Model year guide

2019 Hyundai Kona

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2019 Hyundai Kona is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 2,482 on record.

2019 Hyundai Kona — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2019 Hyundai Kona at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints193
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined27–30 mpg
Typical price$20,740

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2019 Hyundai Kona recalls 1

Engine NHTSA Campaign #21V301000 · manufacturer #203 · 28/04/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2019 Hyundai Kona common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 193 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Forward Collision Avoidance
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

2019 Hyundai Kona safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★

Rollover risk: 14.1% — NHTSA's estimated chance of rollover in a single-vehicle crash (dynamic test: no tip).

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2019 Hyundai Kona SUV FWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2019 Hyundai Kona MPG & running costs

Combined27–30 mpg
City27 mpg
Highway31 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,375
EPA size classSmall Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
TransmissionAutomatic (AM7) or Automatic (S6)
Forced inductionTurbocharged
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$125 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2019 Hyundai Kona worth?

Low
$16,995
Typical price
$20,740
High
$26,194

From 18 comparable 2019 Hyundai Kona listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2019 Hyundai Kona costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,875
Fuel only$11,875
Per mile$0.16

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
164.2–164.6 in
Width
70.9 in
Height
59.1–61.8 in
Wheelbase
102.4 in
Curb weight
2,890–3,715 lb
Front track
61.4 in
Rear track
61.4 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 2019 Hyundai Kona — ranges cover the 3 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 2

Pedestrian alert sounds Closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that…

NHTSA #DP22005 · Electrical System · opened Jan 2023 · closed Aug 2023

Loss of Motive Power Closed

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the s…

NHTSA #DP22003 · Engine · opened Sep 2022 · closed Dec 2023

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Manufacturer service bulletins 91

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 91.

Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.

Bulletin 26-EE-003H TSB · Electrical System, Engine · Apr 2026

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not suppl…

Bulletin DTN DL · Air Bags · Apr 2026

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been iden…

Bulletin DTN DCS · Air Bags · Apr 2026

In response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method and made it available to owners of eligible models free of charge at authorized Hyundai dealers since early 2023. In addition to the anti-theft software, w…

Bulletin P33 OL · Electrical System · Dec 2025

A Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided. Based on the Class Action, customers are eligible for certain settlement benefits. Please see attached for details. Impacted vehicles are also noted below. For further information regardi…

Bulletin TRW Settlement DCS · Air Bags · Dec 2025

A Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided. Based on the Class Action, customers are eligible for certain settlement benefits. Impacted vehicles are also noted below. For further information regarding settlement benefits and contac…

Bulletin TRW Summary Notice · Air Bags · Dec 2025

Hyundai has settled a class action lawsuit that alleges that certain Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles (defined below) contain defective ZF-TRW airbag control units (“ZF-TRW ACUs”) that are vulnerable to a condition called electrical overstress, which may cause t…

Bulletin TRW Settlement Notice · Air Bags · Dec 2025

This bulletin provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows.

Bulletin 25-01-089H TSB · Electrical System · Dec 2025

In addition to the Anti-Theft software provided under Service Campaign 993 (TSB 24-01-009H-1), a zinc reinforced ignition cylinder protector hardware upgrade is being made available to customers upon request. This supplemental security measure is to be install…

Bulletin 25-01-089H DN · Electrical System · Dec 2025

Upon customer's request ONLY, the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-01-089H provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows. This repair procedure is being prov…

Bulletin 25-01-089H DCS · Electrical System · Dec 2025

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the KONA AWD. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 3

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 2019 Hyundai Kona. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Other

Issue : Hyundai Auto Canada is conducting an extended warranty campaign for certain vehicles as water could enter the horn assembly and cause the horn's electrical contacts to corrode. As a result, the horn may not work properly or at all. Safety risk: A horn that doesn't work properly could prevent a driver from warning others of a danger and create an unsafe situation. Correc…

Transport Canada #2025636 · Nov 2025

Label

Issue: On certain vehicles, the compliance label may be missing information in French. The words listed on the label for "Tires", "Rims", "Front" and "Rear" appear in English only, when they should be listed as "Tires/Pneus", "Rims/Jantes", "Front/Avant" and "Rear/Arriere". Canadian regulations require this information to be listed on the label in both English and French. Safet…

Transport Canada #2024552 · Sep 2024

Engine

Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine's piston oil rings may be defective. This can cause engine wear that can lead to increased oil consumption. Eventually, this can create abnormal engine noise and the oil pressure warning light may turn on. If you continue to drive the vehicle with these symptoms, the engine could fail. Note: This only affects vehicles equipped with a 2.0 L…

Transport Canada #2021252 · Apr 2021

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Hyundai Kona

The Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. The first-generation Kona debuted in June 2017 and the production version was revealed later that year. The current, second-generation model was revealed in December 2022 and launched in 2023. It was developed first as a battery-electric model before being adapted for petrol and hybrid variants, which are offered depending on the market. Depending on the market, the Kona is positioned above either the Venue or the Bayon and below the Tucson in Hyundai's crossover SUV line-up. The battery-electric version, called the Kona Electric or Kona EV, was first launched in South Korea during the first hal…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

2019 Hyundai Kona trims & engines on record

Trims
SE · SEL · Limited · Ultimate
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl 147 hp · 1.6L 4-cyl 175 hp

2019 Hyundai Kona vehicles on record

Other Hyundai Kona model years

2019 Hyundai Kona — frequently asked questions

Does the 2019 Hyundai Kona have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2019 Hyundai Kona. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 2019 Hyundai Kona?

Across all 193 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are engine, power train, electrical system.

What is the 2019 Hyundai Kona safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2019 Hyundai Kona an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2019 Hyundai Kona get?

The 2019 Hyundai Kona has U.S. EPA estimates of 27–30 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

How much is a 2019 Hyundai Kona worth?

Comparable 2019 Hyundai Kona listings run roughly $16,995–$26,194, typically around $20,740 (from 18 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.