Defect 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.
The 2019 Hyundai Kona is associated with 187 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 1 safety recall campaign in the federal safety database. The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 95 reports (51% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 5 certified vehicle configurations spanning all-electric, 1.6l 4-cyl, and 2l 4-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 27 to 30 MPG combined. All-electric variants deliver up to 120 MPGe with an estimated range of 258 miles.
- • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 187 reports
- • Safety Recall Campaigns: 1 campaign
- • Top Reported Defect Area: Engine (95 / 51%)
- • Safety Incident Signals: 11 crash / 4 fire / 4 injury reports
- • NHTSA Overall Safety Rating: 5 / 5 Stars
- • EPA Efficiency: 27–30 MPG (5 variants)
What is the fuel economy and range of the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant
| Variant | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Highway | Combined | EV Range | Est. Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona Electric 100% Electric | Electric Motor | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 132 MPGe | 108 MPGe | 120 MPGe | 258 mi | $650 / yr |
| Kona FWD | 1.6L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM7) | 28 MPG | 32 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Kona FWD | 2L 4-Cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 27 MPG | 33 MPG | 30 MPG | — | $2,050 / yr |
| Kona AWD | 1.6L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (AM7) | 26 MPG | 29 MPG | 27 MPG | — | $2,300 / yr |
| Kona AWD | 2L 4-Cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S6) | 25 MPG | 30 MPG | 27 MPG | — | $2,300 / yr |
What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
| Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant | Overall Rating | Frontal Crash | Side Crash | Rollover Rating | Rollover Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV FWD | 14.099999999999998% | ||||
| SUV AWD | 13.600000000000001% | ||||
| Electric SUV AWD | — |
Standard and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as Standard in official NHTSA records for tested 2019 Hyundai Kona models.
What defect complaints are reported for the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
Summary of 187 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)
Top Reported Problem Categories
Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA
Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.
View all 2019 Hyundai Kona problems & component breakdown (44 categories) →Are there open safety recalls on the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA
The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
- NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
- U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.
Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.