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.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Hyundai Kona electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Hyundai Kona have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Kona | 7 |
| 2019 Kona | 16 |
| 2020 Kona (this page) | 10 |
| 2021 Kona | 10 |
| 2022 Kona | 17 |
| 2023 Kona | 20 |
| 2024 Kona | 25 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service functions. This may be due to an irregular disconnection on Verizon’s communication network. Follow the procedure in this TSB to reestablish the connection via the AVN pinhole reset method.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service functions. This may be due to an irregular disconnection on Verizon's communication network. If you are experiencing issues with remote commands, or other Bluelink services, please see the instructions below to reestablish the connection via the AVN pinhole reset method.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service functions. This may be due to an irregular disconnection on Verizon’s communication network. Follow the procedure in this TSB to reestablish the connection via the AVN pinhole reset method.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗A class settlement against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) that had alleged that certain 2011 – 2022 model year Hyundai vehicles that were not equipped with an engine immobilizer (called the “Class Vehicles”) contain design flaws, including the failure to manufacture the Class Vehicles with an anti-theft device called an engine immobilizer, that make them susceptible to theft and damage. Class Vehicles manufactured without an engine immobilizer have traditional “turn-key-to-start” ignition systems.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2020 Kona vehicles report a range of electrical faults spanning battery, engine control, and driver interface systems. Battery drain stands out as a recurring headache: one owner's battery died repeatedly despite restarts, necessitated a jump-start after three months of storage, and by the time service was sought at 38 months (just outside the three-year warranty), the dealership charged $340 for replacement. A second complaint describes engine stalling at highway speeds preceded by poor gas mileage, Blue Link diagnostic trouble codes for the engine control system, and a dealership initially refusing to diagnose at 6,000 miles. That owner escalated to Hyundai customer care (case 18115897) after stalling incidents created genuine safety risk.
Instrument panel blackouts have also been alleged—one owner reported the entire cluster (speedometer, RPM, fuel, temperature gauges, and turn signals) going dark while on the highway, accompanied by loss of lane-keep assist; power cycling restored most function but left a check engine light behind. Dashboard glitching is another pattern: lights flash erratically (described as "Christmas tree" effect), mechanical thuds occur, engine throttle drops at speed, and dealerships cannot reproduce or pull codes. Starter failure, horn loss, backup camera failure from sale, and premature headlight burnout round out the electrical complaints. One EV owner remains restricted to 80% battery charge and outdoor parking under an October 2020 recall—16 months unresolved—effectively halving usable range.
Same Hyundai Kona electrical reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Battery drain and failure to hold charge
Battery dies repeatedly and fails to hold charge despite initial appearance of recharging. Occurs after extended storage periods (June–October). Battery deemed out-of-warranty at 38 months/21,000 miles.
When: May 2023; multiple instances June–September; November service visit
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Battery appears dead; Requires jump-start; Restarts after a few attempts; Does not hold charge over time
Repairs/costs cited: Hyundai dealer replaced battery (cost $340); owner declined due to out-of-warranty status
Engine stalling and loss of power while driving
Engine stalls without warning at highway speeds (Route 495). Engine light illuminates. Poor gas mileage reported before stalling events. Blue Link notifications of engine control system DTC. Owner reports loss of vehicle control.
When: March 2023 (first DTC notice early March, first stall late March, repeated stalls March 29–30); purchased end of May 2022, 6,000 miles mileage at time of first notice
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls at highway speed; Check engine light on; Poor gas mileage; Blue Link DTC notification for engine control system; Loss of throttle/power
Codes mentioned: Engine control system DTC (Blue Link notification)
Repairs/costs cited: Initial dealer refused service, citing low mileage; owner requested rental car reimbursement; case escalated to Hyundai customer care (case #18115897); taken to second dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Case number 18115897 filed with Hyundai customer care
Loud constant ticking noise under hood
Loud, constant ticking noise under hood present in park and drive. Dealership unable to diagnose; suspected motor defect. After 6 days in service, dealership reports possible motor issue requiring either part replacement or full motor replacement. Three additional diagnostic tests ordered.
When: Purchased July 2020; first service at ~3,100 miles (approximately July/August 2020); second service ~2 weeks later
Symptoms owners cite: Loud constant ticking noise under hood; Noise present in park and drive; Noise audible to customer and dealership staff
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership held vehicle 6 days; suspected motor defect pending three additional tests; outcome not reported
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai Motor Corp, Technical Service, and dealership coordinating diagnostic tests
Instrument panel blackout and electrical system malfunction
Entire instrument panel goes black while driving on highway; speedometer, RPM gauge, fuel level, and water temperature gauges non-functional. Turn signals also fail. Lane keep assist disables. Check engine light activates after restart.
