Hyundai Kona collision warning problems

Filed Oct 12, 2026 · Driver assistance · NH

The vehicle is a 2022 Hyundai Kona N Line, VIN [XXX]. The driver-assistance/safety systems have intermittently malfunctioned. The reported problems include false forward-collision warnings, unintended automatic emergency braking when there is no apparent obstacle or collision threat, false blind-spot/side warnings, and unwanted steering intervention from the lane-assist system. The exact failed component is UNKNOWN. Possible involved systems include the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system, Lane Keeping/Lane Following Assist, Blind-Spot Collision Warning/Collision-Avoidance Assist, related cameras/radar sensors, control modules, wiring, or software. The vehicle remains available for inspection upon request. These malfunctions create a serious crash risk because the vehicle may unexpectedly brake or steer while traveling at highway speed. Three different drivers in my household have independently experienced abnormal behavior from these systems. My greatest concern is that sudden braking or steering intervention could cause the vehicle to be struck from behind, leave its lane, enter another lane, or collide with another vehicle or fixed object. The vehicle was taken to AutoFair Hyundai for inspection and diagnosis. The dealership stated that it could not reproduce the condition during its evaluation and did not find a stored diagnostic trouble code. The dealership therefore did not identify a specific cause or perform a repair directed at the reported forward-collision, blind-spot, braking, or steering malfunction. A rocker cover assembly was replaced under warranty for a separate issue. The dealership has stated that it is checking whether the affected driver-assistance systems can be permanently disabled. Hyundai Motor America has also been notified through a national customer-care case. Hyundai is aware that the complaint remains unresolved. There are not always warning lamps or stored fault codes associated with the events. The symptoms are INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Filed Jul 24, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · NC

The dash will completely go black except for red words *no signal.* and all warnings are no longer visible, I cannot tell what speed I’m going, or what percentage battery my car is at. I don’t see visible lane or collision warnings. It is very unsafe and I have been to the dealership twice to try and fix it. The issue returned both times.

Filed May 24, 2026 · Driver assistance · IL

My forward collision warning activates without cause. My automatic braking systems will engage.

Filed May 23, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CA

While driving my 2024 Hyundai Kona on the freeway on May 22, 2026, at approximately 9:30 AM, traveling around 75 mph, my vehicle suddenly displayed a forward collision warning on the dashboard even though there was no vehicle, object, or road hazard in front of me that would justify emergency braking. Immediately after the warning appeared, the vehicle’s automatic emergency braking / forward collision avoidance system activated on its own, causing the car to brake abruptly and rapidly decelerate in active freeway traffic. This created an extremely dangerous situation because vehicles behind me were traveling at freeway speeds and could have rear-ended me, potentially causing a serious multi-vehicle collision resulting in serious injury or death. I had no warning prior to this event, no dashboard warning lights, service messages, or other symptoms indicating a problem with the system. The suspected failed component is the forward collision avoidance / automatic emergency braking system, and the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The issue has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealership or independent repair facility, and the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others. My best assessment is that the system falsely detected a collision risk and activated emergency braking without cause, creating a severe highway safety hazard.

Filed Feb 27, 2026 · Body, Brakes · MI

I have a 2025 Hyundai Kona Limited. On [XXX], around the afternoon on Sunnyvale, California, while exiting [XXX] headed to Lake Tahoe, the liftgate bolt that attaches to the body had buckled mechanically as the system did not back away when a flashlight that came out of a travel bag was blocking the way to have it closed. The car computer thinks the liftgate is open even though the lock is secured. The car computer allows to drive without seatbelts secured or closures ajar for a few seconds at low speed but then it automatically with little warning engages the electronic handbrake while driving. I was driving on a highway in a middle lane when the car engaged without my consent the electronic handbrake locking the wheels and I almost got rear ended and killed by a semitruck. I had to floor the gas pedal and steer to a shoulder to request a tow. Since it was a long weekend before Presidents Day, I had the car taken to the nearest dealer in Modesto California. Their service department invented a lie that due to a side crash, which was a failure of the collision mitigation system that happened months ago, is the cause and that it is my fault even though the driver admitted responsibility but it is an unrelated issue. There should be a way of overriding the car computer so it does not engage the electronic hand brake on the middle of the highway, specially at night as this creates a road hazard that can lead to death. I replicate the issue with a rental, a Hyundai Tucson, they use the same gas strut and bolt that in my opinion has a very narrow gage. As you can see in the picture, the passenger side bolt is fine, the driver side is buckled. The side accident that happened on May 2025 was on the passenger side but the liftgate is fine; at any rate both sides should be deformed not just one if that were to be the case but it is not. Dealer and Hyundai attempting to sideline the issue to avoid a warranty and recall in my opinion. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 3, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · KY

