There are 2 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 2018 Hyundai Konain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I AM REQUESTING INVESTIGATION INTO EXCESS GLARE FROM LED HEADLIGHTS ON THE KONA LIMITED MODEL, YEAR 2018 FOR THOSE MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JUNE. EXCESSIVE GLARE ORIGINATES FROM THE LED LIGHTS AND RESULTS IN CONSISTENT "BRIGHT BEAM" FLASHES FROM ON COMING DRIVERS, AS THEY THINK YOU HAVE YOUR BRIGHTS ON. THIS RESULTS IN BLINDING AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHEN DRIVING ON NARROW ROADS FOR BOTH DRIVERS. HYUNDAI APPEARS TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE AS THEY REDESIGNED THE LED HEADLIGHTS MID YEAR. JUNE AND LATER MODELS DO NOT HAVE EXCESS GLARE. THIS APPEARS TO BE SUPPORTED BY IIHS.ORG AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTPS://WWW.IIHS.ORG/IIHS/NEWS/DESKTOPNEWS/IMPROVED-HEADLIGHTS-HELP-HYUNDAI-KONA-EARN-TOP-SAFETY-PICK-AWARD WHEN CONTACTING HYUNDAI CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO SEEK REPLACEMENT LIGHTS, THEY CLAIM TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHANGE MID YEAR AND DIRECT YOU TO THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE CONTACTED TWO LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIPS AND NEITHER CLAIMS TO KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MID YEAR CHANGES AND HAVE NOT YET OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE IN ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. HYUNDAI SHOULD BE REQUESTED BY NHTSA TO CONTACT KNOWN EARLY YEAR OWNERS OF AFFECTED KONA LIMITED MODELS WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO GET THE ISSUES ADDRESSED.
I OWN A 2018 HYUNDAI KONA SEL PURCHASED IN MARCH 2018 FROM KEARNY MESA HYUNDAI IN SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA. I BECAME AWARE THAT THE INITIAL KONA SE AND SEL'S SUBMITTED TO THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE OF HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) FAILED FOR INSUFFICIENT HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION. I FURTHER UNDERSTAND THAT HYUNDAI INSTITUTED CORRECTIVE ACTION AND RESUBMITTED THE KONA TO THE IIHS IN MAY 2018, WHICH PASSED AND RECEIVED A 5-STAR RATING. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY DID TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCY, AND CAN MY CAR BE FIXED. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CORRECTION WAS PROPRIETARY, AND THEY CANNOT TELL ME WHAT WAS DONE. I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD NOTIFY POWAY HYUNDAI, SO THEY CAN CORRECT THE DEFICIENCY. THE ANSWER WAS NO. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION DIVISION. NOT KNOWING WHO THEY ARE I ELECTED TO CONTACT YOU. HYUNDAI INTRODUCED THE CAR FOR SALE IN FEBRUARY 2018 AND MADE A MAJOR ENGINEERING CHANGE IN MAY TO CORRECT AN APPARENT SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY HAVE NOTHING TO THE CARS WHICH WERE MADE FROM FEBRUARY TO MAY2 018 TO CORRECT THE ISSUE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026