Hyundai Kona owners have reported 33 problems related to service brakes (under the service brakes category). The most recently reported issues are listed below. Also please check out the statistics and reliability analysis of Hyundai Kona based on all problems reported for the Kona.
I have a 2025 Hyundai Kona limited. On [xxx], around the afternoon on sunnyvale, California, while exiting [xxx] headed to lake tahoe, the liftgate bolt that attaches to the body had buckled mechanically as the system did not back away when a flashlight that came out of a travel bag was blocking the way to have it closed. The car computer thinks the liftgate is open even though the lock is secured. The car computer allows to drive without seatbelts secured or closures ajar for a few seconds at low speed but then it automatically with little warning engages the electronic handbrake while driving. I was driving on a highway in a middle lane when the car engaged without my consent the electronic handbrake locking the wheels and I almost got rear ended and killed by a semitruck. I had to floor the gas pedal and steer to a shoulder to request a tow. Since it was a long weekend before presidents day, I had the car taken to the nearest dealer in modesto California. Their service department invented a lie that due to a side crash, which was a failure of the collision mitigation system that happened months ago, is the cause and that it is my fault even though the driver admitted responsibility but it is an unrelated issue. There should be a way of overriding the car computer so it does not engage the electronic hand brake on the middle of the highway, specially at night as this creates a road hazard that can lead to death. I replicate the issue with a rental, a Hyundai tucson, they use the same gas strut and bolt that in my opinion has a very narrow gage. As you can see in the picture, the passenger side bolt is fine, the driver side is buckled. The side accident that happened on may 2025 was on the passenger side but the liftgate is fine; at any rate both sides should be deformed not just one if that were to be the case but it is not. Dealer and Hyundai attempting to sideline the issue to avoid a warranty and recall in my opinion. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).
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all problems of the 2025 Hyundai Kona
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While stopped our 2019 Kona ev at a traffic light with my foot on the brake, the car spontaneously accelerated and crashed into the car also sitting at the light about eight feet in front of us. If there wasn't a car in front of us, we would have gone through a busy intersection at very high speed. The front end of the car was destroyed and both airbags deployed. The car was towed to a collision center and is considered: "totaled" . We tried to get it inspected for the computer system to confirm what happened, but there was no interest by any party. There was no pre-warning or issues with the vehicle before this happened. The incident happened about ten miles from our house, and we had been driving it for about 15 minutes. The temperature outside was extremely cold at about 5 degrees fahrenheit.
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all problems of the 2019 Hyundai Kona
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Body: the hood/under the hood: there is a wide ½“ or more gap on the right and left side of the hood. I can see inside under the hood from a distance. It is not flush while connecting to the rest of the vehicle. I can see the ground after opening the hood. The engine and all the components are exposed to the elements. This is a new vehicle from the dealership brand. There is no cover for the bottom to protect the engine or protection for wirings and other mechanisms under the hood. Winters in illinois is brutal and floods. Poor acceleration and brakes restriction while steering experienced dragging sounds and forced pushing and pulling. I do not trust the steering wheel mechanism at all and have to grip it to make sure I keep complete control of the steering wheel and fearful of the reliability of the breaks because I have experience being pulled or pushed while merging and having to panicky while using the brakes. I must press extremely hard to brake in slow traffic and use extreme hard brake to slow to a complete stop during rush hours. Fuel performance is horrible. This model requires gasoline. When I feel my vehicle up with fuel the tank is a fuel guzzler. The fuel disappears in days. I must refill the tank once a week. This car does not have good mileage. Doors all the doors automatically unlock when put in park. Fuel performance is horrible. This model requires gasoline. When I feel my vehicle up with fuel the tank is a fuel guzzler. The fuel disappears in days. I must refill the tank once a week. This car does not have good mileage. The steering mechanism is terrorizing my driving experience. Merging and changing lanes while driving in traffic I experience resistance and restriction. Inside the front panel inside the car appears to have glitches such as the temperature settings flipping from inside/outside air. The radio shuts down. Window fluid splatters the entire windshield obstructing view. Purchased 2025.
Approaching stop sign and tried to break and the breaks failed causing an accident and the vehicle to go into a ditch. Witness reported seeing my break lights but the vehicle did not slow down at all even when the break was pushed to the floor.
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all problems of the 2024 Hyundai Kona
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While at a light, the auto stop/start kicked on but when it was time to start driving again and I pressed the gas pedal, the car would not move. There was a long beep and then the check battery icon and an alert came on my dash board stating “auto stop is off. Shift to p or n and start engine manually. ” when I turned off the ignition and restarted the car, the alert went off but two additional icons showed up on my dash board- check engine and check oil. Then my steering wheel locked up and I could not press on the breaks or gas pedal. I could not operate my car for more than 30 minutes.
