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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Hyundai Kona powertrain problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Kona have filed 14 NHTSA complaints about the powertrain at roughly $2,500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
| Model year | powertrain complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Kona | 11 |
| 2019 Kona | 17 |
| 2020 Kona | 17 |
| 2021 Kona (this page) | 14 |
| 2022 Kona | 15 |
| 2023 Kona | 10 |
| 2024 Kona | 3 |
| 2025 Kona | 4 |
When does it fail?
Of the 14 powertrain complaints filed for the 2021 Hyundai Kona, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
Certain vehicles (listed below) equipped with 7-speed Double Clutch Transmissions (DCT) may exhibit abnormal vibration at low speeds. This bulletin outlines the procedures for diagnosing clutch judder, updating the Transmission Control Unit (TCU) with revised logic, and/or replacing the Double Clutch.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Certain vehicles equipped with 7-speed Double Clutch Transmissions (DCT) may exhibit abnormal shifting caused by an out of specification input shaft snap ring. This bulletin outlines the procedures for inspecting for 1-2 or 2-1 shift shock and replacing the input shaft snap ring.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) prone to multiple failure modes across these 2021 Konas. Hard downshifts and jerking during acceleration and braking appear frequently, with owners noting the vehicle lunges forward when stopping or hesitates when accelerating from a stop. Several owners report complete transmission disengagement—the car loses power mid-drive or stalls unexpectedly, sometimes at traffic lights with no warning codes present. One owner experienced the transmission switch into manual low gear with high RPM before stalling. A mechanic diagnosed a failed transmission piston ring at 96,000 miles requiring replacement.
Separate from transmission shift quality, persistent excessive oil consumption emerges as a distinct issue. One owner documents oil dropping to "Low" within 3,000 miles of changes starting at 61,000 miles, despite dealership repairs for timing cover and oil pan leaks. That owner reports the Hyundai 1000-mile oil test showed normal consumption initially, then rapid drops afterward—a pattern suggesting either unresolved leaks or internal oil burning.
A third failure mode involves transmission overheating under load. One owner reports the transmission overheated, bucked violently, and produced smoke while driving uphill in heavy mountain traffic and snow. The dealership allegedly stated the behavior was "as designed."
Safety concerns dominate owner reports: unintended power loss creates collision risks, stalling at traffic lights forces emergency responses, and delayed throttle response has generated near-accidents.
Same Hyundai Kona powertrain reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
DCT Hard Shifts, Jerking, and Judder
The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission exhibits harsh downshifts, jerking during acceleration and braking, and rough engagement—particularly from a stop or when downshifting. Owners describe the behavior as similar to driving a manual transmission for the first time. The issue worsens over time.
When: Begins as early as 12,000 miles; present at 35,200 miles; continues through 90,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Hard downshifts and jerking during braking and acceleration; Lunging forward when coming to a stop; Rough first-gear engagement; Delayed power response when accelerating from a stop; Engine vibration and hesitation during acceleration; Transmission shifts irregularly; irratic behavior
Codes mentioned: P0017 (Crankshaft Position Camshaft Powertrain System code)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performed software update; no change reported. Dealership stated judder not severe enough to warrant transmission replacement. One independent mechanic diagnosed failed transmission piston ring, requiring replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai Technical Service Bulletin #22-AT-007H issued. Recall 22V746000 (campaign 236) for automatic transmission may disengage during drive—some owner VINs reported as not registered for this recall.
Transmission Disengagement and Stalling
The transmission loses all power engagement or stalls unexpectedly while driving, often at traffic lights or during acceleration. The car may produce a grinding noise, fail to move forward, or require restart. In one case, the transmission unexpectedly shifted into manual low gear with high RPM before stalling.
When: Occurs at 18,000 miles, 28,000 miles, and 96,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power to move forward; Transmission stalls at traffic lights during acceleration; Grinding noise followed by no forward motion; Unintended downshift with no warning light initially; Vehicle cannot be put in reverse; Dies when coming to a brake, requires multiple restarts; Unexpected shift to manual low gear, then stalls
Codes mentioned: Transmission Control System warning (displayed on car info screen), Check engine light (without specific codes in some cases)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership unable to repair; no codes found in some instances. One mechanic diagnosed failed transmission piston ring at 96,000 miles, requiring transmission replacement—not repaired by owner.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated no repair possible without diagnostic codes. Hyundai contacted; stated no action without codes.
Transmission Overheating and Smoke
The transmission overheats under load (mountain driving in heavy traffic and snow), causing the vehicle to buck violently, emit smoke, and create unsafe conditions. The owner was unable to safely pull over and had to limp the vehicle with transmission fluid cooling.
When: Occurred during mountain driving in winter conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission overheated in traffic on steep mountain road; Vehicle bucked back and forth three times; Transmission warning light illuminated; Smoke from powertrain area; Loss of safe vehicle control
Codes mentioned: Transmission light (no specific codes mentioned)
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented. Owner cooled transmission for approximately one hour and limped vehicle uphill.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership stated the overheating behavior is 'as designed.' Owner notes the issue is documented heavily online.
Excessive Oil Consumption
The engine consumes oil rapidly despite following all scheduled maintenance. Oil level drops to 'Low' within 3,000 miles of oil changes. Dealership initially repaired timing cover and oil pan leaks, but excessive consumption persisted. 1000-mile oil tests showed conflicting results—normal consumption initially, then rapid drops afterward.
When: Begins at 61,000 miles; continues through 78,913 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil level drops to 'Low' within 3,000 miles of oil change; Oil leak at timing cover and oil pan (repaired); Engine sounds rough when oil is low; Dipstick shows 'Low' shortly after oil top-offs
Repairs/costs cited: Timing cover and oil pan leaks repaired at first dealership visit; did not resolve consumption. Subsequent visits did not result in identified root cause. Oil topped off multiple times.
Synthesized from 14 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The car has never been good on gas or changing gears when drive mode was changed to sport from the beginning. It would say 200 miles to drive I will drive 30 miles and it will go down to 130. Recently the engine light has come on the car stalls when going a very low speeds and appears to have problems changing gears. Now I am receiving a crankshaft position camshaft powertrain system code…
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle downshifted unintendedly. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission piston ring had failed. The mechanic…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2021 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 powertrain problem on the 2021 Hyundai Kona?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 14 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 96,000 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2021/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.