Rear latch unlocks while vehicle is running or not running up to 30 times at once. Rear latch unlocks without key being in vehicle. This has been reported to Hyundai Motor America since August 2025. The front collision warning goes off at random times, left side departure goes off at random times.

Filed Jan 11, 2026 · Driver assistance · KS

The Blind Spot Collision Warning (BSCW) light comes on 10 minutes into a drive (we live in a rural area and drive two lane roads for at least 25 miles before multiple lanes). I have had the car in for service on the system twice before learning that this is built into the system. Others are having the same problem, (see the two Hyundai Kona forum links below). I've spent about $600 trying to solve a problem Kona already knows existed (see p. 5-52 of the 2021 Kona owner's manual). Of course I hadn't read the entire manual, but I feel the service technicians should have. I will attempt to put a more detailed description in the files below. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 30, 2025 · Acceleration, Brakes · OK

After a routine service visit, the vehicle’s braking and speed‑control systems began to behave abnormally. The ABS/ESC control module was replaced or reprogrammed without documentation, and immediately afterward the vehicle’s braking feel, speed‑control behavior, and forward‑collision warning timing changed noticeably. These changes created a safety risk because the vehicle no longer responded in a predictable way compared to its original performance. The affected components are available for inspection upon request. The issue was reproduced multiple times under normal driving conditions. Braking response became inconsistent, and the speed‑control system no longer behaved as it did before the service. The timing and behavior of forward‑collision alerts also changed compared to pre‑service operation. These changes created unpredictability in traffic, especially during following‑distance adjustments, stop‑and‑go situations, and sudden‑braking scenarios. The dealership did not provide technical documentation or explanation for the module replacement or configuration changes and did not acknowledge the change in system behavior. The manufacturer’s customer service reviewed the case but did not provide technical findings. An independent service center could not verify the original configuration because the manufacturer did not provide the Manufacturer Build Sheet. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared before or after the issue. The only indication of a problem was the sudden change in braking, speed‑control, and forward‑collision system behavior immediately after the service visit.

Filed Aug 1, 2025 · Driver assistance · VA

On multiple occasions the emergency braking system has engaged while making a lane change because the collision warning system thinks the vehicle is getting to close to the vehicle being passed. When this happens in city traffic, it has resulted in near misses from vehicles behind and in the lane for which a legal lane change is being made to avoid stopping or slowing traffic in the initial lane. The driver should ALWAYS have such control. When this happens and the car is trying to be accelerated or at least maintain the current speed as the lane change is made, the brakes very aggressively counter the driver’s actions. Since this has happened more than a dozen times, including within the first few months of ownership, information in follow-on fields will use approximate most recent occurrence.

Filed Mar 9, 2025 · Driver assistance · NJ

On Monday [XXX] I was driving home from work going 45 mph when my forward collision warning came on and the car stopped. However, there was no one in front of me. This was extremely dangerous and if there was a car behind me I could have been hit. I am extremely scared to drive this car. I had it towed to Lynne’s Hyundai in Bloomfield NJ. They said their computer could not find an issue so had nothing to fix and asked me to pick up the car. However, after what I experienced I refused and called corporate Hyundai. They told me my safety was their number one priority and they would resolve this for me. However, after they spoke to the dealership they said they could not duplicate the problem so nothing could be done. I gave numerous solutions that would make me happy but none were taken. I now have a car I am literally scared to death to drive and had another malfunction with the front sensor yesterday where it told me the car in front of me was pulling away but it was stopped. The vehicle is available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)