My family got in a accident on this recall of loss of power on the high way making the car crash into a wall. . . 8/16/25 3:06 pm in duval county jacksonville,FL something needs to be done about this my kids have gotten hurt.
The car loss power and shut completely off and ran into the wall with my sister and my child in there on the interstate can I please get help about this matter it could've been worse where I could've lost them forever. I don't want this to happen to nobody else they cars know about these malfunctions and still but these cars on the market for accidents to happen. Please something needs to be done about this.
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.
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all problems of the 2022 Hyundai Kona
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When I first brought the car for its first service appointment (6 months after purchase), I informed the service dept at the dealership that the car seemed to accelerate itself when I was driving. They said they hit a reset button and that I shouldn't have any more problems. What I found was that the car then drove sluggishly but it did not accelerate anymore. Recently however (2. 5 years into the purchase), the car started "sliding" when I hit the break pad. I took the car in again for service a few months ahead of time and they said that my car mat was wedged under the break pad and that was what was causing the car to slide when I hit the break. The car slid but also accelerated by about 5 miles, however I was able to quickly break and stop it without incident. This last service was on Friday, August 1st, and on Sunday August 3, the car slid and accelerated again - without the floor mat being wedged under the break. On Monday morning (August 4th) I called Hyundai so many times that I lost count. I was never able to speak with a service employee but I was given an appointment for a week and half later. According to chatgpt, it is a common issue with the 2022 Kona and it should be recalled.
Mushy brake pedal after 1000 miles this just started yesterday, seemingly out of nowhere. When I push the brake pedal it's mushier than it used to be. If I push hard, I get more resistance at first but then it slowly sinks toward the floor as a I continue to press. If I push softer then it just sinks toward the floor. I still have plenty of stopping power. If I push the pedal repeatedly then it builds up more resistance ("pump the brakes") but then the resistance calms down and it becomes mushy again.
Vehicle was service at a Hyundai dealer for routine required maintenance to continue the warranty. Less than 24 hours later I was driving my special needs, handicap daughter to breakfast and pulled into a handicap parking space and placed my foot on the brake. The pedal seemed to not have any tension and go to the floor. The emergency collision warning went off, but the brakes did not work. The vehicle jumped over a parking curb, knocking over a handicap sign, going across the sidewalk, hitting a garbage can and finally coming to a stop in a brick building.
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all problems of the 2023 Hyundai Kona
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On four separate occasions now, I have been driving on the highway at roughly 60 mph, no cars in front of or beside me, and nothing else obstructing the roadway, when completely out of nowhere the emergency braking activates for 3-5 seconds. Thankfully there was only a car behind me on one occasion, and they were far enough behind to not collide after my sudden braking.
After powering on the car, the dashboard displayed multiple brake system warnings, including the brake system warning light and a message on the lcd display that read "check regenerative brakes. " a Hyundai dealer replaced the integrated electric brake unit assembly (invoice attached).
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all problems of the 2021 Hyundai Kona
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The braking system malfunctioned. Son was driving it, brake light came on, brakes started sinking randomly. Vehicle is very slow to get vehicle to stop and had to hit brake pedal hard to even get vehicle to slow down. Opened the hood to verify if there was brake fluid, it was low. Put brake fluid in and tested brakes, a pinhole was spraying brake fluid. Took to get a diagnostic of the vehicle. In addition to the pinhole leak, diagnostics showed that where the brake lines attach there is a leak at two of the components/areas, and told the vehicle would need new brake lines. We did not repair it at the place that performed the diagnostic. We are towing it to a Hyundai dealership for inspection this week 3/21/2024. We have spoken to corporate and were given a case number. No other inspections have taken place. Brake warning light came on last week. Malfunctioning brakes are a safety risk for everyone.
After a routine service visit, the vehicle’s braking and speed?control systems began to behave abnormally. The abs/esc control module was replaced or reprogrammed without documentation, and immediately afterward the vehicle’s braking feel, speed?control behavior, and forward?collision warning timing changed noticeably. These changes created a safety risk because the vehicle no longer responded in a predictable way compared to its original performance. The affected components are available for inspection upon request. The issue was reproduced multiple times under normal driving conditions. Braking response became inconsistent, and the speed?control system no longer behaved as it did before the service. The timing and behavior of forward?collision alerts also changed compared to pre?service operation. These changes created unpredictability in traffic, especially during following?distance adjustments, stop?and?go situations, and sudden?braking scenarios. The dealership did not provide technical documentation or explanation for the module replacement or configuration changes and did not acknowledge the change in system behavior. The manufacturer’s customer service reviewed the case but did not provide technical findings. An independent service center could not verify the original configuration because the manufacturer did not provide the manufacturer build sheet. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared before or after the issue. The only indication of a problem was the sudden change in braking, speed?control, and forward?collision system behavior immediately after the service visit.
