Hyundai Kona 2025: Retiros, Quejas y Ley de Limón de California

The vehicle experienced a total electrical failure while driving. Dealer diagnosed the issue as a loose fuse box connector/power distribution connector. The vehicle and repaired component should be available for inspection through the Hyundai dealer service department. The vehicle suddenly lost all power while being driven on a public roadway. The engine shut off, dashboard went dark, and power steering assistance was lost, creating a risk of collision and leaving the vehicle disabled in traffic. A Hyundai dealer diagnosed and confirmed that a loose fuse box connector caused the loss of power. The vehicle was inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealer service department. No police or insurance inspection was performed. No warning lights, messages, or symptoms appeared prior to the failure. The vehicle lost power suddenly without warning while driving.

NHTSA #11736013

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond as intended, and the vehicle needed to be jump-started. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the diagnostic result was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle did not fall under the Lemon Law. The failure mileage was 12,000.

NHTSA #11711457

This is second time all electrical has gone dead in the car. First time I took car in for an update and now something is still draining the battery. I have read multiple posts online of this issue. The car has less than 5000 mile on it

NHTSA #11695615

While slowing down from highway speed during hot weather, the front passenger door suddenly became unlatched and partially opened. A warning alert sounded, and I had to pull the door closed. There were no prior warnings or symptoms, and the dealer has not been able to reproduce the issue.

NHTSA #11700814

I was driving on the highway around 70 to 75 MPH and suddenly the sunroof exploded. No debris impact. Just suddenly and randomly the glass just exploded and shattered.

NHTSA #11675763

The contact owned a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed through an intersection, the vehicle collided with another vehicle that was towing a trailer. The contact stated that during the crash, the driver's air bag, located in the steering wheel, deployed; however, the air bag became inoperable and deflated. The contact further stated that smoke emitted from the deployed air bag and entered the passenger compartment of the vehicle. A police report was filed. No injuries were sustained, and no medical treatment was required. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company and was deemed a total loss. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

NHTSA #11740921

Power train the engine roars up and drops jarring you back and forth second car within a yr first blew up brand new both and Hyundia and dealership blew me off

NHTSA #11745464

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving, she observed a loud explosion emanating from the roof of the vehicle. The contact slammed on her brakes and then steered the vehicle to the side of the road, where she observed crackling glass noises also emanating from the sunroof. The contact then exited the vehicle to inspect, where she observed the sunroof had a frisbee-sized hole in the middle. There was no impact on the sunroof. The contact called the police, but there was no police report taken. The contact stated that her ears began ringing, and medical attention was needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that there was no natural cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 5,798.

Reportado presuntamente: 1 lesión (según lo reportado a NHTSA). NHTSA #11734040

I have a 2025 Hyundai Kona Limited. On [XXX], around the afternoon on Sunnyvale, California, while exiting [XXX] headed to Lake Tahoe, the liftgate bolt that attaches to the body had buckled mechanically as the system did not back away when a flashlight that came out of a travel bag was blocking the way to have it closed. The car computer thinks the liftgate is open even though the lock is secured. The car computer allows to drive without seatbelts secured or closures ajar for a few seconds at low speed but then it automatically with little warning engages the electronic handbrake while driving. I was driving on a highway in a middle lane when the car engaged without my consent the electronic handbrake locking the wheels and I almost got rear ended and killed by a semitruck. I had to floor the gas pedal and steer to a shoulder to request a tow. Since it was a long weekend before Presidents Day, I had the car taken to the nearest dealer in Modesto California. Their service department invented a lie that due to a side crash, which was a failure of the collision mitigation system that happened months ago, is the cause and that it is my fault even though the driver admitted responsibility but it is an unrelated issue. There should be a way of overriding the car computer so it does not engage the electronic hand brake on the middle of the highway, specially at night as this creates a road hazard that can lead to death. I replicate the issue with a rental, a Hyundai Tucson, they use the same gas strut and bolt that in my opinion has a very narrow gage. As you can see in the picture, the passenger side bolt is fine, the driver side is buckled. The side accident that happened on May 2025 was on the passenger side but the liftgate is fine; at any rate both sides should be deformed not just one if that were to be the case but it is not. Dealer and Hyundai attempting to sideline the issue to avoid a warranty and recall in my opinion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11721002

While the cruise is set, traveling on I44 with no other car in front of my Kona, the adaptive cruise control will start to flash and apply brakes immediately. The speed will drop instantly. Thankfully no other vehicle has been behind me, otherwise it would have caused a massive wreck. I have taken the Kona to the shop 5 to 6 times for this situation, but they will not do anything since they can not duplicate it. I took a video recording of it happening, and they still would not do anything. The first incident was December 31, 2024. This happens every other week when I travel out of town for my daughter parenting time with her dad.

