2019 Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2019 Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC has 73 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.1x the segment average of 34. The most common issue is electrical problems (58% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2019 hyundai kona. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 20v630000 (electrical system). rowe hyundai westbrook (91 main st suite #3, westbrook, me 04092) was contacted and informed the contact that the battery software would be updated, which would limit . There are 3 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.
73
Total Complaints
3
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
ELECTRICAL
42 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI KONA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V630000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). ROWE HYUNDAI WESTBROOK (91 MAIN ST SUITE #3, WESTBROOK, ME 04092) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY SOFTWARE WOULD BE UPDATED, WHICH WOULD LIMIT
- • THERE IS A RECALL ON THE EV BATTERY SYSTEM BOTH ON THE HYUNDAI SITE AND THE NTSB SITE FOR THIS. HYUNDAI CLAIMS THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL. MY BATTERY SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. HYUNDAI SAYS NOT TO PARK THE VEHICLE INSIDE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF CATASTROPHIC FIRE. NEITH
- • MANUFACTURER RECALLS THIS VEHICLE TO REPLACE BATTERY PACK DUE TO CATASTROPHIC FIRE RISK.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI KONA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V630000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). ROWE HYUNDAI WESTBROOK (91 MAIN ST SUITE #3, WESTBROOK, ME 04092) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY SOFTWARE WOULD BE UPDATED, WHICH WOULD LIMIT ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2019 Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC
Based on 13 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 17K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
ELECTRICAL
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (3)
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.
Risk: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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 dealer to provide the update. Once parts are available, dealers will inspect the Battery System Assembly (BSA), and replace it if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk, and the interim action, with a letter mailed April 9, 2021. Final owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 200.
Charging Cost Calculator for 2019 Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2019 Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC Service Intervals
Turbo engines (1.6T, 2.0T) need premium fuel and more frequent oil (some owners service at 5,000 miles).
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Hyundai New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
10 years/100K powertrain warranty is transferable only to first purchaser after initial owner
These are the terms for a new Hyundai. If you're buying a used 2019 KONA ELECTRIC, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Hyundai dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
EV Incentives for 2019 Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC
Updated 2026-07Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30
Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.
State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)
Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 73 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HYUNDAI KONA. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V630000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). ROWE HYUNDAI WESTBROOK (91 MAIN ST SUITE #3, WESTBROOK, ME 04092) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE BATTERY SOFTWARE WOULD BE UPDATED, WHICH WOULD LIMIT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: THERE IS A RECALL ON THE EV BATTERY SYSTEM BOTH ON THE HYUNDAI SITE AND THE NTSB SITE FOR THIS. HYUNDAI CLAIMS THERE IS NO SUCH RECALL. MY BATTERY SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. HYUNDAI SAYS NOT TO PARK THE VEHICLE INSIDE DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF CATASTROPHIC FIRE. NEITH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: 4/7/21 while in Las Vegas parked at the Venetian Hotel, my 2019 Hyundai Kona EV battery failed causing the vehicle to be inoperative. I am still waiting for Hyundai to replace the recalled EV battery
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: 4/7/21 while in Las Vegas parked at the Venetian Hotel, my 2019 Hyundai Kona EV battery failed causing the vehicle to be inoperative. I am still waiting for Hyundai to replace the recalled EV battery
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 3 recalls have been completed — free at any Hyundai dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC — Year Comparison
How does 2019 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 73
- Recalls
- 3
- Fire reports
- 4
- Crash reports
- 2
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 34
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2019 Hyundai KONA ELECTRIC