2019 Hyundai Kona: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
187 NHTSA owner complaints · 1 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Hyundai Kona has no year to avoid: every one of its eight model years is a BUY, from a score of 93 on the 2018 car to 74 on the 2024. The strongest years are the 2018, with 74 complaints and no recalls, and the 2021 to 2023 cars at 85, 85 and 86; the weakest are the 2019 and 2020, at 187 and 156 complaints and 81 each. Read the full note on the model page. 2019 specifically: a year the record favours — 187 complaints, score 81/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Hyundai Kona, Genesis and Santa Fe Sport: what the record says, including 2019 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-16.
Owner complaints: 187 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 26.71
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The engine was spewing oil into the air filter and also out of a hose near the turbo. It was also consuming high amounts of oil, yes its available for inspection. I was driving on a busy public highway and my car lost power and would not accelerate no the problem has not been confirmed as of yet vehicle has not received official inspection yet there was zero warning lamps, messages, or any indicator of any kind t…
First notice was exterior top railing coating wearing down after just 3 years of having car. Notified dealership of this issue and was stated that my car was out of warranty. (Now 7yo) Exterior Paint is peeling off hood; exposing primer layering, as well as in some spots, the main body itself. This is a known defect caused by factory laquer coating and of which dealership states they STILL will not cover repair.
The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while making left turns on several occasions, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was shifted into park (P) and restarted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. However, during routine maintenance, an independent mechanic noticed that the oil reservoir was empty, and an oil change was completed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure m…
Recalls: 1 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 21V301000 | Engine | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a compact SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 27 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,300
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine128 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Unknown Or Other20 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electrical System18 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Power Train17 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine And Engine Cooling9 complaints · typical job: Water pump, thermostat and coolant service (3.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,040
- Fuel/Propulsion System9 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
Other Hyundai Kona years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (128 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2019 Hyundai Kona a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 81/100, computed from 187 NHTSA complaints and 1 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2019 Hyundai Kona's most common problem?
128 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2019 Hyundai Kona sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2019 Hyundai Kona cost to run per year?
About $4,457 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $22,285 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2019 Hyundai Kona have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for the 2019 Hyundai Kona, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 28/04/2021. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other compact suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2019 Hyundai Kona really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 187 complaints, 1 recalls on record
- 187 NHTSA complaints on record (26.7/yr of exposure) — in line with a typical year of this model (24.5/yr)
- 1 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems