Owners filed 65 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 1 time.
Park away from buildings
NHTSA attached an advisory to a recall on this vehicle. Advisories apply to specific production runs — check your VIN with the manufacturer or at nhtsa.gov/recalls before driving it.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Fluid/Lubricant › Pump23V526000Park outside
Filed Jul 27, 202352,109 vehiclesHyundai Motor America
Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
Risk. An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 246.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Engine
Filed Sep 15, 202656,144 milesPA
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving 64 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power with reduced acceleration. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the valve and boost solenoid needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 56,144.
Electrical System
Filed Sep 9, 2026MA
I was in a rotary and there were two lanes and they both exited to a bridge. I was on the outside lane of the rotary and when exiting the rotary the car from the inside cut me off and I was unable to alert the driver because me HORN wasn't working. I blew out 2 tires hitting a curb and needed to be towed.State police arrived on the other side of the bridge. My HORN has been replaced by the dealer 3 times now.
Electrical System
Filed Aug 11, 2026CA
Dear Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs, My name is [XXX], and I am submitting this correspondence as a formal safety and customer-service complaint concerning my 2023 Hyundai Kona SEL, the recurring failure of its horn, and the treatment I received at Capitol Hyundai in San Jose, California. I am requesting that Hyundai Motor America immediately open a corporate case, investigate the dealership’s handling of this matter, preserve all relevant records, and provide me with a written resolution. This complaint involves an unresolved vehicle safety concern. My vehicle’s horn has failed repeatedly. I previously presented the vehicle to Hyundai for this same horn issue in 2024. One of those visits was properly documented. I subsequently returned regarding the horn again, and the horn was made operational; however, to the best of my knowledge, that subsequent visit and/or work was not properly documented in my service history. The horn has now failed again. A functioning horn is an important vehicle safety device. Without it, I cannot reliably warn another driver, cyclist, pedestrian, or other road user when immediate warning may be necessary to avoid a collision. On August 11, 2026, I brought my vehicle to Capitol Hyundai, 1050 Capitol Expressway Auto Mall, San Jose, CA 95136, seeking assistance with this recurring problem. What occurred is particularly concerning because Capitol Hyundai’s own Repair Order documents the situation. The Repair Order states: “CUSTOMER STATES HORN
Engine
Filed Jul 30, 2026VA
I was driving to work on a normal day under normal circumstances when a check engine light won my dashboard. Seconds later my car started showing car is over heating. I immediately swayed from the speed lane to the side of the road almost getting into a crash as other vehicles were at full speeds behind me. I immediately called dealership and made an appointment. My vehicle experienced a premature failure of the cooling coolant valve, a critical component of the engine cooling system. This failure resulted in diagnostic trouble codes, warning messages, and concerns regarding the reliability of the vehicle. A component of this importance should not fail on a vehicle that is only three years old and has been properly maintained. When I brought the vehicle to an authorized Hyundai dealership, I was required to pay a $248 diagnostic fee simply to identify the failed component. After the diagnosis, I was presented with an estimated repair cost of approximately $1,600 to replace the defective coolant valve and associated parts. I believe these charges are unreasonable because the failure appears to involve a defective component rather than normal wear and tear. Consumers should not be expected to pay significant diagnostic and repair costs for a major cooling system component that fails prematurely. I have also learned that Hyundai has issued recalls and/or service campaigns affecting certain other vehicles for cooling system-related issues. However, my vehicle is apparently not in
Power Train
Filed Apr 1, 202694,000 milesGA
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle hesitated before driving forward. The Engine START/STOP feature was engaged. The contact stated that the ESC warning light was illuminated temporarily. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, but was a recurring failure. The check engine warning illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the electric oil pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact had not informed the manufacturer about the failure. The contact researched online and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V526000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.
Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 28, 2026CA
My horn is not working again. It was replaced when I initially got the Kona in 2023. It did not work coming out of the dealership. And now again it is back to not working. This is a liability and also a danger to my children.
Electrical System › Horn
Filed Mar 24, 2026106,000 milesGA
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that the horn was working intermittently. The horn occasionally operated but had become permanently inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 28, 2026KY
Liftgate was clicking leaving interior lights on Drained battery- had to buy new battery! NOW Liftgate wil NOT open at all.
Electrical System
Filed Feb 10, 2026CT
Dear Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs, I am formally escalating a safety defect involving my 2023 Hyundai Kona, VIN [XXX] , purchased [XXX]. Since the purchase, the vehicle’s horn has repeatedly failed. I have brought the car in for service multiple times, and the issue is thoroughly documented in service records and email correspondence. Despite these efforts, the defect has not been permanently resolved. A non-functioning horn is a serious safety issue. This defect is not isolated; identical horn failures in Hyundai Kona vehicles are widely documented across public Internet forums, consumer complaint sites, and owner reports, further underscoring the seriousness of this issue. Given the repeated repair attempts and ongoing safety risk, I am requesting immediate corporate-level review and a clear, permanent resolution. This matter requires prompt attention. [XXX] , service manager, informed me today that my horn was changed/serviced 4 times already. As of today, 2-10-2-26 he is ordering me another horn. Please respond in writing with next steps. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Electrical System
Filed Feb 3, 2026KY
Rear latch unlocks while vehicle is running or not running up to 30 times at once. Rear latch unlocks without key being in vehicle. This has been reported to Hyundai Motor America since August 2025. The front collision warning goes off at random times, left side departure goes off at random times.
Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 13, 2026CT
I brought vehicle in once for horn not working to dealer. They fixed it. Seven months later in a near traffic incident horn not working. Outside temperatures were below freezing at the time. Following week outside temperatures goes above freezing & horn is working again. It appears horn has an intermittent problem.
Unknown or Other1 injured
Filed Jan 4, 2026NC
Safety system that automatically puts the car in park if a door is opened while in gear failed to apply
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 30, 2025OK
After a routine service visit, the vehicle’s braking and speed‑control systems began to behave abnormally. The ABS/ESC control module was replaced or reprogrammed without documentation, and immediately afterward the vehicle’s braking feel, speed‑control behavior, and forward‑collision warning timing changed noticeably. These changes created a safety risk because the vehicle no longer responded in a predictable way compared to its original performance. The affected components are available for inspection upon request. The issue was reproduced multiple times under normal driving conditions. Braking response became inconsistent, and the speed‑control system no longer behaved as it did before the service. The timing and behavior of forward‑collision alerts also changed compared to pre‑service operation. These changes created unpredictability in traffic, especially during following‑distance adjustments, stop‑and‑go situations, and sudden‑braking scenarios. The dealership did not provide technical documentation or explanation for the module replacement or configuration changes and did not acknowledge the change in system behavior. The manufacturer’s customer service reviewed the case but did not provide technical findings. An independent service center could not verify the original configuration because the manufacturer did not provide the Manufacturer Build Sheet. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appe
Engine
Filed Nov 9, 2025CA
My Kona N Line is not functioning well. Especially after driving for a longer period of time. About 60% of the time, upon letting go of my brake, the car jerks. Going from 0 - 5 mph is the worst. The car definitely hesitates many times. Again, it is when I have driven it for over 10 minutes. I took the car to a service department in El Monte, CA on 11/1. They cannot find the problem. They rode with me and it did not show at that time. They released the car to me. The Kona N has a recall but not my car, the Kona N Line. The recall is for the same problem. I am extremely frustrated. I have another appointment on Tuesday of this week to take to the Glendora service department. I don't know what to do. I am not one to complain but this is not safe. This is my fifth Hyundai. Nothing but good cars until now. Please advise. [XXX] [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 21, 2025FL
I was trapped inside the liftgate of my 2023 Hyundai Kona and was unable to operate the emergency release. I had the key fob with me and the car was unlocked, but the trunk would not open from the inside. I tried sliding a standard key and a flat card into the release, but it would not engage. It was not specified that the mechanical key inside the Hyundai fob was required. The release is a small black sliding latch at the bottom of the liftgate with only a car symbol. It is recessed, not easily visible in low light, and does not glow in the dark. I also could not climb over the rear seats because the liftgate hood was sealed, so the fire department had to open the trunk to get me out. Even the operator and the fire department found the instructions difficult to determine. While this may be a rare circumstance, it could have been dangerous. I was able to get out safely, but it would be helpful if the emergency release were redesigned with clearer instructions or made more visible, such as using neon or glow in the dark markings, so that in the future it can be accessed more easily by anyone inside.
Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 17, 2025MS
The issue is the horn. On three different occasions, I've attempted to use the horn and it wasn't working. I've taken it to Hallmark Hyundai in Flowood and they've repaired and/or replaced the horn on four separate occasions. The new horn is always working when I leave the dealership, but it eventually goes out. Or it goes out for a period of time and then comes back without explanation. My most recent horn outage happened while I was driving on I-55 in Jackson MS and an 18 wheeler started shifting in my lane. I wasn't able to notify them with my horn and ended up having to drive on the shoulder to avoid a collision. This is a major safety issue and they haven't taken the time to remedy it.
Electrical System
Filed Sep 3, 2025TX
Horn keeps failing
Electrical System › Horn
Filed Aug 28, 202512,000 milesNJ
The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while pressing the horn pad, the horn failed to produce a sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the horn was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the horn had been replaced four times and was scheduled for a fifth horn replacement. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 9, 2025MA
My car intermittently loses power when I’m driving and I almost got hit yesterday.
Electrical System
Filed Jul 31, 2025TX
The horn is not working in my vehicle. I found this out today when I almost had someone collide with my vehicle while I was on the highway, not once, but twice. I was unable to use my horn to alert the other driver. I called Hyundai and they said it is not covered under warranty and this is a known issue with my vehicle. I have only had the vehicle for 3-4 months and this should not be happening. I cannot safely drive without a horn and if something happens to me or my vehicle and Hyundai knows its an ongoing issue with this year, make, and model, I am not sure what I can do. Please make this right.
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.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Jul 27, 2023. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.