This has happened about 15 times since I bought my Hyundai Kona ev ultimate new in February 2021: when a car in front of me slows very quickly, occasionally my car tries to help me too much. I have been in complete control of the situations, but my car beeps it's warning, adds it's efforts and the brakes lock up with tires squealing, and we stop with plenty of space in between myself and the car in front of me. This usually happens in freeway traffic. It is terrifying and I always immediately look in my rearview mirror to see if I'm going to get rear-ended. I haven't been hit yet, though I have been flipped off a few times. One of these days, people will be hurt, along with the damages to the cars. The first time it happened was only about 2 weeks after the purchase. I had my 5-year old twin granddaughters in their car seats. Just as described above, the brakes locked up and it really scared them (me too!). I took it back to the salesman I bought it from at stevens creek Hyundai and he said it was just a setting with the response time, so he changed it. But it kept happening intermittently. I brought into the future Hyundai of concord dealer and they test drove it, could not replicate it, and after checking with their computers, said that the "system is working as designed". Frustrated that I wasn't being heard, I contacted Hyundai consumer affairs. They supported me and I got a case number and another appointment at a different dealer, dublin Hyundai. This time, I went on the test drive and the technician was able to replicate the situation. At first he said it was a setting, but I said that I didn't care what the setting was, this should never happen. It is very dangerous. He agreed and said he would need to contact "techline" the next day. But when I tried to find out any information about this conversation, I got only silence. Then I got a message that I could come pick up my car and that "the system is working as designed". Help!.
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all problems of the 2020 Hyundai Kona
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I started directing the car to the side of the road to park. As I was guiding the car to a stop, with my foot on the brake, I was about 12 ft. From the car in front of me when the car suddenly accelerated. The vehicle accelerated for approximately 10 ft. Before the anti-collision system auto-braked the car just prior to impacting the car in front of me.
I was driving at about 45mph and my vehicle brakes suddenly stopped responding. The car alarms went crazy and said "regenerative brake failure" which is fine and all, but why the hell would the regent failing impact my ability to stop entirely? I could not get the vehicle to respond by pumping the brakes, so I put my flashers on and rolled into a lot and thankfully didn't kill anyone. Rolled into an uphill spot, thanked the curb, and engaged the ebrake which I'm not sure actually worked. The brake was both firm and soft when pressed. That was terrifying and I was literally just on the freeway.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving 10 mph the vehicle steering wheel became stiff without any warning, causing the contact to loss control of the vehicle. The vehicle drove into a parking lot. The contact desperately pressed on the brake pedal, but the vehicle would not stop. The contact jumped out the vehicle and the vehicle struck a pole, causing minor damages to the bumper of the vehicle. The contact had minor injuring but did not seek medical attention but was in shock. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the police impound. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and advised to contact the manufacturer. The manufacturer was contacted but did not provide any assistances. The failure mileage was 70,000.
This is the second dangerous situation on the highway. Both were within reasonable speed and distance, and the car couldn't come to a complete stop. This time there was an accident and I hit the car in front of me. I realized the car had a very important brake failure malfunction.
Two times on a highway, the car engaged the automatic emergency brakes when the driver was driving straight forward. We were not turning, breaking, or accelerating and there were no cars close to our car.
This is my 2nd report on the same issue. There is another report from me on the first and I will be discussing this with my Hyundai dealer today. On a 250 mile road trip, on the expressway, two separate times, the car suddenly braked hard and the emergency warning flashed on the speedometer. Each time it was about 3-5 seconds. On the second incident, my passenger thinks she noticed it happening in conjunction with a car appearing on my side. She said the side mirror warning lit up at the same time the car started braking. It could just be a coincidence though. Thankfully, neither time did the brakes fully stop the car, but damn, it is very scary when it happens on the expressway and I am very nervous to drive with the feature on.
When I pull up to my driveway, which is on a 45-degree angle from the street for approximately 100 feet, and stop the car with the vehicle brake, take my foot off the brake and leave the transmission in drive, the car sits for approximately 15 seconds and then, without any input, the car will climb the hill. I was curious, so I turn the car around and backed into the driveway, and it did the same thing in reverse. I hate to think that a small child would be sitting in the driveway and the diver didn't see them. My question is would the car keep going and run over the child?.
