the only one to have attempted an examination, diagnosis and supposed repair for this problem. There are no warning lights or other type of notification that would let me know of a horn failure. The only way to know that it had failed - was my immediate need to employ the use of the horn in an emergency - and it's silence aka malfunction at the worst possible times.

See all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

Rear camera is not working properly. Either I have a blurry image or a black screen when in reverse position.

See all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

On February 3rd 2025, directly after putting my Kona in park, I felt it pulsing, saw the rpm dial bouncing repeatedly up and down, and the overhead lights flickering in rhythm with the vibrating/pulsing and rpm dial bounces. I recorded this incident, then turned my car off and on again at which point these observations could not be repeated - in other words, the car was acting fine. There were no other observable issues until March 1st, 2025, when these exact symptoms emerged under different circumstances. I came to an idle at a red light (with the auto-start/stop feature turned off for this drive) when the rpm bouncing, car pulsing back and forth, and lights flickering happened again. My car felt as though it was about to stall this time until, thankfully, the light turned green and I could accelerate. The issues dissipated with acceleration. I have this incident on video as well. I have a little over 63k miles on this car. I drive all day for my job, so it's used often for short trips throughout the city.

Horn stopped working for third time. Replaced by dealership twice, awaiting parts for third repair.

Sunroof on Hyundai Kona spontaneously exploded in cold weather driving on the freeway early in the morning after being parked in the warm garage overnight. Read about a class action lawsuit for Hyundai panoramic sunroofs but Kona is a standard sunroof; however, cases seem the same in terms of spontaneous explosion.

See all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

File with NHTSA now please!!!! what do you have to lose??? if anything if they do an investigation we are safe post warranty. Report a vehicle safety problem, equipment issue | NHTSA [xxx] the Hyundai Kona electric vehicle (ev) has experienced issues with its integrated charging control unit (iccu) due to problems with the low-conductivity coolant (bsc-1) used in models produced between 2018 and October 2021. This coolant can crystallize, forming debris that clogs the cooling system, leading to false "refill inverter coolant" warnings and potential overheating risks. A technical service bulletin (TSB 23-01-049h) outlines a recall to flush and replace the coolant with an improved bsc-2 formula to address this issue. However, improper or repeated coolant flushes, if not performed correctly using Hyundai’s specialized equipment and procedures, can leave air bubbles or residual debris in the system, which may impair cooling efficiency and stress critical components like the iccu, inverter, and electric motor. Repeated coolant flushes, especially when not executed properly, can exacerbate issues by introducing air locks or failing to fully remove crystallized debris, potentially causing damage to the iccu, inverter, and motor. Air bubbles trapped in the cooling system can reduce heat dissipation, leading to overheating that may degrade the iccu’s electronics or cause the inverter and motor to operate at unsafe temperatures, risking premature failure. Posts on forums indicate that some vehicles required multiple flushes to clear the warning, with improper flushing sometimes leaving contaminants that continue to trigger sensors or obstruct coolant flow. This underscores the importance of having the procedure done by trained technicians using the correct tools to avoid long-term damage to these sensitive components. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I had a 2021 Hyundai Kona limited. On Friday 09/13/2024 my engine caught fire and my car was a total loss. Minutes before the fire I noticed some smoke, all of my dash lights came on and the car shut down. Seconds after stopping the vehicle and getting out the whole engine went up in flames. There are recalls active for my make model and year, nothing for my specific VIN number but will be reaching out to Hyundai corporate to see if they want to come look at the car, in case it needs to be added to the recall list.

Horn does not work.

See all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

August 2024: horn malfunction/failure. Pressed the car's horn, and it failed to produce the loud sound that it is supposed to make to warn others of possible danger. It continued to not work and needed to be replaced for the third time. Part 96611-j9500 (horn assembly) was replaced for the third time on this vehicle.

Potential fire and safety risk . . . The Hyundai Kona electric vehicle (ev) has experienced issues with its integrated charging control unit (iccu) due to problems with the low-conductivity coolant (bsc-1) used in models produced between 2018 and October 2021. This coolant can crystallize, forming debris that clogs the cooling system, leading to false "refill inverter coolant" warnings and potential overheating risks. A technical service bulletin (TSB 23-01-049h) outlines a recall to flush and replace the coolant with an improved bsc-2 formula to address this issue. However, improper or repeated coolant flushes, if not performed correctly using Hyundai’s specialized equipment and procedures, can leave air bubbles or residual debris in the system, which may impair cooling efficiency and stress critical components like the iccu, inverter, and electric motor. Repeated coolant flushes, especially when not executed properly, can exacerbate issues by introducing air locks or failing to fully remove crystallized debris, potentially causing damage to the iccu, inverter, and motor. Air bubbles trapped in the cooling system can reduce heat dissipation, leading to overheating that may degrade the iccu’s electronics or cause the inverter and motor to operate at unsafe temperatures, risking premature failure. Posts on forums indicate that some vehicles required multiple flushes to clear the warning, with improper flushing sometimes leaving contaminants that continue to trigger sensors or obstruct coolant flow. This underscores the importance of having the procedure done by trained technicians using the correct tools to avoid long-term damage to these sensitive components.

