2023 Hyundai Kona Electric

Routine

Owners filed 5 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System3
000
Steering1
000
Service Brakes1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Feb 10, 2025NY

The horn has been replaced multiple times for failing without ANY warning. The service department at the Hyundai dealer said that this is a known problem for the horns. The horns short out because moisture builds up and damages the wiring, causing them to fail without warning. At this time, Hyundai does not have a "fix" nor does it have any horns available to replace my failed horn. Hyundai has not offered a loaner vehicle. This vehicle is currently leased from Hyundai and I am current on my lease payments. This vehicle is due for inspection in May 2025 and it will not pass without a horn. I have had several near-miss situations in which I had to brake hard to avoid pedestrians - a horn would have alerted the pedestrians to my presence. Because this is an electric vehicle it runs very quietly and pedestrians need to be alerted with a horn.

Steering
Filed Oct 6, 2023MD

While driving at 60 miles per hour on an interstate, the car's steering system took control of the car and made a quick "S" maneuver. It took all of my strength to maintain control of my car. This incident lasted for just a second or two but it was potentially very dangerous to me (the driver of the car) and to nearby cars (and their drivers). The vehicle is available for inspection. I just reported the incident to to Hyundai and haven't heard back from them. There seemed to be some kind of red warning message on the computer screen, but I couldn't read it because I was so busy fighting the steering wheel for control of the car.

Electrical System
Filed Jul 27, 2023MS

Car has only 3000 miles and already has a bad battery. Code DTC P1AA600

Electrical System
Filed Jun 22, 2023175 milesNY

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Check Electric Vehicle System" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the heater sensor was replaced; however, the failure recurred a third time. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 175.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 16, 2023CA

In damp weather the brake rotors corrode overnight. This causes the brakes to lock up when the brake pedal is touched gently. The car then stops quickly and unexpectedly. This could result in the car being rear ended in traffic. This problem has occurred 7 times since I bought the car.

5 of 5 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2019
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20251100Routine
202415100Routine
2023 — this page5000Routine
202220000Routine
202126210Routine
202027300Routine
201954320Routine

Compare every Kona Electric year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.