100 of the
206 complaints filed about the Hyundai Kona Electric
are about the electrical system —
49% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
While driving approximately 70 mph on I-10 in Louisiana late at night, my 2020 Hyundai Kona EV displayed a “Check EV System” warning while I was on the highway. There were no safe areas or emergency shoulders available to pull over, so I continued driving toward the nearest exit. Approximately 15 minutes after the warning appeared, as I attempted to exit the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power and rapidly slowed. The vehicle came to a complete stop and could not accelerate, move forward, or reverse. This created a serious safety risk because the vehicle lost propulsion while traveling at highway speed. The vehicle had approximately 62,000 miles at the time of the incident. The vehicle was towed to Giles Hyundai where the dealership diagnosed an internal temperature sensor and resolver failure. Because these components are integrated into the drive system, the dealership replaced the entire traction motor assembly. The repair cost was approximately $9,000. The sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed created a dangerous situation for both the driver and surrounding traffic.
NHTSA complaint #11722050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On February 3, 2026, while driving in a high-traffic turning lane, my Hyundai Kona Electric vehicle suddenly lost propulsion and would not accelerate. The vehicle shut down without warning and could not be restarted. Traffic was building behind me, creating a safety hazard. I felt unsafe due to surrounding vehicles expecting movement, I contacted the police for assistance. The vehicle had to be towed from the roadway. The vehicle was transferred between 3 dealerships before being diagonsed. On February 16, 2026, the issue was diagnosed as a motor position sensor failure affecting the propulsion system. The vehicle has remained inoperable since February 3, 2026, and there is no repair ETA due to parts availability. The vehicle remains at the servicing dealership and is available for inspection upon request. There were no prior warning lamps, dashboard messages, or noticeable symptoms before the sudden loss of propulsion. This incident involved a sudden failure of the vehicle’s propulsion system while operating in active traffic and presented a significant safety concern.
NHTSA complaint #11719765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving the instrument panel, headlights and infotainment screen all went black. Has happened multiple times but difficult to replicate. Vehicles head lights turned off while driving in the early morning (dark) but turned back on within a second or two. No warnings, no lights, no errors.
NHTSA complaint #11683772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I found a lot of debris of metals contaminated in the gear reduction oil when I changed my gear reduction oil. I had a Vortex oil lug nut, which it sucks all of the metal debris in. I have pictures of that as a proof. I think this is a design flaw that Hyundai should recall, but they didn’t. Now it caused a clicking noise whenever I accelerate or step on the accelerator pedal. Additionally, their are some glitches with their software where it disconnected the wireless Apple car play and the back up camera didn’t show up sometimes whenever I put into reverse.
NHTSA complaint #11682034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Component Failed: Electric transmission/drive unit failed twice before 150,000 miles. Still in vehicle, available for inspection. Safety Risk: Loss of propulsion while driving creates risk of being rear-ended or stranded in dangerous traffic conditions. Right now the car is not drivable Confirmed By: Problem confirmed by Hyundai dealership/service center on both failures. Inspection: Inspected by authorized Hyundai service center; manufacturer was notified. Warning Symptoms: Before the failure there was a screeching sound coming from the hood. In both failures, these warnings appeared shortly before or during the loss of propulsion.
NHTSA complaint #11680934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyundai engages emergency parking brake EPB) automatically when in parked on an incline. The EPB will disengage under normal operation if all doors are closed. If doors are open, EPB will not disengage. If going from park to drive, this is not a problem. However, if in drive, traveling with trunk open for oversized cargo, the vehicle will drive normally until a stop on an incline, when the EPB will engage automatically, and then when the driver tries to proceed from the stop, their vehicle is disabled. The driver can provide power to drive train and burn the EPB. The driver must manually intervene after every stop on an incline to disengage the EPB to avoid being disabled at an intersection.
NHTSA complaint #11678615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving at 930pm in the dark at a speed of 30 mph and the car completely shut off all power. No warning signs. Just completely lost power. No headlights or interior lights. I was able to brake and stop the car and restarted it to continue on. Lu ckily I was on neighborhood roads with street lights and little traffic. This could have been extremely dangerous on a road with no lighting and a high speed. I am now scared to let my new teen driver use this car and we bought the car for her! The car was at 47 percent battery and only has 5000 miles on it. Seems in my current research this is somewhat common for Hyundai. Please make them fix this before someone is seriously injured!