With no known contact with anything, shark fin antenna cover of Hyundai Kona blew off at highway speed. This was unknown at the time, but upon further consideration, concern that the detachment could have damaged another car or caused to swerve. Dealer, warranty refuse to replace. Multiple reports of similar occurrences exist in Hyundai forums.

See all problems of the 2018 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

At carmax in hillside I'll about 3 weeks after I bought this used 2022 Kona the engine check light came on with code p2181. Cool system code. Possibly the thermostat is not working properly. 13399 miles on August 9 2024.

My Kona has been stalling/hesitating when accelerating. It has been happening for a little over a year. It got very bad and the check engine light came on. I had it towed to Hyundai dealership and they said it was the fuel injectors so I paid to have those replaced, they said my warranty didn’t cover it. Replacing the fuel injectors made the car drivable but it was still stalling/hesitating but Hyundai said it was working properly. So I took it home. I have been driving it and it just keeps stalling and hesitating more and more. It is stalling and hesitating and has lack of power when I try to accelerate. I am afraid one day I’ll stall in traffic and get hit or cause an accident. I have also just realized my Kona has been using excessive oil. I just had an oil change mid August and today had to add at least 3 quarts. Even when I had my oil changed, the shop said I barely had maybe a quart in there, when it was just changed in may. We do not see any oil leaking out from anywhere. I have no choice but to use it to get around and Hyundai said it was working properly. I have recently looked online and I seen a lot of other owners reported the same issues. I have contacted Hyundai but they say theres nothing they can do. I am not sure where to go from here.

Unknown the vehicle stopped running and won’t start back up.

The horn on my vehicle stopped working. I have no idea when it stopped working but when I tried to use it after a vehicle went throw a stop sign I realized it wasn’t working. Talked to my dealership and they said ‘it’s a known problem with the horn. ’.

The horn has quit working - and had to be replaced - on three different occasions. I've owned the car less than two years. This has led to me being unable to warn traffic and almost caused multiple collisions.

I purchased this 2022 Kona used with 12,000 miles in April 2024. On 4 occasions it has failed to start. When starting the vehicle with push button I only heard a series of clicking. There was no other sound made while trying to start the car. My husband had a remote jumper and attached it to the battery as directed on the jumper, then pushed the start button. The vehicle started immediately. The vehicle then ran normally. I episode occurred after the vehicle sat while we were away for 2 weeks on vacation. Again, using the remote jumper, the vehicle started immediately. Another occasion, the vehicle was driven that day and when attempting to move the car from the driveway into the garage, it once again failed to start. Just a series of clicking sounds. Application of the remote jumper once again started the car immediately. On the 4 th occasion (today 6/25/24) I was stopped at a traffic light waiting for the right turn arrow to appear. It was raining hard. The vehicle cut off (as it normally does when idling while stopped) then the dashboard went dead. The safety flashers would not work nor could I restart the car. This time there was no sound or clicking. I exited the vehicle in heavy rain and traffic, got the remote jumper from the trunk, raised the hood in the rain and heavy traffic and proceeded to attach the jumper to the car battery. The car started immediately. This last occasion of the vehicle shutting down was extremely dangerous. As I stated it occurred in a heavy rain in a very congested and heavily traveled city road. Visibility was poor due to the weather and lack of safety flashers (toledo, ohio at the corner of monroe st and secor Ave). I was fearful standing outside the vehicle with so much traffic. I was blocking the right turn lane so people behind me were not happy. I am 70 years old and unable to push it to the side of road. I believe that intersection has a left turn lane, 2 straight lanes, and the right turn lane.

I had taken my vehicle for an oil change in June 2024 when I was advised that the oil level was very low so I had to sign a waiver that they would not be held liable if I have issues. Going forward we continued to check the oil level every 1-2 weeks and added it as needed. We never had any signs of where the oil was going or an oil light letting me know it was low. In November 2024 the motor started to surge or decline in power while driving. It also has times that the car would seize up for a few seconds which caused jerking. I’ve not had it serviced except for oil changes because I believe it will not be an easy fix and very expensive. Besides if I did have it looked at I know it would take an expert in piston rings or whatever other parts that are failing to cause it to consume high amounts of oil. Even though my car hasn’t been recalled yet it has many of the problems I see on this site for this make and model. I’m trying to make it 1 more month then decide if I should trade it in while it still runs at 115k miles.

