2020 Hyundai Kona Electric recalls and problems

The 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric has 4 safety recalls and 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Hyundai dealer.

Urgent: recall 21V-127, recall 20V-630 carry a "park outside" warning. Contact a dealer before driving.
Recalls
4
Complaints
27
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2020 Hyundai Kona Electric recalls

Recall 26V-728: Air Bags

Reported Nov 2, 2026 · 37,901 vehicles affected · Hyundai Motor America

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Kona Electric vehicles. A software error in the air bag control unit (ACU) may improperly deactivate the air bag system and seat belt pretensioners.

Risk: Air bags and seat belt pretensioners that do not activate in a crash increases the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will update the ACU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 1, 2027. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 311. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 6, 2026.

Recall 21V-127: Electrical System

Park outsideReported Mar 1, 2021 · 4,696 vehicles affected · Hyundai Motor America

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric and 2020 Ioniq Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.

Risk: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the interim action is complete. Hyundai will notify owners, and as an interim action, owners have the option to follow provided instructions to perform a battery update through the vehicle's infotainment system or request a Hyundai dealer to provide the update. Once parts are available, dealers will inspect the Battery System Assembly (BSA), and replace it if necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk, and the interim action, with a letter mailed April 9, 2021. Final owner notification letters were mailed June 17, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 200.

Recall 20V-748: Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Dec 1, 2020 · 8,176 vehicles affected · Hyundai Motor America

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell and 2019-2021 Kona Electric vehicles. The Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may detect an abnormal sensor signal and as a result, may significantly reduce braking performance.

Risk: Reduced braking power could lengthen the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the IEB software, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 199.

Recall 20V-630: Electrical System

Park outsideReported Oct 13, 2020 · 6,707 vehicles affected · Hyundai Motor America

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.

Risk: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the Battery Management System (BMS) software and inspect the Li-ion battery, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the repair is complete. The recall began November 13, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 196.

2020 Hyundai Kona Electric problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Electrical System17
Forward Collision Avoidance6
Service Brakes5
Power Train3
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Unknown or Other2
Tires1
Engine1

Most reported parts

  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 3
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings — 3
  • Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery — 1
  • Tires › Tread/Belt — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 4,400 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Electrical System · reported Mar 4, 2026
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…
Engine · reported Jun 17, 2025
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.
Unknown or Other · reported Apr 14, 2025
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.
Electrical System · reported Feb 10, 2025
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…
Forward Collision Avoidance · reported Apr 29, 2024
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…

Other Hyundai Kona Electric years

Compare all Hyundai Kona Electric years · All Hyundai models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric: 26V-728 (air bags), 21V-127 (electrical system), 20V-748 (service brakes, hydraulic), 20V-630 (electrical system). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric?

Owners report electrical system problems most often (17 reports), followed by forward collision avoidance (6). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 4,400 miles.

Are Hyundai recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Hyundai dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.