The 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 19,579 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 73 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric and 2020 Ioniq Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Consequence
An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the interim action is complete. Hyundai will notify owners, and as an interim action, owners have the option to follow provided instructions to perform a battery update through the vehicle's infotainment system or request a Hyundai…
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC20V7480002020-12-018,176 affected
Defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell and 2019-2021 Kona Electric vehicles. The Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may detect an abnormal sensor signal and as a result, may significantly reduce braking performance.
Consequence
Reduced braking power could lengthen the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the IEB software, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 199.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Consequence
An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Battery Management System (BMS) software and inspect the Li-ion battery, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the repair is complete. The recall began November 13, 2020. …
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
1
1crashes
Total complaints73
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The contact owned a 2019 hyundai kona. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle accelerated rapidly through a busy intersection on its own and would not slow or stop, despite the brake pedal being depressed. As a result, the contact briefly lost control…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“-the gear drive was diagnosed as needed to be replaced -the gru may lock up during driving causing the vehicle to stop -dealer confirmed needs replacing -no warnings or lights on vehicle, it was noticed that the vehicle made a louder noise while driving but could be confused with tires or normal…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP22005 Opened 2023-01-27 · closed 2023-08-07
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2019 Hyundai Kona Electric as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.