2019 Hyundai Kona engine problems
147 of the 247 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Hyundai Kona name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 19 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 147 reports a crash · 4 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2020: 3 · 2021: 28 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 24 · 2025: 29 · 2026: 34
Half of the 49 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 36,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
247 complaints in all about the 2019 Hyundai Kona, 34 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Hyundai Kona engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The recall for my 2019 Hyundai Kona was issued 28 Apr 2021. It is now the middle of July 2021. How long should Hyundai owners need to wait for a remedy? I feel unsafe even driving this vehicle knowing it could possibly blow up. As of 7/12/2021, no remedy is listed. I have called my local dealer and they say the same, no remedy yet
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact received a notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the vehicle loss motive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated.
From mid-May, my wife noticed the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) illuminate on the dashboard. The MIL light would intermittently illuminate and not display at times. 1) In June, I went on Hyundai's website using my log on account to request for service. A specific date was requested but not response was provided.
I was notified of a recall by Carfax on May 9th, 2021. On May 10th, 2021, I took my vehicle to Lehigh Valley Hyundai in Pennsylvania. I have been back and forth trying to get in contact with my case manager and he has not responded as to what is going on with my vehicle. It is now July 5th and there is still no remedy for my car.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 21V301000 CriticalApr 28, 2021 · 158,493 vehicles
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
NHTSA investigation
- DP22003 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 12, 2022 · closed Dec 12, 2023
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints i…
19 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- 26-EE-003H TSB Service bulletinApr 18, 2026
- Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1327 P0017 P0011 P0014 P0171 P0301 P0366
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Hyundai Kona names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Hyundai Kona
Source: the same files- electrical problems 60 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 147 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (60% of everything owners filed about it), and 19 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 21V301000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 70,000 miles; half of them between 36,000 and 100,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.