My car is having problems due to excessive oil consumption. I took it to the dealership to get it fixed and tested for the recall. They said the recall had nothing to do with it. Took it to another mechanic for a diagnostic, the other mechanic stated that the excessive oil consumption was caused by recall that they didn't fix, and it can be stopped by getting the recall fixed.

The shark fin antenna came off at 55 mph going down the highway. The dealer who sold me the 2021 Kona sel, tried to blame us for it, saying there is no way to know if you hit a bird etc. They stated it would cost me about $1,300. 00 to repair this. My response was, are you serious? we have had this car for less than 3 months and this is your answer. So I went to a certified Hyundai dealer, both gave the same response, but added our tech is trained to spot defects and said the screws would not be shown, it would have ripped the entire unit from the car if it came off due to a defect. Which is entirely untrue. Both dealers added that they had never even heard of this happening before, so they referred me to contact Hyundai corp to open up a registered complaint. The response I got was the dealer was the one who makes the ultimate decision. She gave me a link to buy direct from Hyundai as soon as I stated I would make a complaint here. Then I asked her the same thing I asked both dealers, why are you denying this? this is a very common issue. I also added that if the truck behind us was struck by the antenna ripping off, I would be in court to sue them. I then added it will only be a matter of time before injuries or death from this occurs and that will end up with all of the complaints being used in court to force you to comply. I ended up finding a better deal from a Hyundai dealer than the one she gave me. I performed the repair myself. The repair cost me about 300 dollars. I also want to ad that when I used ai to ask how to tell if the antenna was defective, the explanation and pics were exactly identical to the pictures I took. As this was during warmer months I felt very happy a person on a motorcycle was not hit. People need to research this on their own before purchasing this auto in my opinion.

Driving on the highway (rt50 east) 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. 5-12-24 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.

Horn stop work( it does not honk). Horn not working will unable driver to allert other drivers when runnig into my vehicle, such as when backing out of a tight parking lot yes, this will not pass the inspection check therfore unable to driver the problem was inspected by the dealer< eckert Hyundai technitian in denton texas there indcator other than by honking.

1. Component or system failed or malfunctioned: the primary component that has consistently failed or malfunctioned is the air conditioning (ac) system. The ac unit does not adequately cool the vehicle's cabin, especially in hot weather. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request; it has been previously inspected by authorized Hyundai dealerships. 2. How safety was put at risk: the malfunctioning ac unit poses a significant health and safety risk, particularly due to the presence of a [xxx] infant who frequently rides in the vehicle. Driving in a hot car without effective cooling can lead to heat-related distress for a young child. There is also a concern that this persistent issue may indicate a broader manufacturing defect, potentially warranting a safety recall. 3. Problem reproduced or confirmed by dealer/service center: yes, the problem has been repeatedly reproduced and confirmed by an authorized Hyundai dealership. Paramus Hyundai has examined this specific ac issue on four separate occasions during the last summer, and a fifth visit is now scheduled/imminent. Despite these multiple service attempts, the issue remains unresolved. 4. Inspection by manufacturer, police, insurance, or others: the vehicle and its ac component have been inspected multiple times by an authorized Hyundai dealer (paramus Hyundai). The manufacturer, Hyundai motor America, is aware of this ongoing issue, as evidenced by two formal customer service cases: an older case (case number: [xxx]) handled by customer service specialist raghad, and a more recent, open case (case number: [xxx]) handled by customer service specialist simran. The repeated advice given for the new case is the same as previous attempts, indicating a lack of definitive resolution despite manufacturer involvement through their customer service channels. 5. Warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms: no specific warning lamps or messages have appeared on the vehicle's dashboard related to the information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information.

My vehicle suffered a tire blowout on 6/27/21. It was determined to be caused by ripped beading on the inner and outer part of the tire. It was also said that the damage to the tire occurred at time of initial install by improper mounting and balancing of the wheels and tired. The tires were 235/55/r17 kelly a/s edge m+s tubeless radial tires manufactured in mexico. The tires were placed on vehicle by the dealer. My safety was put at risk because 1) the tires were not manufacture recommended oem tires. 2) no warning indicator illuminated on the dash to indicate the tire was loosing pressure. The vehicle then a month 1/2 later caught fire. Prior to the fire several warning malfunction indicators illuminated. In addition to what was apparent electrical haywire, causing alarm sounds ( beeping), flashing lights, and warning indicators illuminating throughout the dash. The vehicle is said to be a 2018 Hyundai Kona petrol. Although at time of purchase and fire was equipped with a lithium ion 20h battery. I was told an inspection was done in August of 2021 by Hyundai motor of America after fire and veing towed to the local Hyundai dealer, however to date 3/2024 am still denied the report and gave never been allowed to have it. The fire said to have been caused by audio installation faulty wiring to a subwoofer secured in the back of the vehicle which coincidentally was also stolen due to the repair dealer facing to secure the vehicle during repairs. The repair facility provided a work order that only listed 2 parts replaced which were two main wiring harnesses. In addition to the wire harnesses that the repair dealer is said to have replaced, there were other documented changes and replaced parts not mentioned, listed or detailed on any repair order. The original lithium ion battery had been replaced. Two- 50v main relay fuses in the relay box located in the engine compartment had been replaced. Prior to fire read hmml, after repairs read pbd01. Prt. 1of3.

