2020 HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC Complaints

While driving approximately 70 mph on I-10 in Louisiana late at night, my 2020 Hyundai Kona EV displayed a “Check EV System” warning while I was on the highway. There were no safe areas or emergency shoulders available to pull over, so I continued driving toward the nearest exit. Approximately 15 minutes after the warning appeared, as I attempted to exit the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power and rapidly slowed. The vehicle came to a complete stop and could not accelerate, move forward, or reverse. This created a serious safety risk because the vehicle lost propulsion while traveling at highway speed. The vehicle had approximately 62,000 miles at the time of the incident. The vehicle was towed to Giles Hyundai where the dealership diagnosed an internal temperature sensor and resolver failure. Because these components are integrated into the drive system, the dealership replaced the entire traction motor assembly. The repair cost was approximately $9,000. The sudden loss of propulsion at highway speed created a dangerous situation for both the driver and surrounding traffic.

My wife was pulling into a parking place at Home Depot when the car suddenly accelerated, jumped the curb & hit a tree on the sidewalk. It did significant damage to the front bumper of the car but the airbags did not deploy & my wife was not hurt. I am guessing that it will be several thousand dollars to repair.

On 3.22.2025 the rear view camera did not display; either a black screen with text "Check surroundings for your safety," a green screen reading "No camera signa received. Please try again later," or distorted images appeared. Camera was replaced under warranty on 4.14.2025; I learned from Crossroads Hyundai that other vehicles had a recall in effect. Images and work order are included.

6/17/2024 12 volt battery was dead; EV was fully charged 6/16/2024 using Level 2 charger in my home garage. AAA charged the battery; I drove to Crossroads Hyundai Loveland, CO and asked to have the converter to the main battery checked; this was not done. Crossroads checked the battery via CADEX with "good battery charge" as result. No other diagnostic work was performed. 8/26/2024 12 volt battery again depleted; AAA charged twice 11:06 am (recharge and retest ) and 3:51pm (Bad & replace). I drove again to Crossroads Hyundai which claimed battery test showed good battery. Technician found a draw dropped after pulling fuses F6 multi media and F16 memory. Techline at Hyundai was contacted and tech was instructed to install junction box for fuses (91950-K4061 Junction Box assembly I/PNL 91). The car was undriveable on the Crossroads lot until part received and replaced 9/20/2024. 9/24/2024 when I arrived to pick up the car, the service advisor told me the door was left ajar after car wash, causing draw on battery; the battery was damaged by continued discharge due to strain from parts replaced. Hyundai agreed to replace the battery at no charge to customer. There were no warming lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to 6/17/2024. My safety, as a senior and woman is at risk if the car was stranded in a parking lot or other area outside of my home garage.

I am concerned about the safety of my car and have little faith that there are qualified mechanics who understand EVs and can properly service an EV car. Two times on April 9, 2024 (and on at least 4 other occasions in 2023) while drive at approximately 45 miles an hour on a RI State highway at a safe distance from any care in front of me, my vehicle went into the fail-safe mode while I was driving causing a sudden significant loss of power to the car and it appeared to be that it was going to stall. There was no warning sound indicating that I was going to crash into the forward vehicle (again, I was at a safe distance). In order to continue driving, I had to pull onto the road shoulder, shut off the car, which seemed to reset it. On this particular day/occasion, this situation occurred twice in the span of about 10 minutes. Had there been anyone driving right behind me, they would have hit my car. In addition, I brought my car to the dealer to address but the dealership did not know how to fix/address my problem. They did find "multiple codes" in the car history, deleted the codes, and test drove the car. They said if it happened again, to let them know. They also told me if it occurred again, then I should bring it in when the 1 and only technician, who knows anything about the EV cars, was working. I took a photo of the dashboard immediately after one of the episodes while the car was still running before I shut if off. I will attach it.

We just had our 2020 Kona updated from the dealer with major software and recall updates. Since that point the car has been draining from the 12volt battery on it's own and killing the charging circuit for the battery. It has caused us to have to jump start the car and not be able to keep the 12 volt charged which runs all of the environmentals and car systems. Unless you have a jump pack with you, you have to jump it after every stop. I have tested the battery and it is fine but the system needs a high end initial draw and is not getting it. I have contacted the dealer but they are saying it is not their problem. This needs government address, as it is the same issue in the NHTSA recalls or Hybrid and EV Sonata and Ioniq 5 models.

This has happened about 15 times since I bought my Hyundai Kona EV Ultimate new in February 2021: When a car in front of me slows very quickly, occasionally my car tries to help me too much. I have been in complete control of the situations, but my car beeps it's warning, adds it's efforts and the brakes lock up with tires squealing, and we stop with plenty of space in between myself and the car in front of me. This usually happens in freeway traffic. It is terrifying and I always immediately look in my rearview mirror to see if I'm going to get rear-ended. I haven't been hit yet, though I have been flipped off a few times. One of these days, people will be hurt, along with the damages to the cars. The first time it happened was only about 2 weeks after the purchase. I had my 5-year old twin granddaughters in their car seats. Just as described above, the brakes locked up and it really scared them (me too!). I took it back to the salesman I bought it from at Stevens Creek Hyundai and he said it was just a setting with the response time, so he changed it. But it kept happening intermittently. I brought into the Future Hyundai of Concord dealer and they test drove it, could not replicate it, and after checking with their computers, said that the "system is working as designed". Frustrated that I wasn't being heard, I contacted Hyundai Consumer Affairs. They supported me and I got a case number and another appointment at a different dealer, Dublin Hyundai. This time, I went on the test drive and the technician was able to replicate the situation. At first he said it was a setting, but I said that I didn't care what the setting was, this should never happen. It is very dangerous. He agreed and said he would need to contact "Techline" the next day. But when I tried to find out any information about this conversation, I got only silence. Then I got a message that I could come pick up my car and that "the system is working as designed". Help!

I was driving at about 45mph and my vehicle brakes suddenly stopped responding. The car alarms went crazy and said "regenerative brake failure" which is fine and all, but why the hell would the regent failing impact my ability to stop entirely? I could not get the vehicle to respond by pumping the brakes, so I put my flashers on and rolled into a lot and thankfully didn't kill anyone. Rolled into an uphill spot, thanked the curb, and engaged the ebrake which I'm not sure actually worked. The brake was both firm and soft when pressed. That was terrifying and I was literally just on the freeway.

Braking: When coming to a stop, the vehicle slows as expected. at about 10 MPH or less, while still continuing to apply braking pressure by foot, the vehicle stops braking and a sudden acceleration kick occurs, propelling the vehicle forward an additional 10 feet or so, then the brake kicks in again. Was able to duplicate this issue with a Tech from Hyundai of Moreno Valley riding as a passenger. This is hazardous, because it could result in striking a vehicle or pedestrian in a crosswalk for example.

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V127000, however, the dealer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the dealer advised her the vehicle can not be fixed due to no parts. The contact was concerned that her vehicle would have a failure while driving. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.