2019 Hyundai Kona Reliability & Problems
By Adrian V. LockhartUpdated All 193 NHTSA owner reports researched and classified
Owner complaints
193
13 report a crash, fire, injury or death
Recalls
1
None urgent
Most common problem
36%
of complaints: stalling while driving
Complaints per year filed
2018–2025 · peak 35
In short
Serious known problemsThe 2019 Hyundai Kona has serious known problems: 38% of its owner complaints (74) describe engine failure or stalling. NHTSA has 193 owner complaints, and 13 report a crash, fire, injury or death. The most common problems are stalling while driving, engine failure and heavy oil use. This model year has 1 recall.
Reliability
How Reliable Is the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
This model year is rated as having serious known problems because the engine dominates its complaints. 38% of complaints describe engine failure or stalling, and 42% report a crash, fire, injury or death, or a loss of power while moving. Those problems are not minor. A car that stalls or loses power on the road can leave a driver in traffic with little warning, and several owners describe exactly that at highway speeds.
Three problems recur: stalling while driving, outright engine failure, and heavy oil consumption. They overlap. Owners who describe oil running low often go on to report knocking, a check engine light, stalling and an engine that seized or would not restart. Many complaints that are filed under one heading mention symptoms from another, so it is best to treat them as one family of engine trouble rather than separate issues. Engine knocking or ticking is reported less often, but it appears alongside the same oil and power-loss stories.
Recall 21V301000 covers part of this. It says the piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage, and the remedy is that dealers inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. Many owners in the stalling, engine failure and oil consumption groups mention this recall by number. This model year has no recall for the knocking noise itself. Among stalling reports where owners say how repairs went, none say the repair fully fixed it, 3 say it helped partly and 9 say it did not. Owners who report outcomes lean toward repairs that failed, so a completed recall does not guarantee a trouble-free car.
Mileage matters, but it is not a safe harbor. Stalling is typically reported between about 30,000 and 96,500 miles, with a middle point near 65,600 miles. Engine failure is reported somewhat later, from about 44,000 to 94,500 miles with a middle point of 71,000 miles. Oil consumption tends to appear later again, with a middle point of 78,000 miles. A Kona with 40,000 miles is already inside the range where some owners report stalling and engine failure, and one near 70,000 to 100,000 miles is in the range where all three problems are most often reported.
If you are shopping for one, favor a car with documented recall work and regular oil service, and be cautious about any with warning lights or engine noises. Remember the limits of this evidence. Complaint counts show what owners reported to NHTSA, not how many vehicles are affected, and they cannot show how a particular car was maintained. A well-kept car may be fine, but this model year's record of engine complaints justifies a careful inspection before you buy.
Top problems
The 4 problems owners report most
Named from 193 NHTSA complaints. Open a problem for symptoms, the fix, cost and owners' accounts.
1Stalling or shutting off while drivingCriticalAbout 1 in 3 complaints30,000–96,500 mi
Owners describe the car stalling, often after a check engine light, and some say it would not restart or lost power at highway speeds such as 60 mph. Reports start around 30,000 miles and the middle point is about 65,600 miles. Many owners mention recall 21V301000.
What owners describe
- Stalls while driving51%
- Check engine light21%
- Will not restart9%
- Loss of power or acceleration6%
Fix
Most common repair owners describe: engine replacement diagnosed (3 reports). Recall 21V301000.
Repair worked in 13% of complaints that describe one (complaints lean toward repairs that failed)
Mileage
65,600 mi
Middle half 30,000–96,500 mi · 32 reports
Repair cost
—
Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost
How common
36%
70 of 193 complaints
By engine
- 2.0L 4-cyl95%
- 1.6L 4-cyl5%
In owners' words
“This vehicle has stalled five (5) times while driving, twice at highway speeds and three times at neighborhood speeds.”
Owner in PA2.0L 4-cylFiled 2021NHTSA 11429839 “In order to get my car running again, I have to park it somewhere safe, turn it off, and turn it back on.”
Owner in MI2.0L 4-cylFiled 2024NHTSA 11564492 “I am terrified of driving this car and it stalls when turning and coming to a stop or just slowing down.”
Owner in MO2.0L 4-cylFiled 2022NHTSA 11447144 2Engine failureCriticalAbout 1 in 4 complaints44,000–94,500 mi
Owners describe a check engine light, a loss of power, an engine that seized and a car that would not restart, with a replacement engine often diagnosed. Reports start around 44,000 miles and the middle point is about 71,000 miles. Many owners mention recall 21V301000.
What owners describe
- Check engine light38%
- Loss of power23%
- Engine needs replacing17%
- Engine seized15%
Fix
Most common repair owners describe: engine replacement diagnosed (5 reports). Recall 21V301000.
