2019 Hyundai Kona: fire, smoke or burning smell

6 of the 198 complaints about the 2019 Hyundai Kona describe fire, smoke or burning smell.

owner complaints: 6
of this car's complaints: 3%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 36 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Fire, smoke or burning smell by model year

2021
7
2020
6
2019
6
2018
8

What owners say

Filed Sep 30, 2026 · Engine · IA

On September 11, 2026, while driving my 2019 Hyundai Kona Limited 1.6L Turbo on the highway, the vehicle suffered a sudden and dangerous loss of propulsion. The engine began vibrating violently, lost power significantly, and a strong chemical burning smell entered the cabin. I was forced to pull over immediately in traffic to avoid a catastrophic fire or highway collision. The vehicle had to be towed to McGrath Hyundai. The official dealership inspection (RO# 949326) confirmed severe internal manufacturing defects: cylinder wall scoring on cylinders 2, 3, and 4 due to premature piston ring wear, which caused massive oil fouling on the spark plugs and total ignition failure. This defect creates an immediate highway safety hazard and risk of engine fire due to oil entering the combustion chamber. Hyundai Motor America refuses to issue a safety recall for this 1.6L Gamma engine defect, leaving consumers driving unsafe vehicles with active loans.

Filed May 22, 2026 · Engine · 78,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact observed excessive oil consumption, which has progressively caused the vehicle to stall 2 to 3 times per week. While the engine can be restarted, it idles and runs roughly immediately afterward. Additionally, the contact noted a distinct smell of burning oil exiting from the exhaust system. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V301000 (ENGINE) however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to a independent mechanic where it was diagnosed to have excessive oil consumption. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,000.

Filed Jan 22, 2026 · Engine · IL

I was traveling on the interstate when my car began to slow down and the RPMs kept going up. I pulled over on the side of the highway and turned the motor off. I waited 10 minutes and started the car again thinking it was just a misfire. The motor began making weird noises and shaking. My engine like came on the dashboard display reported major malfunction get help. I was told by my mechanic that I was lucky the car did not catch on fire. He determined that pistons 1 and 3 were misfiring. He said it was being flooded with fuel. I have complained about the excessive burning of oil and that there must be an issue. Several have been recalled but not specific car.

Filed May 16, 2024 · Engine · 46,000 miles · MD · fire

The contact owned a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while stopped at an intersection, he observed smoke emanating from the engine compartment. The vehicle was steered into a parking lot where he opened the hood and he observed flames coming from the engine. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was taken to a salvage lot. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000.

Filed Jul 7, 2021 · Engine · 10,300 miles · NJ

The contact owns a 2019 Hyundai Kona. The contact received a notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the vehicle loss motive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of roadway with grayish smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle failed to restart. Due to the failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to the local dealer however, he was informed that he would be placed on a list for the recall repair. The manufacturer had been notified of the recall but offered no assistance. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 10,300. Parts distribution disconnect.

Filed Nov 21, 2019 · Airbags, Seat belts · 3,400 miles · CA · crash · fire · 1 injury

Upon collision (front end) at about 35 MPH the vehicle burst into flames and continued to burn until the fire department showed up. In addition, there may be an issue with the seat belt mechanism. Driver's clavicle was fractured and displaced upon impact.