When: Date not specified; during highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Instrument panel completely black; Speedometer non-functional; RPM gauge non-functional; Fuel level gauge non-functional; Water temperature gauge non-functional; Turn signals non-functional; Lane keep assist disabled; Check engine light activated after restart
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (activated after incident)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner contacted Hyundai USA seeking resolution; outcome not reported
Backup camera inoperative from purchase
Backup camera non-functional since vehicle purchase. Dealership and Hyundai National unable to resolve after months of contact. Warranty expired by time of complaint (August, at least 10+ months post-purchase).
When: Since purchase; complaint filed August (at least 10+ months after purchase)
Symptoms owners cite: Backup camera does not function
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed; dealership and Hyundai National case opened but unresolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai National case opened; case manager unable to call back; no resolution
Headlight bulbs burning out prematurely
Headlight bulbs burn out repeatedly on both left and right sides, approximately every 9 months. Owner takes care to use glove when handling bulbs to avoid contamination. No other vehicles have exhibited this pattern.
When: Approximately every 9 months over 5 years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Headlight bulbs burn out frequently; Affects both left and right sides
Repairs/costs cited: Owner has replaced bulbs multiple times; suspects electrical system or wiring issue; no dealership inspection
Dashboard lights and electrical glitches with loss of throttle
Dashboard lights shut off suddenly, then illuminate erratically like a 'Christmas tree,' accompanied by FCA warning sound. Lights then turn off; loud mechanical thud occurs. Engine throttle lost at highway speeds. Occurs without warning, can happen at any speed. Vehicle requires power-down and restart to restore normal operation.
When: Many times per year; no specific date provided
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard lights turn off; Dashboard lights flash erratically (described as like Christmas tree); FCA warning sound emitted; Loud mechanical thud; Loss of engine throttle at highway speeds; Occurs without warning at any speed
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to reproduce issue or retrieve error codes
Starter failure and starting issues
Vehicle experiences intermittent starting failure. Diagnosed by Priority Acura (not a Hyundai dealer) as requiring starter replacement. Owner also reports vehicle has trouble picking up speed.
When: Diagnosed June 8, 2021
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle does not start at times; Trouble picking up speed
Repairs/costs cited: Priority Acura diagnosed starter replacement needed; unclear if repair completed
Window operation malfunction
All windows do not lower simultaneously. When two windows are down, vehicle shakes.
When: Date not specified; mentioned in June 2021 complaint update
Symptoms owners cite: Windows do not lower at same time; Vehicle shakes when two windows are down
Battery defect and unresolved recall (2020 Kona EV)
2020 Kona EV owner subject to October 2020 recall requirement. Required to park outside (not in garage) and limit battery charge to 80% instead of 100%. Issue unresolved for 16 months. Owner reports reduced effective range from estimated miles and damage to vehicle exterior from exposure to elements. Owner states would not have purchased had known of limitations.
When: Recall issued October 2020; complaint filed after 16 months without resolution
Symptoms owners cite: Battery charge restricted to 80% by requirement; Effective range reduced to approximately 200 miles (owner estimate); Unable to park in garage; Vehicle exterior exposed to sand and sun damage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: October 2020 recall issued requiring 80% battery limit and outdoor parking; no resolution or compensation offered
Radio activating without user input
Radio turns on without being prompted. Owner turns it off; it turns back on seconds later. Turns off again and remains off. Occurs once on drive home from dealership service visit.
When: October 2023, after dealership service visit (battery replacement and horn repair)
Symptoms owners cite: Radio turns on without prompt; Radio reactivates immediately after being turned off
Horn failure
Horn does not function. Dealership replaced horn under warranty coverage.
When: October 2023 (within warranty period at time of service)
Symptoms owners cite: Horn does not work
Repairs/costs cited: Hyundai dealer replaced horn; covered under warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Horn replacement covered under warranty
Windshield washer system clogged/inoperative
Windshield washer fluid trickles out initially, then stops flowing completely. Dealership identified as clogged unit.
When: October 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Windshield washer fluid trickles out; No fluid flows after initial trickle
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership quoted $80 to unclog; owner declined repair
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
In May 2023 after washing and vacuuming my car, it would not start. The battery appeared dead. I waited and tried periodically, and after about three tries, It started. This happened a couple more times, but always restarted and appeared to recharge. I did not drive the car from June - October, and asked my son to start it periodically while I was away. He tried in Mid June and battery was dead…
Bought new car july 2020, was good for a little while then started to have loud ticking noise under hood. Brought car in for service at 3100 (approx) miles had a few issues at this service, main was noise. Was told mechanic looked under heard noise (as did front desk rep) and mechanic said it was normal on this car. I took car back again for same issues approx 2 weeks later (they hear noise dont…
the headlights in this model Kona keep burning out after 9 months or so. I have replaced them multiple times in the last 5 years on both left and right sides. I use glove to put in the bulbs and are very careful not to let my hands touch the bulb. I have never had this happen with any other car I have owned. I suspect an electrical system issue, or perhaps wiring, but that is speculation. I…
Had electrical trouble with your 2020 Hyundai Kona?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2020 Hyundai Kona?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 5,000 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Hyundai/Kona.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.