Mileage
71,000 mi
Middle half 44,000–94,500 mi · 26 reports
Repair cost
—
Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost
How common
24%
47 of 193 complaints
By engine
- 2.0L 4-cyl84%
- 1.6L 4-cyl16%
In owners' words
“After having it towed to a repair shop they stated the engine had pieces of metal throughout and would need to be replaced.”
Owner in PA1.6L 4-cylFiled 2024NHTSA 11563528 “The car used extremely amounts of oil yet showed no signs of a leak and the car would shut off randomly while driving.”
Owner in AZ2.0L 4-cylFiled 2023NHTSA 11515486 “They confirmed that I need a new engine and still have my car and Hyundai corporate has not gotten back to them.”
Owner in MA2.0L 4-cylFiled 2021NHTSA 11427737 3Excessive oil consumptionCriticalAbout 1 in 5 complaints65,900–114,000 mi
Owners describe a check engine light, knocking, a burning oil smell and stalling, and one reports no low oil warning. Reports start around 65,900 miles and the middle point is about 78,000 miles. Many owners mention recall 21V301000.
What owners describe
- Check engine light16%
- Engine knock13%
- Burns oil quickly11%
- Burning oil smell5%
Fix
Most common repair owners describe: oil consumption test under way (1 report). Recall 21V301000.
Mileage
78,000 mi
Middle half 65,900–114,000 mi · 15 reports
Repair cost
—
Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost
How common
20%
38 of 193 complaints
By engine
- 2.0L 4-cyl84%
- 1.6L 4-cyl16%
In owners' words
“Noticed he had an engine knock, and noticed that the engine was consuming a good amount of oil with no warning lights or oil leaks”
Owner in FL1.6L 4-cylFiled 2026NHTSA 11739344 “Vehicle starting using extreme amounts of oil, lose acceleration and stalling while driving and making klicking noises.”
Owner in NY2.0L 4-cylFiled 2026NHTSA 11764152 “We never had any signs of where the oil was going or an oil light letting me know it was low.”
Owner in MD1.6L 4-cylFiled 2025NHTSA 11657060 4Engine knocking or ticking noiseCriticalAbout 1 in 11 complaints68,000–100,900 mi
Owners describe loud knocking or ticking while driving, sometimes with no warning lights, and one says they refilled oil every 500 miles. Some say the manufacturer refused to pay for a new engine. Several owners mention recall 21V301000.
What owners describe
- Loud engine knocking56%
- Check engine light22%
- No warning lights11%
- Ticking engine sounds6%
Fix
Most common repair owners describe: engine oil refilled (1 report). Recall 21V301000.
Mileage
94,600 mi
Middle half 68,000–100,900 mi · 9 reports
Repair cost
—
Fewer than 10 owners report a repair cost
How common
9%
18 of 193 complaints
By engine
- 2.0L 4-cyl83%
- 1.6L 4-cyl17%
Buying one
Should you buy a used 2019 Hyundai Kona?
What to check before you buy, based on the complaint and recall data.
Ask the seller for proof that recall 21V301000 was done, and ask what the dealer found when it inspected the engine. Check the service history for oil changes and any record of oil being added between changes. On a test drive, listen for knocking or ticking and watch for a check engine light. Walk away from any car that stalls, hesitates or loses power.
- 1Run the VIN for open recalls. NHTSA lists 1 recall. Check at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- 2Test-drive for stalling while driving. It's the most common safety-critical complaint, in about 1 in 3 owner complaints, usually around 65,600 miles.
- 3Get a pre-purchase inspection. An independent mechanic can spot leaks, stored fault codes and accident repairs that a test drive misses.
Hyundai Kona model years
Which Hyundai Kona years to avoid? Every model year compared
Early complaints are those filed in a model year's first 3 years. They follow how many were sold, so they don't show which years are better. Each tag is that year's verdict from our research of its owner complaints.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings.
| SUV FWD | SUV AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| Rollover risk | 14% | 14% |
Owning one
If you already own one
Find your symptom, see when problems tend to show up, and check which recalls apply.
Watch for a check engine light, knocking or ticking from the engine, a burning oil smell, or oil that runs low between changes. Stalling or loss of power while driving is a safety risk, so if it happens, have the car looked at before driving it again. Confirm with a dealer that recall 21V301000 was completed on your car. Keep records of every visit in case the engine needs further work.
- Stalling or shutting off while drivingCriticalAbout 1 in 3 owner complaints70 of 193Median 65,600 mi
Most common repair owners describe: engine replacement diagnosed (3 reports).
- Engine failureCriticalAbout 1 in 4 owner complaints47 of 193Median 71,000 mi
Most common repair owners describe: engine replacement diagnosed (5 reports).
