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 ↗2022 Hyundai Kona electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2022 Hyundai Kona have filed 17 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
17
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 Kona | 7 |
| 2019 Kona | 16 |
| 2020 Kona | 10 |
| 2021 Kona | 10 |
| 2022 Kona (this page) | 17 |
| 2023 Kona | 20 |
| 2024 Kona | 25 |
| 2025 Kona | 7 |
What stands out
Among the 8 model years of Hyundai Kona in our records for electrical problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Electrical accounts for 18% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 5 categories tracked.
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.
This bulletin provides information related to the changes introduced in the 2025 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system as described in this TSB.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗A software update is available for multiple vehicles equipped with either Display Audio 2.0V or the AVN 5th Gen Wide system.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin provides information related to the changes introduced in the 2024 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2024 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update Improvements section in this TSB for a list of specific changes. The software can be downloaded via Navigation Updater (NAU) and updated by USB. The NAU website is https://update.hyundai.com/US/EN/navigationUpdate. For certain models equipped with a relevant Bluelink package, the software may be downloaded and applied via OTA update.
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 ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
No-start conditions plague these vehicles despite passing battery diagnostics. Owners describe repetitive clicking sounds during start attempts, complete electrical shutdown at traffic lights with dead dashboards, and dashboards going dark while idling. Every time, a remote jump-starter brought the car back to life immediately. A dealership battery test came back normal, as did testing at AutoZone. The problem correlates with the auto start-stop feature being enabled—when owners disable it, the stalling stops.
Horn assembly part 96611-J9500 fails repeatedly with zero warning. Owners report replacing the horn 2 to 4 times in under three years. The failures happen at dangerous moments: on highways, at intersections, in emergencies. No warning lights appear; drivers only discover the horn is dead when they press it. Fuses and relays test fine. One dealership acknowledged it's a known Kona issue but offered no solution.
Dashboard warning lights—master warning, ESC, ABS—come on and go out unpredictably. A tech found a loose coil connector and reconnected it; the lights came back anyway. Dealerships cannot duplicate the issue.
One car accelerated while the driver applied the brakes, lurching forward 5 mph before the driver regained control. A dealership removed a floor mat, but the same acceleration happened again without the mat present.
A backup camera briefly lost signal with a flashing green screen during one reversing operation.
Same Hyundai Kona electrical reports on nearby years: 2019 · 2020 · 2023 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Battery/charging system failure with no-start
Vehicle fails to start with only clicking sounds heard, or complete electrical loss during operation. Remote jump-starting restarts the vehicle immediately. Battery tests normal at independent shops but fails intermittently. Issue correlates with auto start-stop feature being active.
When: April 2024 purchase with 12,000 miles; incidents spanning several months. Also reported starting November 2024 in another vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: Series of clicking sounds during start attempts; Complete electrical loss with no dash lights or safety flashers; Engine shuts off at traffic light while idling in rain; Vehicle loses power but restarts immediately after jump; No start condition after sitting unused for 2 weeks
Repairs/costs cited: Remote jump-starting restarts vehicle immediately each time. Battery tested normal at AutoZone and dealership; issue persists despite testing fine.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership offered battery replacement but found no issue when tested. No TSB or recall mentioned.
Multiple dashboard warning lights coming on intermittently
Multiple warning lights illuminate on dashboard without reproducible conditions. Lights include master warning light, electronic stability control, ABS warning, and coil-related indicators. Dealership unable to duplicate problem during diagnostic testing.
When: October 2025, two weeks after radiator service; lights came on again October 20, 2025
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple lights on dashboard simultaneously; Master warning light; Electronic stability control warning light; ABS warning light; Lights appear and disappear intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Technician found loose connector on coil number 1, reconnected it, test drove 5 miles with no concerns. Lights returned despite fix.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty radiator replacement performed. Technician diagnosed loose coil connector and reconnected; issue recurred. Dealership stated inability to duplicate problem on second visit.
Unintended acceleration and brake pedal interaction
Vehicle accelerates when brake is applied, causing lurching and 5 mph acceleration before driver regains control. Initial occurrence attributed to floor mat wedged under pedal; second occurrence happened without mat obstruction after dealership cleared floor mat issue.
When: 2.5 years into ownership; initial service at 6 months; recent incident August 3-4 after August 1 service
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly when braking; Car 'slides' when hitting brake pedal; Approximately 5 mph acceleration while braking; Vehicle drove sluggishly after initial dealer reset
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership initially reset a button and found floor mat wedged under brake pedal at second service. No permanent fix offered after mat was moved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall mentioned; owner cited ChatGPT as indicating this is common 2022 Kona issue warranting recall.
Horn assembly repeated failure
Horn component fails repeatedly despite multiple replacements of horn assembly part 96611-J9500. No root cause identified; replacements are temporary fix. Horn fails at unpredictable intervals without warning lights to indicate malfunction.
When: February 2023 first replacement; January 2024 third replacement; August 2024 third replacement mentioned; October 2025 fourth failure; December 2025 fourth replacement; occurring across multiple vehicles with up to 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Horn fails to produce audible sound when pressed; No advance warning; failure discovered only when horn needed; Horn goes in and out of function for months before complete failure; Failure occurs during safety-critical moments (highway driving, emergency situations); No warning lights or indication of horn malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: Part 96611-J9500 (Horn Assembly) replaced multiple times (2-4 replacements per vehicle reported). Independent electrical checks show fuses and relays intact.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty coverage stopped for out-of-warranty repairs; no TSB or recall issued. Dealership acknowledged issue as known problem with Kona horns but declined to address root cause.
Backup camera signal loss
Backup camera displays flashing green screen with 'no camera signal, try again later' message during reversing and initial forward motion. Message disappears after shifting out of reverse. Occurs on first reported instance.
When: Single incident reported; vehicle inspection pending at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Green screen flashing on camera display; Warning message intermittently appearing while backing up; Message persists through reverse and into drive until shifting to drive fully; Camera appears to recover function spontaneously
Synthesized from 17 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
February 2023: horn failure. Pressed the car's horn, and it FAILED to produce the loud sound that it is SUPPOSED TO make to warn others of possible danger. It continued to not work and needed to be replaced. Part 96611-J9500 was replaced.
JANUARY 2024: HORN FAILURE. Pressed the car's horn, and it FAILED to produce the loud sound that it is SUPPOSED TO make to warn others of possible DANGER. It continued to not work and needed to be replaced. Part 96611-J9500 was replaced AGAIN.
August 2024: Horn malfunction/failure. Pressed the car's horn, and it FAILED to produce the loud sound that it is SUPPOSED TO make to warn others of possible danger. It continued to not work and needed to be replaced for the third time. Part 96611-J9500 (Horn Assembly) was replaced for the THIRD time on this vehicle.
December 2025: Yet ANOTHER horn failure. Pressed the vehicle's horn to alert another driver that they were drifting into my lane on the highway, and it FAILED to produce the loud sound that it is SUPPOSED TO make. It needed to be replaced again for the FOURTH time. Part 96611-J9500 was replaced—AGAIN. This is a continued safety issue that Hyundai has neglected to address and fix. Spontaneous horn…
Hyundai has multiple complaints regarding Horn malfunction in the Hyundai Kona. I went to use my horn today to prevent an accident and found my horn does not work. I have checked my fuses and relays and neither are blown leading to the horn to be unable for use
Had electrical trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Hyundai Kona?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 17 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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/2022/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.