2021 Hyundai Kona engine problems
74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the engine on the 2021 Hyundai Kona — 65% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH while making a turn, the vehicle stalled. Several warning lights illuminated but turned off after the vehicle was restarted. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The contact…”
filed Jul 9, 2026
“Low speed hesitancy and shuddering. Car has lost power when driving at 55 mph. Car does not want to move at very slow speeds as in a parking garage. It hesitates and starts to roll backwards.”
filed Jun 30, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- Piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine…Campaign 21V301000 · Apr 28, 2021
Engine problems in other Kona years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 Kona | 2 | 7% |
| 2024 Kona | 8 | 18% |
| 2023 Kona | 7 | 11% |
| 2022 Kona | 32 | 34% |
| 2020 Kona | 100 | 65% |
| 2019 Kona | 126 | 68% |
| 2018 Kona | 41 | 55% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2021 Hyundai Kona
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.