- Excessive oil consumptionCriticalAbout 1 in 5 owner complaints38 of 193Median 78,000 mi
Most common repair owners describe: oil consumption test under way (1 report).
- Engine knocking or ticking noiseCriticalAbout 1 in 11 owner complaints18 of 193Median 94,600 mi
Most common repair owners describe: engine oil refilled (1 report).
- Sudden loss of power while drivingCriticalAbout 1 in 19 owner complaints10 of 193Median 59,700 mi
of complaints that list mileage (22 of 59) came in before 25,000 miles. A low odometer reading is no guarantee.
1 recall, newest first
Open one for the risk, the remedy and what to do now.
EngineThe piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.Apr 28, 2021158,493 vehicles21V301000
- Defect
- The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
- Risk
- 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.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge.
What to do
Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If a recall is open, any dealer will fix it free. For NHTSA's full record of a campaign, search its number there (for example 21V301000).
Reliability history
Hyundai Kona reliability by year
Complaints filed in each model year's first 3 years, by trouble spot. Darker cells have more complaints; counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold each year.
All problems
Every problem reported on the 2019 Kona
Every problem found in the 193 owner complaints, by area of the vehicle.
Engine
128 66%- 70 36%typically at 65,600 mi · 13% fixed65,600–13%
- Engine failureCritical47 24%typically at 71,000 mi71,000––
- Excessive oil consumptionCritical38 20%typically at 78,000 mi78,000––
- Engine knocking or ticking noiseCritical18 9%typically at 94,600 mi94,600––
- Sudden loss of power while drivingCritical10 5%–––
- Oil leaks or low oilSerious9 5%typically at 105,000 mi105,000––
Show 4 more engine problemsShow fewer engine problems
- Check engine light comes onMinor6 3%–––
- Misfires or head gasket failureSerious5 3%–––
- Vehicle jerks while driving1 0.5%–––
- Fuel pump or fuel injector failureCritical1 0.5%–––
Transmission & drivetrain
16 8%- Hesitation or slipping while drivingSerious6 3%–––
- Delayed engagement pulling away from a stopSerious5 3%typically at 550 mi550––
- Drops into neutral or loses drive while movingCritical2 1%–––
- Transmission failure needing replacementSerious2 1%–––
- Transmission shudder or judderSerious1 0.5%–––
- Power transfer unit (PTU) or 4WD failureCritical1 0.5%–––
Body, lights & visibility
16 8%- Door or trunk will not unlock or openSerious5 3%–––
- Paint peeling or coating wearing offMinor3 2%–––
- Horn does not work2 1%–––
- Seat heater turns on by itself1 0.5%–––
- Doors do not auto-lock when shifted into drive1 0.5%–––
- Rear spoiler squeaks and fasteners loose1 0.5%–––
Show 6 more body, lights & visibility problemsShow fewer body, lights & visibility problems
- Overhead sunglass holder opens on bumps1 0.5%–––
- Dim low-beam headlightsSerious1 0.5%–––
- Sunroof glass shatters1 0.5%–––
- Turn signal bulbs burn out quickly1 0.5%–––
- Windshield wipers wear out1 0.5%–––
- Passenger seat too low1 0.5%–––
Electrical
10 5%- Electrical systems stop working3 2%–––
- Many warning lights at onceMinor3 2%–––
- Battery drain or no-startSerious2 1%–––
- Speedometer reads wrong speed1 0.5%–––
- Wiring harness damage1 0.5%–––
Driver aids & stability
6 3%- Automatic emergency braking activates for no reasonCritical3 2%–––
- Forward collision warning or braking does not work2 1%–––
- Blind-spot warning shuts off with radar blocked message1 0.5%–––
Airbags & seat belts
5 3%- Airbags did not deploy in a crashCritical3 2%–––
- Airbag warning light stays onSerious1 0.5%–––
- A-pillar trim breaks when airbag deploys1 0.5%–––
Acceleration & speed control
4 2%- Sudden or unintended accelerationCritical2 1%–––
- Cruise control would not switch off1 0.5%–––
- Cruise control button failed1 0.5%–––
Fire
2 1%- Vehicle catches fireCritical2 1%–––
Fuel system & stalling
2 1%- Fuel leaksCritical2 1%–––
Steering
2 1%- Noise from the steering column1 0.5%–––
- Loss of power steeringCritical1 0.5%–––
Wheels & tires
1 0.5%- False low tire pressure warning1 0.5%–––
47 problems found in all 193 complaints. One complaint can describe more than one problem, so counts add up to more than the total. Not counted as a defect: 12 about recall paperwork or parts delays, 3 describing no vehicle defect. Typical miles, repair cost and fix rate show only when enough owners report them.