NHTSA complaint #11677705 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyundia has had my car in for the SAME recall 4 to 5 times . 6 total weeks this time around. The ""refill inverter coolant" light kept coming back on . The last time I got it home it had more issues than when I took it in and wouldn't even catch a charge . (EV) They fried my compassitor trying to fix the inverter coolant recall . I then took had to pay 450 for a diagnostic ' (Kerry hyundai alexandria) They said electric motor is bad and will cost 8000 to 9000. Got a 2nd diagnostic (Jeff wyler hyundai cincinnati) Completely different result- Zero mention of motor ' said Ac compasitor failed. (Had no issues prior to them working on the original recall ) The light for the recall is still on by the way and they want me to pay 3500 for new AC capacitor . (600 diagnostic included in that price ) " The dealership’s failure to properly perform the inverter coolant refill recall directly caused the AC compressor failure in my 2021 Hyundai Kona EV. Before taking the vehicle in for the recall, the AC system was fully functional, delivering cold air without any issues, and the car experienced no charging problems, indicating the battery and cooling systems were operating normally. The recall, intended to flush the inverter cooling system and replace the crystallizing BSC-1 coolant with BSC-2, was not completed correctly, as evidenced by the dealership’s admission that they couldn’t fix it. This botched service likely left air or debris in the cooling system, which, in Kona EVs with a heat pump, could overwork the AC compressor used for battery cooling during charging. The compressor’s failure shortly after the recall service, despite no prior issues, strongly suggests that the improper coolant flush caused undue stress on the compressor, leading to its $3,000 failure, which should be covered under warranty or as a goodwill repair due to the dealership’s error". [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11674690 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car was unable to charge using level 3 DC fast chargers, necessitating the use of a level 2 charger for an extended length of time in order to be able to return home. A Hyundai dealer replaced the charging inlet lock actuator (invoice attached).
NHTSA complaint #11669567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #11667952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While I was driving the heads up display and the telemeter all go black I lose all lights all blind spot and warnings. Then the car will recycle through and all the displays will come up again. This happens every month and a half or so, and the dealership says they cannot replicate the problem and they don’t know anything.
NHTSA complaint #11647008 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
6/17/2024 12 volt battery was dead; EV was fully charged 6/16/2024 using Level 2 charger in my home garage. AAA charged the battery; I drove to Crossroads Hyundai Loveland, CO and asked to have the converter to the main battery checked; this was not done. Crossroads checked the battery via CADEX with "good battery charge" as result. No other diagnostic work was performed. 8/26/2024 12 volt battery again depleted; AAA charged twice 11:06 am (recharge and retest ) and 3:51pm (Bad & replace). I drove again to Crossroads Hyundai which claimed battery test showed good battery. Technician found a draw dropped after pulling fuses F6 multi media and F16 memory. Techline at Hyundai was contacted and tech was instructed to install junction box for fuses (91950-K4061 Junction Box assembly I/PNL 91). The car was undriveable on the Crossroads lot until part received and replaced 9/20/2024. 9/24/2024 when I arrived to pick up the car, the service advisor told me the door was left ajar after car wash, causing draw on battery; the battery was damaged by continued discharge due to strain from parts replaced. Hyundai agreed to replace the battery at no charge to customer. There were no warming lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to 6/17/2024. My safety, as a senior and woman is at risk if the car was stranded in a parking lot or other area outside of my home garage.
NHTSA complaint #11641724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The horn has been replaced multiple times for failing without ANY warning. The service department at the Hyundai dealer said that this is a known problem for the horns. The horns short out because moisture builds up and damages the wiring, causing them to fail without warning. At this time, Hyundai does not have a "fix" nor does it have any horns available to replace my failed horn. Hyundai has not offered a loaner vehicle. This vehicle is currently leased from Hyundai and I am current on my lease payments. This vehicle is due for inspection in May 2025 and it will not pass without a horn. I have had several near-miss situations in which I had to brake hard to avoid pedestrians - a horn would have alerted the pedestrians to my presence. Because this is an electric vehicle it runs very quietly and pedestrians need to be alerted with a horn.
NHTSA complaint #11641784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving at night with multiple occurances the headlights, infotainment, and gauge cluster seemingly cut out and completely turned off for about 10 seconds before the infotainment system would reboot bringing back the headlights and gauge cluster. The conditions for this safety concern were [Headlamps were set to auto, Apple Carplay was wirelessly connected, and the vehicle was in motion.] After a trip to a dealer, the dealership could not reproduce the concern though an advisor did state this was not an isolated incident. No warning lights or error messages appeared on the gauge cluster that would indicate a problem.
NHTSA complaint #11638330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The Charging unit made by Enel X called a JuiceBox 40 failed to complete a charge. Upon examination of the charger it was determined that the plug from the unit to the 240V receptacle was fused to the outlet and could not be removed. When my electrician opened the box he was able to force the plug out of the outlet. He found that the plug was burned as well as the copper wire that went to the plug from the electrical box.
NHTSA complaint #11636790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving at night, there was a complete loss of power of all interior and exterior lights. The engine continued to run. Because it was at night, I had problems staying on the road since this was a rural highway.
NHTSA complaint #11636656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
During the winter the vehicle does not produce heat. There is a knocking sound from under the dash and only cold air comes out of all the vents. When it was 20 degrees out I measure 35 degree air out the vents over the couse of an hour drive. The car has been to the dealer multiple times for this issues. They have acknowledged the problem and have tried replaing different parts but the problem still occurs. It's very cold in the car when it's below freezing outside and it's difficult to clear the windows of fog, frost, and snow with no heat. The HVAC system will make the knocking sound when turing on the car and sometimes when driving also. Trying to adjust the temperature will sometimes trigger the noise. I feel the knocking sound and lack of hear are related.
NHTSA complaint #11630822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that the failure worsened while driving up an incline. The contact stated that on one occasion during the failure, the vehicle hesitated and the driver behind had to swerve and ended up striking the rear of another vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and was in communication with the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
NHTSA complaint #11630438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Parasitic draw on battery. Service departments cannot find its location. Manufacturer was notified .the safety issues. We never know when the car will shut off while driving or start.
NHTSA complaint #11624004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.