NHTSA #11718329

The plastic covers such as the wheel wells, inner fender linings, under body shield, are very prone to coming off by either minor objects intruding them or hitting them such as branches, rocks, or even water and sand. While driving on a highway at the Upper Peninsula in Michigan on October, a large branch on the road got inside the front wheel well and it took it away. It flew into the highway as debris and cars began evading them. I had to replace it at my expense and it come off again while driving on sand on a beach in St. Augustine Florida on December (the car is 4x4 off-road capable and sold as such). The underbody shield began coming off in a highway in near Austin Texas around a construction zone where loose gravel was present. Almost all plastic clips were missing after I was informed by a driver that plastic parts were coming off my car striking his vehicle. The wheel well of the driver side also began to come off. I had to zip-tie it; no holes were damaged but it was fully scratch and cracked in multiple locations from touching the pavement. I was hit on the side of the rear of the passenger side door and the plastic cover came off. I replaced it but it seems those plastic parts are superimposed and not well secured into the body of the car and can come off fairly easily during driving becoming road hazards that can result in a crash to vehicles driving from behind or even people or animals. I had a Sonata and the same under shield came off while driving to Miami on December 2024, their service department only had it cut leaving the underbody exposed.

NHTSA #11721013

The embedded navigation system tends to provide directions getting the vehicle into off road areas that are not designated to be driven. This not only causes damages to the car but also leads to unsafe situations. While driving in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan headed to the Kitch-Iti-Kipi, it took me to tall grass and high voltage towers almost getting me to a ditch. While driving in St. Augustine Beach, it almost took me to the ocean. While driving near Lubbock Texas around a detour due to construction, it almost took me to a cliff.

NHTSA #11721028

The cruise control operation is unusual and the speed can vary greatly while it's engaged in moderately hilly terrain (not extreme) on the interstate ([XXX] through Kentucky and Tennessee). With the cruise set at interstate speeds and starting to climb a hill, the speed can drop by as much as 6mph below set point as the cruise control very, very slowly starts to increase throttle to compensate for the grade. Eventually it will stop the deceleration at that up to 6mph speed below the set point, before slowly starting to accelerate back up to the set point. One instance I timed was 22 seconds between the speed first falling below the set point, down to 6mph below, before recovering back to the set point. Sometimes it overshoots the set point by 2mph, meaning it could cause you to exceed the speed limit and/or your intended driving speed if the uphill is long enough for the speed to fully recover itself. It is not an issue with vehicle power available as I can easily maintain an exact speed through the same hills using the throttle manually without cruise control, it is only an issue with how the cruise control is programmed or executed. An 8mph variance with cruise control on the interstate in non-extreme terrain is a safety concern because it makes the vehicle unpredictable by other drivers who are trying to time their maneuvers around trucks and other vehicles and when my car suddenly slows significantly next to them they have to suddenly change or abort their maneuvers. It has not been reviewed or inspected by anyone else. It is a rental vehicle and not available for inspection by request from me, but may be from the owner. There were no warning lights or any other indication there was a problem recognized by the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11689044

Engine light was on - I was told by Belmont Enterprise on Sept 17th to keep driving the vehicle even though it needed repairs immediately.

NHTSA #11699974

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA #11686355

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that upon entering the vehicle, the front driver's side seat independently ejected the contact forward into the steering wheel. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer; however, the failure was unidentified. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact sustained injuries to her back; however, no medical attention was sought. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 385.

Reportado presuntamente: 1 lesión (según lo reportado a NHTSA). NHTSA #11680468

The contact rented a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the driver's side front door independently unlatched and opened. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The Enterprise Car Rental Agency was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.

NHTSA #11670618

Mushy brake pedal after 1000 miles This just started yesterday, seemingly out of nowhere. When I push the brake pedal it's mushier than it used to be. If I push hard, I get more resistance at first but then it slowly sinks toward the floor as a I continue to press. If I push softer then it just sinks toward the floor. I still have plenty of stopping power. If I push the pedal repeatedly then it builds up more resistance ("pump the brakes") but then the resistance calms down and it becomes mushy again.