The 565 and 566 required to be submitted by manufacture prior to sale in us lists the vehicle manufacturer in korea, describes vehicle as a truck and weight recorded at over 33000 lbs. The vehicle has had no safety inspections and a rather loose self certification process allows the oversight and quality assurance that the vehicle did meet fmvss and all fmvss requirements. Simply taking a manufactures word for it does not protect innocent consumers and endangers every driver on the road. The vehicle was driven on a fully capable scale and weighed 3, 126lbs fully loaded. The vehicle has a wmi of km8, when a wmi search on the NHTSA website through manufacture information list only the sonata as km8 and decodes the VIN kmh in the us not km8. The window sticker lists a port of entry as pt, however again 0 import documentation is found. The washington state dol states the vehicle was manufactured in the us and shipped to the dealer. However the only us Hyundai manufacture plant in the us was hmma and they according to 555 and 566 submittal do not manufacture the Kona. The Kona is not listed as manufactured by any us Hyundai rather hatci is listed as a parent company and has a submittal of a 565 and 566 listing the Kona as a truck but was not submitted until 2023. Again my vehicle was said to have been registered in washington state in 2018. A recorded conversation I had recently with NHTSA safety hotline, NHTSA representative can be heard stating not every vehicle is tested due to lack of funding. That's not safe. I have a right to know the vehicle I am driving is fit for the road. When asked why the crash testing safecar program was created, NHTSA states to ensure safe cars for consumers when the website states it allows for incentives to be offered to manufactures to produce these safer vehicle. There is no requirments to ensure that they do. And if the car isn't randomly selected to be tested, the NHTSA does not ensure it does but takes the manufacturers word.

The horn has failed; will not produce sound. The fuse has tested good for continuity. Many online threads offering the same horn failure from Hyundai but no recall, at this point. This is in direct violation of florida statute 316. 27. . . Horns and warning devices. I have a dealer appointment made.

My rear passenger door and trunk will not unlock. The rear passenger door will not unlock from the inside or via the key fob. This puts my child at risk in the back seat by not allowing them to exit the vehicle. The dealer states that the door lock mechanism has to be rebuilt. This sounds like a manufacturer safety problem. My concern is that this could happen to all of the doors on the car. Which is an enormous safety concern.

Loss of power to speed unable to acceleration had to pull over.

See all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Kona 🔎.

Muffler pipe fell off while car was sitting in my driveway.

January 2024: horn failure. Pressed the car's horn, and it failed to produce the loud sound that it is supposed to make to warn others of possible danger. It continued to not work and needed to be replaced. Part 96611-j9500 was replaced again.

Horn fails in very cold weather. When the horn is depressed/pushed down on, no sound is produced. The first and second incident caused it to stop working completely. During the third incident, repeated pressing of the horn would eventually produce a weak sound that would eventually grow louder. This compromises safety because the horn cannot be counted on to alert others to imminent possible danger/collision. The dealer confirmed it twice and replaced the horn twice. The first incident was remedied by replacing the horn fuse. The vehicle gave absolutely no warning or symptoms that the horn was going to fail to produce any sound. Incident dates: 12/25/2022, 02/26/2023, and 01/18/2024.

This car has had 8 dct codes. Oil pump replaced, thermostat replaced, radiator replaced, horn replaced, thermostat housing and thermostat replaced again, ignition wires replaced, oil sensor replaced. Most issues happened before car was 1 years old. Car is always fixed free of charge at dealership. Car was shaking if I went over 20 mph.

Horn stopped working out of nowhere.

Hyundai is making it very difficult to get the safety recall fixed, roadblocks in every step, the worst customer service, just delaying at every little step, unbelievable, took several months to find a fix, then several weeks to get an appointment, only to find that they will order the part, several more weeks go by, then I need start the apppointment process again and wait for 4 more weeks. . Got to be kidding.

I was driving at night and my passenger was trying to pull up the maps on the touchscreen dash and the headlights shut off and the whole dash including the speedometer and rpm guage shut off for less than 10 seconds it all went off and came back on on its own.

See all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Kona 🔎.