2021 Hyundai Kona Problems and Complaints

Users Opinions on 2021 Hyundai Kona

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B
Bummed
• 30/08/2022
Rating:
(2 Out Of 5 stars)
... Since I was close to home, I continued driving the car (no discernible change in the engine, steering, shifting, etc.). Just before I arrived home, a message popped up on my navigation screen that indicated "A condition may have occurred with your vehicle" and said that I needed to take it in for service to obtain a "full-diagnostic" and that this needed to happen "TODAY". The word today was in all capital letters. I called the dealership and was advised not to drive the car to avoid any possibleRead More
Source: edmunds
S
Smiley
• 06/01/2022
Rating:
(1 Out Of 5 stars)
... give out. Just put in mind that we also had the 3rd party warranty company that they offered the US at the dealership.after 6 days no one called us about any updates so I have to call multiple times to speak to someone after a while we were informed that the service still waiting on Hyundai company to prove the engine replacement. After 3 more days I called again so we were informed that Hyundai agreed to send an engine replacement and it will takeRead More
Source: edmunds
G
gr8fan
• 02/09/2021
Rating:
(2 Out Of 5 stars)
... under the headliner that controlled the gps. Since that time, I’ve had issues with the gps system and the Bluelink system. I’ve owned this car for 2 months and so far, it’s been at the dealership for 19 days of the 2 months that I’ve owned it. Hyundai still can’t figure out how to fix the Bluelink issues. If it wasn’t for these issues, I would have given it 5 stars.Read More
Source: edmunds

Nathan Dyer

Senior Editor,

Updated on August 26, 2024

The Hyundai Kona has been on top of the charts in the subcompact SUV segment since its launch in 2017. However, time has not been very kind to it as the Kona has been accumulating many complaints and recalls in its runtime with some of them actually turning out to be serious compromises from an ownership standpoint.

Though the 2021 Hyundai Kona recall numbers have seen a drastic fall, the 2021 Hyundai Kona problems are infamous for their serious engine troubles, which begs the question if someone even should be buying this SUV in the first place. Therefore, check out this video by "Benton Hughes: BenX" to make an informed decision when buying a 2021 Kona.

2021 Hyundai Kona User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical Complaints

Engine- One of the major complaints registered against the 2021 Hyundai Kona by owners, as per the NHTSA data. Random engine stalls, noises at higher revs, failing to start and oil consumption are all issues that have been tagged under this section. All these issues were later identified to be occurring due to manufacturing defects with the piston rings. The automaker did initiate a recall (NHTSA ID-21V301000) on this the same year and owners were given engine replacement if necessary.
Transmission- A few owners have been complaining about the occasional transmission slip/clunk on the 2021 Hyundai Kona. The issue, as noticed, happens at low speeds when the transmission slips for a second and over revs the engine. Dealers dismissed the possibility of any mechanical issue with the transmission as they were unable to replicate the issue and also found no fault codes in relation.

Electrical Complaints

Infotainment USB- Users have complained about a variety of issues with the front USB port on the 2021 Hyundai Kona. Issues range from the system failing to scan music files from the USB stick to not properly mirroring a phone on the car media screen when using Android Auto. In addition, the steering-mounted controls are not said to function fully when connecting the phone through the USB.
Horn- Not an officially recognized or concerning issue, but the horns on brand new 2021 Hyundai Kona’s were said to stop working within 1,000 miles. This was later found to be a common issue with specific batches of cars with faulty horns and was given replacements, free of charge from the dealer end.
Backup camera- Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Kona have complained about the backup camera flashing the rearview image when the car is shifted to drive mode. This is said to recur multiple times and the owners are forced to restart the vehicle. The issue was later found to be with faulty software in the media system which was reset from the dealership.

Safety Complaints

Blind-Spot Indication system- A few owners have been complaining about the passenger side mirror lights for blind-spot warning illuminating intermittently when no traffic is in the vicinity of the car. The issue was initially thought to be due to the dirt or foreign object blocking the sensors behind the rear bumper, but that statement was dismissed by the dealer. Also, no inherent problems were found with the sensor itself leaving owners without a correct remedy to this issue.

2021 Hyundai Kona Recalls

S. No	Date	NHTSA ID	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	28th April 2021	21V301000	Improperly heat-treated piston oil rings.	Damaged piston rings could stall the engine and increase the risk of a crash. In addition, the oil may leak into exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.	Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will also deploy the “Piston Ring Noise Sensing System” (PNSS). Owners were notified by mail on August 24, 2021.

Should you buy a used Hyundai Kona?

The 2021 Hyundai Kona is undoubtedly one of the most value-oriented subcompact SUVs boasting its quirky looks, supple ride, and best-in-class equipment list. The Kona would easily have been one of our top recommendations for a city car, but with its 2021 guise getting a name for itself for sporting a faulty engine, it is pretty hard to justify the purchase. That said, Hyundai does offer a 10-year 100,000-mile powertrain warranty program. However, on the safe side, we would advise you to skip the 2021 model year if you are looking for a used Hyundai Kona.

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