The data
Behind the numbers
Every figure comes from NHTSA's complaint file and APIs.
- Complaints
- 193
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 11
- Fires
- 4
- Injuries
- 6
- Deaths
- 0
Crashes and fires count complaints that report one; injuries and deaths count people.
Complaints by engine
Decoded from the partial VINs owners include. Not adjusted for how many of each engine were sold.
FAQ
2019 Hyundai Kona questions
Is the 2019 Hyundai Kona reliable?
The 2019 Hyundai Kona has serious known problems. 38% of its owner complaints (74) describe engine failure or stalling, and 42% report a crash, fire, injury or death, or a loss of power while moving. NHTSA has 193 owner complaints for this model year.
What are the most common 2019 Hyundai Kona problems?
Engine trouble dominates. Stalling while driving is the most common problem at 70 complaints (36%, about 1 in 3), followed by engine failure at 47 (24%), excessive oil consumption at 38 (20%) and engine knocking or ticking at 18 (9%). Owners often describe these together, with a check engine light and low oil.
Are there any recalls on the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
There is 1 recall, and none carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Recall 21V301000 covers piston oil rings that may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage, stalling and a risk of crash. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Does the 2019 Hyundai Kona stall while driving?
Stalling while driving is the most common complaint, with 70 reports (36%). Owners describe the engine cutting out, often after a check engine light, and some say the car would not restart or lost power at highway speeds such as 60 mph. Among owners who say how repairs went, none say the repair fully fixed it, 3 say it helped partly and 9 say it did not.
At what mileage do 2019 Hyundai Kona engine problems start?
Stalling is typically reported between about 30,000 and 96,500 miles, with a middle point near 65,600 miles. Engine failure is reported from about 44,000 to 94,500 miles, with a middle point of 71,000 miles. Oil consumption tends to appear later, with a middle point of 78,000 miles.
What should I check before buying a 2019 Hyundai Kona?
Ask the seller for proof that recall 21V301000 (piston oil rings) was done, and what the dealer found when it inspected the engine. Check the service history for oil changes and any oil added between changes. On a test drive, listen for knocking or ticking and watch for a check engine light. Walk away from any car that stalls, hesitates or loses power.
Is the 2019 Hyundai Kona safe?
NHTSA gives the 2019 Hyundai Kona 5 out of 5 stars overall, 5 out of 5 stars for frontal crash, 5 out of 5 stars for side crash and 4 out of 5 stars for rollover, the same for front-wheel and all-wheel drive. Separately, 13 of the 193 owner complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death.
Which Hyundai Kona years should you avoid?
Avoid the 2018–2021 Hyundai Kona: owner complaints for those years show serious known problems. For the 2023, make sure the recall repairs were done: an urgent recall matters more than its complaint pattern. The 2022 and 2024 show no pattern of serious problems. The 2025–2026 have too few complaints to judge. Every model year is compared on the Hyundai Kona years-to-avoid page.
Methodology
How we researched this
- Complaints. NHTSA's owner complaint file, counted as unique complaint numbers for make HYUNDAI, model KONA, model year 2019. Data through Oct 4, 2026.
- Verdict. Judged from this model year's own complaints, not against other models, using shares rather than counts. Serious known problems: one serious problem (transmission, engine or stalling, steering, brakes, airbags, fire, fuel leaks) is in a quarter or more of complaints; or a smaller but clear cluster comes with an unusual share of crash, fire, injury or loss-of-power reports or early failures; or an urgent recall or NHTSA investigation matches a top complaint. Some known problems: one of those signals on its own. No pattern of serious problems: none of them; this doesn't mean the vehicle is trouble-free. Too few complaints to judge: under 50 complaints. Why this verdict: 38% of complaints (74) describe engine failure or stalling (stalling while driving, misfires and head gasket failures, fuel pump and injector failures); 42% of complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death, or a loss of power while moving (typical: 17%).
- No grade or class ranking. Raw complaint counts favor models that sell fewer cars, so we don't score or rank this vehicle against other models until we can adjust for sales.
- Trouble spots and history. Complaints grouped by the part owners chose when filing. The history grid counts complaints filed in each model year's first 3 years so older and newer years compare fairly; years with fewer than 3 complete years are marked too new.
- Named problems. Every one of the 193 complaints was researched and classified by its problems, severity, symptoms, repairs and any cost the owner mentions; the counts, costs and fix rates on this page are tallies of those classifications. Quotes are verbatim excerpts, checked against the original text. Engines are decoded from partial VINs with NHTSA's vPIC service.
- Repair costs and fix rates. Shown only when at least 10 owners report a repair cost, or at least 10 complaints describe whether a repair worked.
- Not adjusted for sales. Not affiliated with NHTSA. Page updated Nov 3, 2026.