During collision, airbags did not deploy. In attempt to avoid collision, automatic breaks failed and did not stop the vehicle, cruise control continued to attempt to drive the vehicle despite collision warning and did not stop- coupled with my manual breaking, the car did not stop. Car is currently at a tow lot waiting for insurance. My safety was put at risk due to airbags not deploying during serious collision, the breaks malfunctioned. At this time, the car is in the beginning stages of insurance. My car did not display any prior failure features.
Driving 60mph on I-5 in may 2021. Dry roads, no wind. Vehicle suddenly surged (as if we ran over a speed bump at 60mph) despite there being no debris nor damage on the road surface. The surge felt like the abs system triggered a single pulse, and then car completely turned off: no engine power, no radio power, no cabin lightning power, no dash lighting nor warning lights. Toggling the ignition to accessory didn't help. I had steering authority and brake authority. With no engine power, I pulled over to the side of the road. I inspected the exterior of the vehicle and there was no damage. I entered the vehicle and I was able to restart the vehicle normally. I drove it to a dealership and described the problem, they didn't know what it could be and were 30 days out on booking appointments, so I gave up.
I was driving on the freeway the car in front of me was at least 4 car lengths away. My car flashed emergency breaks and locked it’s breaks coming to a stop on the fast lane of the freeway. Nearly avoided an accident. This has happened twice- both with no reason and no issue in front of me to cause the car to think it needed to suddenly use emergency brakes.
Braking: when coming to a stop, the vehicle slows as expected. At about 10 mph or less, while still continuing to apply braking pressure by foot, the vehicle stops braking and a sudden acceleration kick occurs, propelling the vehicle forward an additional 10 feet or so, then the brake kicks in again. Was able to duplicate this issue with a tech from Hyundai of moreno valley riding as a passenger. This is hazardous, because it could result in striking a vehicle or pedestrian in a crosswalk for example.
My vehicle unnecessarily activated automatic emergency braking, locking the wheels and causing the truck behind me to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid crashing into my vehicle. This is the second time this has occurred with this car. I was driving in the slow lane of a limited access freeway. The lane was congested and I estimate the speed at about 40 mph. The cars ahead slowed and began to stop. I took my foot off the accelerator and moved to the brake. At this time I was three or four car lengths behind the car ahead, and could have stopped easily with firm but normal braking. As soon as my foot touched the brake pedal, my vehicle locked its brakes and screeched to an abrupt stop. Objects on the passenger seat were thrown to the floor. A truck behind me had to swerve to the right of my vehicle to avoid crashing into it. The driver followed me honking for half a mile until my exit. This happened once before, in February 2020. Following that incident, I took the car to Hyundai dealer service, who advised that "the car is operating correctly. " see attached service report. Note that no vehicles changed lanes in front of mine during either incident, but notwithstanding, the dealer service suggested that as a cause.
As I was coming to a stop light I pressed my brake pedals I felt a shudder through the brake pedal and my car died. This occurred three times in a short. Of time. This occurred three times in a short. Of time I was on a highway and it was very disconcerting I was able to finally get it back home.
The car breaks does not get applied intermittently, I had a forward collision. The forward collision avoidance / warning did not work. The incident happened at a busy street with slow moving traffic. This is the 2nd time the break did not get applied, the first time the road ahead was clear.
While braking forward or backing up their is a continuous scraped noise and it doesn't matter if it rain ,dry ,hot or cold weather. It my noise while braking all the time. It started at 1,000 miles and now it has 8,000 miles. Brought it in February 2020. Test drive one 6,000 and noise was worst. They said all of them make same noise. Help.
Driving during rush hour on interstate in an urban area. Cars in front slowed rapidly, applied brakes to slow down, did so successfully. Dynamic brake support then apparently kicked in, and forced the car to a stop, despite brake being fully released. Car from behind barely able to avoid crashing into me, the driver had to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid me and ended up stopping beside my car. Once car came to a stop, was able to get going again. Issue has not reproduced since.
Automatic emergency braking activated unexpectedly while driving in a highway. Vehicles ahead were stopped or slowing down and I was starting to brake and the car activated the emergency braking bringing the car to a complete stop even though there was not immediate danger of collision, there was more than a car space between my car and the stopped car. The car behind me had to veer off the road not to hit me. A similar situation happened twice before.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes problems | |
| Brake Master Cylinder problems |