In the compact SUV segment, Hyundai has introduced a new competitor in the form of the 2020 Hyundai Kona. While it looks good and is packed with a lot of features, owners have not had the kindest things to say about it. Due to widespread engine problems due to the manufacturer not being able to carry out the recalls well, this car’s reputation is tainted more than you can imagine. The competition is intense and having a total of 99 complaints so far does not help the 2020 model year. Starting at $21,440, it is quite affordable for most people who are looking for cars in the segment that includes the Mazda CX-30, the Kia Soul, and the Volkswagen Taos. Let us find out the truth about Hyundai Kona's problems through this article.
2020 Hyundai Kona User Complaints and Problems
Mechanical problems:
- There have been a few complaints about the brakes of this car. When coming to a stop, there is a sudden acceleration kick that propels the vehicle forward. This can be enough cause for an accident.
- One of the most common issues in these cars is associated with the piston rings. The vehicles are on the verge of a breakdown and the engine light will keep coming on and off when cars have this problem. it also burns more oil in this situation, causes more vibrations and several owners have also complained that cars have not been adequately addressed through the recalls.
- There have been some more Hyundai Kona engine problems reported as few owners have had situations where the engine malfunctions and then fails. The vehicle jerks violently and refuses to accelerate, and this is followed by a complete engine failure or a transmission failure due to Hyundai Kona DCT problems. The car seems to have serious issues but the dealerships failed to acknowledge it.
- Some owners were notified that the cars were not safe to be driven due to the risk of fire or crash. However, these owners were not provided with a solution to repair their cars from the side of Hyundai. The most disappointing thing has been that the manufacturer has failed to respond in time for the Hyundai Kona recall.
- There have been several instances of Hyundai Kona power steering problems and this could be one of the common issues. There is noise coming from the steering column, especially when turning at low speeds.
Electrical system problems:
- Multiple owners have raised complaints about the instrument panel going completely black with no information provided to the driver.
- Although it has mainly affected electric variants, Hyundai Kona battery problems have also been common. Many owners have had to go to the dealer multiple times, get battery replacements, and so on.
Exterior problems:
- One owner had a problem with the shark fin antenna had broken even though there had not been any accidents. However, upon research, the contact found that this was a common problem for several owners of these cars.
Safety problems:
- Many owners report that the forward collision warning activates and brakes the car by itself. In many instances, this causes accidents rather than preventing them. This makes it into the long list of Kona problems as well.
- The lane–keep assist in this car also happens to be a problematic one. According to a few owners, it does not sound any warning when the car is going out of lane but locks the steering wheel which means that even the driver cannot avoid the accident.
- There was an incident where a Kona was involved in an accident with another vehicle but the airbags refused to deploy. The driver and passenger suffered serious injuries.
2020 Hyundai Kona Recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA Campaign Number |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
April 28, 2021 |
21V301000 |
Improper treatment of piston oil rings |
Piston oil brings being improperly heat-treated will mean that oil can leak into exhaust components and cause the risk of a fire. |
|
2 |
January 17, 2020 |
20V022000 |
Incorrect GAWR on certification label |
The gross axle vehicle rating may be indicated incorrectly on the certification label and this fails to comply with FMVSS regulations. |
Should you buy the 2020 Hyundai Kona?
The Hyundai Kona is a value-for-money SUV that has a decent set of powertrains as well as good interiors for the price. However, its reliability is absolutely disappointing because it has catastrophic failures which the manufacturer has failed to address on time. As a result, no other area of the car being good enough can save it. This happens to be in a category with a lot of excellent cars which do not have these problems and makes it very hard for us to recommend this car to anyone.
