5 complaints reported

2019 Hyundai Kona UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
5
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Oct 2025

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 HYUNDAI KONA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Jan 2024
Apr 2025

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 HYUNDAI KONA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Aug 2024
Feb 2025

I am reporting a recurring safety issue involving engine stalling in active traffic due to excessive oil loss and internal component failure. This has occurred three times within approximately 12,000 miles and has created dangerous conditions for my family, including my 2.5 year old child who rides in the vehicle. Summary of incidents: • May 15, 2025 – 61,736 miles: Vehicle stalled in traffic and lost acceleration. Dealership confirmed abnormal noise and low oil, but no oil consumption test was ordered. • Fall 2025 – 66,448 miles: Vehicle stalled and died on the highway. Diagnosis showed broken camshaft timing components. Service invoice states the engine oil system was too low and caused internal failures. Major timing components replaced. • October 30, 2025 – 69,175 miles: Vehicle stalled in traffic again. Oil was low after only 2,727 miles since previous repair. Dealer advised oil consumption test after another 1,000 miles, but I do not feel the vehicle is safe to drive due to repeated stalling and internal failures. At the most recent incident the dealership confirmed the oil level was again low, but did not identify the cause or perform consumption testing until after repeated failures. These repeated stall events are serious safety hazards and could result in a collision or injury. I have lost confidence in the safety of the vehicle. Based on consultation with an experienced engine mechanic, underlying internal damage from oil starvation is likely and may indicate piston ring or engine defect consistent with known Hyundai/Kia oil consumption issues. Hyundai has declined to provide a buyback or full repair solution and the vehicle continues to demonstrate dangerous conditions. We have purchased a full warranty for the engine but warranty company will not cover it as they are saying this is a pistons issue - wear and tear. I am requesting NHTSA investigation and assistance to ensure this defect is addressed before someone is injured.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 HYUNDAI KONA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2025
Jun 2024

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.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 HYUNDAI KONA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: May 2024
Feb 2022

When I purchased my Hyundai Kona I was over the moon excited. It checked all or the boxes for me and my family. Now I live in fear every single day that the ongoing car theft in my area is going to flip my entire world upside emotionally and financially. I want to know what Hyundais solution is to support the families that put trust in them when purchasing a vehicle from them.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2019 HYUNDAI KONA, Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Incident: Feb 2022

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2019 Hyundai Kona has 5 UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.