Reliable Auto DB

2019 Hyundai Kona reliability

Is it reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2019 Hyundai Kona holds 191 complaints after 8 years, a rate of 15 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Kona years here — under the median of the other years, which is 18. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Engine.

2018 Hyundai Kona
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

191

Per year

15

Recalls

1

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (131 of 191), then Electrical system (18) and Powertrain (18). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 Kona has 75 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2020 has 158 complaints, 29 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2019 Hyundai Kona. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall Engine 2021-04-28 · NHTSA campaign 21V301000
Summary 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.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

Complaints by component (191 total)

Engine
131
Electrical system
18
Powertrain
18
Fuel and propulsion system
10
Engine and engine cooling
9
Forward collision avoidance
9
Speed control
7
Lane departure
6
Air bags
5
Structure
5
Exterior lighting
4
Service brakes
3
Seats
2
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Seat belts
1
Steering
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 9 more Show less
Crash-flagged

11

Fire-flagged

4

Injury reports

4

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

120188201972020292021222022192023342024352025362026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "My Blue Hyundai Kona Ultimate paint is peeling from the roof. This can create a hazard if the paint chips in large pieces and flys obstructing visibility. The paint chipping is also close to the front windshield which…"
    Structure · filed 2026-09-19
  • "I took my vehicle to a dealership for a recall and they refused to honor it. They made excuses and performed an unrelated service."
    Engine · filed 2026-09-16
  • "Vehicle starting using extreme amounts of oil, lose acceleration and stalling while driving and making klicking noises. All symptoms point to Hyundai recall 203 (NHTSA campaign number 21V301000). Dealer and manufacturer…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-14
  • "My 2019 Hyundai Kona SE (2.0L Nu MPI/Atkinson engine) was previously subject to NHTSA Recall 21V301000 (Hyundai Recall 203) for defective piston oil rings that can chip and cause accelerated oil consumption, engine…"
    Powertrain, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-07
  • "The engine was spewing oil into the air filter and also out of a hose near the turbo. It was also consuming high amounts of oil, yes its available for inspection. I was driving on a busy public highway and my car lost…"
    Speed control, Engine · filed 2026-08-18

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2019 Hyundai Kona Electric SUV AWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2019 Hyundai Kona SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2019 Hyundai Kona SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Kona all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) All-wheel drive 25 30 27 MPG $2400
Kona all-wheel drive 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (7-speed) All-wheel drive 26 29 27 MPG $2400
Kona Electric — Automatic (1-speed) Front-wheel drive 132 108 120 MPG / 258 mi range $650
Kona front-wheel drive 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (7-speed) Front-wheel drive 28 32 30 MPG $2150
Kona front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 27 33 30 MPG $2150

Specs and fitment

OS generation, 2018–2023
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (2.0L); 5W-30 (1.6L turbo where equipped) , 4.2 qt capacity
Tire size 215/55R17 to 235/45R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA campaign 21V301000. 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. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

Compare

Previous year 2018 Hyundai Kona Next year 2020 Hyundai Kona See every Hyundai Kona model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Hyundai Kona reliable?

NHTSA's file on the 2019 Hyundai Kona holds 191 complaints after 8 years, a rate of 15 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Kona years here — under the median of the other years, which is 18. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Engine.

What are common problems with a 2019 Hyundai Kona?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (131 of 191), then Electrical system (18) and Powertrain (18). Those filings include 11 that report a crash, 4 that report a fire, and 4 that report an injury.

Is the 2019 Hyundai Kona more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 Kona has 75 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2020 has 158 complaints, 29 per year. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Hyundai Kona been recalled?

The 2019 Hyundai Kona has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Hyundai Kona?

Owners have filed 191 complaints about the 2019 Hyundai Kona with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2019 Hyundai Kona get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2019 Hyundai Kona is 46.8 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Hyundai Kona take?

OS (2018-2023): 0W-20 for the 2.0L; 5W-30 for the 1.6L turbo where equipped. SX2 (2024-on): 0W-20 for 2.0L and turbo where equipped. Confirm the manual.

What does NHTSA campaign 21V301000 cover on the Kona?

Certain 2019-2021 Kona (with Elantra and Veloster) with 2.0L Nu MPI engines: piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.

When did the second-generation Kona start in the US?

Model year 2024 (SX2 generation on this site).