NHTSA #11671351

Significant Mechanical and Drivetrain Problems: ◦ Loss of Drive Power and Sluggish Acceleration: Reported as early as [XXX] ("bumpy driving, grinding and clanking noise"), with issues worsening by [XXX] ("slower acceleration, bumpier ride, metal clinking and cracking sounds"), and most severely on [XXX] ("car shifts hard to the left then goes back and forth (wobble)," "greatly reduced" power, and "snapping" noises). You've had at least five repair attempts for these issues. ◦ Vehicle Shaking/Wobbling: This has been a recurring complaint since [XXX] ("car shakes when accelerating") and continued through multiple visits, including [XXX] ("wobbly feeling"), [XXX] (shifts "back and forth (wobble)"), and [XXX] ("bounces excessively"). ◦ Loose Steering/Difficulty Turning: You've reported "difficulty turning" and "resistance when turning left," with a feeling of "less control" or "lack of control" while turning. This was noted on [XXX], and persisted through [XXX], and [XXX] ◦ Noises from Underneath the Vehicle: Complaints include "grinding and clanking noise" (XXX), "loud noises" ([XXX]), and "metal clinking and cracking sounds" (XXX), and "snapping" noises (XXX). • Electrical/Infotainment System Malfunctions: ◦ Interior and Exterior Lights Turning Off While Driving: On [XXX], all interior and exterior lights turned off for approximately 3 seconds while driving. ◦ BlueLink Service and Infotainment System Disconnects/Shutdowns: ongoing issues with BlueLink service, including loss of connectivity and interruptions. • Numerous Repair Attempts and Days Out of Service: ◦At least eight separate service visits for these issue INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11679287

I was driving down my street (one way) at 20mph when all of a sudden, the car veered to the left and smashed into a dumpster that was parked on the street. I had driven down my block several times during the day and was aware of the dumpster. I am convinced that the lane assist malfunctioned and drove into the side of the dumpster. I was not distracted and my brand new, 2025 Hyundai Kona was totaled in the accident. I had minor injuries but could have been much worse. I am not sure who to contact to report this and not sure it could be proven. Any help you can give me I will appreciate.

Reportado presuntamente: 1 lesión (según lo reportado a NHTSA). NHTSA #11663906

Transmission issues with this vehicle since 70 miles. Failed at 989 miles

NHTSA #11666179

A week after I got my 2025 Hyundai Kona Limited, while trying to have the moonroof when headed into the highway since it gets too noisy if left open, the glass will touch the guard and then back away and remain fully open. However, the issue becomes more serious when it starts to rain or snow as it will remain open. In three occasions, the moonroof will not close. During a downpour, I had to use a large umbrella to avoid water to flood the car. Had I not had an umbrella or something to prevent water from getting in, the vehicle electronics could have become damaged including my personal belongings including but not limited to my sensitive medical equipment. Had I been in a snow shower, I will have gotten sick with a cold. I had reported the issue several times to different dealers and they only say it needs to be cleaned and reset. I had a Sonata with the same moonroof for over three years and I never experienced such an issue.

NHTSA #11721007

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving 38 MPH, the exterior lights, taillights, daytime running lights, and interior lights became inoperable for two and a half seconds. The seat belt light flashed. Additionally, the seat heater and steering buttons were switched off and then reset. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,060.

NHTSA #11631039

Component or System: The brake system, specifically what appears to be a false ABS activation or IEB (Integrated Electronic Brake) system malfunction. The component is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: While braking at speeds between 25-40 mph, typically on dry pavement and more frequently on downhill grades, the brake pedal exhibits a chugging sensation, erratic stopping behavior, and pedal softening consistent with unintended ABS activation or IEB malfunction. This occurs on dry roads where ABS activation is neither warranted nor expected, creating unpredictable braking response and extended stopping distances. The defect has occurred 24 documented times since [XXX], and existed prior to that date. Dealer Confirmation: Yes. During a ride-along at Edmond Hyundai on [XXX], a technician directly witnessed and confirmed the occurrence. Despite this confirmation, it was not documented on the repair order. Two prior repair attempts returned cannot-reproduce results: March 2, 2026 at Bob Howard Hyundai and March 10, 2026 at Edmond Hyundai. Additional Repair/Inspection Attempts: On April 7, 2026, Norman Hyundai opened and closed a repair order without the consumer's knowledge and refused to provide a copy despite an explicit request. On May 23, 2026, a scheduled appointment at Bob Howard Hyundai was missed; a reschedule request was subsequently ignored by the dealership. HMA Case No. [XXX] is active. Warning Lamps or Prior Symptoms: No warning lamps have illuminated. The defect presents exclusively as a physical sensation—pedal/brake chugging, softening, and erratic stopping during normal dry-pavement braking. The issue has been present since delivery on [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA #11743594

My forward collision warning activates without cause. My automatic braking systems will engage.

NHTSA #11739784