YearToAvoid

2019 Hyundai Kona Transmission & Powertrain Problems

NHTSA lists 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Hyundai Kona, 9% of its 191 total complaints for the year. Median mileage at failure was 1,950 miles, and there are no related recalls for this area.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints
18
9% of 191
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
1,950 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical transmission symptoms owners report

  • Owners report a delay of 2 to 3 seconds when accelerating from a stop before the vehicle responds.
  • Some describe the transmission feeling like it slips into neutral on slight uphill grades, with the engine revving before the car suddenly lurches forward.
  • Several drivers experienced dual-clutch transmission slippage or chatter when accelerating from a full stop, sometimes only after the engine reached operating temperature.
  • One owner reported the transmission suddenly downshifting at highway speed, causing a violent slowdown and a warning light, requiring a full shutdown to reset.
  • A few complaints describe brief hesitation or pausing during acceleration lasting a second or two, in some cases tied to a check engine light.
  • One complaint described the vehicle stalling at 70 mph with the forward collision warning light on, then restarting and repeating after continued driving.

When 2019 Hyundai Kona transmission complaints were filed

First complaint Jul 14, 2019, latest Sep 7, 2026.

2019 Hyundai Kona transmission & powertrain complaints: complaints filed per month2Jul 2019Jul 2020Jan 2023Dec 2023Nov 2024May 2026
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2019 to Sep 2026; peak Jul 2020 (2).

Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2019 Hyundai Kona

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Kona model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201811 (15%)
  2. 201918 (9%)
  3. 202020 (13%)
  4. 202114 (12%)
  5. 202217 (17%)
  6. 202310 (15%)
  7. 20243 (6%)
  8. 20254 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2019 Hyundai Kona have?
NHTSA lists 18 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2019 Kona, which is 9% of the 191 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a transmission recall for the 2019 Hyundai Kona?
No. The data shows no related recalls tied to the Transmission & Powertrain category for the 2019 Kona.
At what mileage do 2019 Kona transmission problems usually appear?
The median mileage at failure across these complaints is 1,950 miles, indicating many issues surfaced very early in ownership.
What kind of transmission issues do 2019 Kona owners report?
Owners describe delayed acceleration from a stop, transmission slipping or chattering, sudden downshifts at highway speed, and brief hesitation during acceleration.
How does the 2019 Kona compare to other Kona years for this problem area?
The 2019 Kona's 9% share of complaints in this area is lower than 2018 (15%), 2020 (13%), 2021 (12%), and 2022 (17%), among others listed.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.