70,000 Miles In, I Pulled Out My Hyundai Kona Right Outside The Dealership And Saw Smoke Coming From The Front Passenger Fender

You never think it's going to be your car. You’re cruising along, everything feels normal, and then—without warning—you see something you’d never expect: smoke creeping up from your fender, the acrid scent of burning plastic hitting your nose, and your pulse going into overdrive. This isn’t a horror story someone told on a forum—this happened just this week to a Hyundai Kona owner right outside the dealership.

His name is Janc Nichols, and he shared his very real, very unsettling experience in the Hyundai Kona Owners Facebook Group, where I first saw his post. It's a story worth telling—not to stir panic, but to explore what might have gone wrong and why more drivers need to pay attention to the less obvious signs under the hood.

“So this happened this morning. Literally right outside the dealership. I had just dropped off the keys to my 2025 Tucson, pulled out my Hyundai Kona and saw smoke coming from the front passenger fender. I popped the hood and saw the engine cover on fire. I ripped it off and saw the 4 coil packs on fire. Grabbed a towel from inside my car and began to put it out. I was doing ok, but thankfully a tow truck saw the smoke and changed its direction coming to help me. He hopped out with a fire extinguisher and put it out. And I have no idea how it happened or why yet. My last oil change was in February and I put new spark plugs and coil packs in June of 2024 at 70,000 miles. I’m so upset. Love my little turbo on this Kona.”

That’s what makes this incident all the more unexpected, especially when you consider how refined and fun-to-drive the latest Kona models have become. In fact, we recently tested the 2024 Hyundai Kona N Line AWD, which delivered an unusually engaging experience for a subcompact SUV with a sporty twist. From its sharp turbocharged power to its smooth handling and roomy redesign, the Kona proved it’s more than just a commuter - it’s a real driver’s car when everything’s working as it should. If you want to see what this SUV is truly capable of when it’s not putting out fires, you can read our full hands-on review of the 2024 Hyundai Kona N Line AWD here.

Janc's post instantly drew a mix of empathy, technical speculation, and shared stories from fellow owners. And it’s not just about fire - this situation exposes a deeper question we often overlook: How vulnerable are our engines to unchecked hazards under the hood, and are we even prepared to deal with something like this if it happens mid-drive?

Could This Be a Warning Sign for More Kona Owners?

One group member, Robert Pautzke, chimed in with something that really made me stop and think. “My Kona 2023 N-Line had a cracked spark plug, which made my fourth cylinder useless, it also made my turbo stop working. But I never noticed and it never threw up any codes or check engine lights for months. I only found out about it when I switched the plugs.”

Think about that. A cracked spark plug silently caused serious issues under the hood—and no check engine light. So when Janc replaced all four coil packs and spark plugs at 70,000 miles, is it possible that something from that repair led to the fire? Or was it a fuel system leak, as Bryan Herran Serrano suggested? He wrote, “I bet the high pressure fuel pump must have leaked gasoline.”

Another sharp observation came from Mikey Sou, who said, “The only way that fire happen[ed] is if there was oil or fuel spilled somehow in that area. Did someone pour oil recently and spilled it on the header exhausts and when it got really hot just burst into flames?”

Is This a Fluke or a Red Flag?

We’ve seen vehicle fires caused by rodent nests, engine oil residue, and cracked fuel lines - often so minor and hidden that no one would spot them without really digging. Brenda Hunter Luken recalled, “My Grandson’s Jeep Wrangler caught fire 1 mile from their home. Never any issues with the vehicle. Come to find out they suspect a bird had built a nest in the engine compartment.”

So this might not be about Hyundai at all - it might be about the unpredictable nature of modern engine bays. With tighter components, higher engine temps, and turbocharged heat zones, all it takes is one tiny failure, or even nature meddling, and the whole system can light up.

Still, Steve Cain brought up the harsh reality: “Sadly, that'll probably be a total through insurance.” And that’s where things get even more complicated - insurance adjusters aren’t always eager to approve repairs on fire-damaged vehicles unless the cause is crystal clear and blame-free.

Fire Readiness: A Tool Most of Us Don’t Think About

One comment stood out for its simplicity and wisdom. Sandy Ferrigno Young said, “I have a fire blanket in my car and garage. It’s a good thing to have. You just never know. Glad you are alright.”

She’s right. In Europe, it’s becoming increasingly common to carry fire blankets in vehicles—compact, non-toxic, and capable of smothering small engine fires before they spread. They’re also a lot easier to store than a full fire extinguisher, especially in smaller vehicles like the Kona or other subcompact crossovers that people use for urban driving.

The rise in high-performance turbocharged engines and EVs means there’s more complexity under the hood, which makes preventative safety tools even more critical—not just after-market hardware like blankets or extinguishers, but better routine inspections, engine bay cleaning, and critical part replacements.

What Janc Told Torque News Directly

I reached out to Janc, and he graciously offered a quick follow-up in an exclusive message to Torque News:

“The insurance hopefully will be letting me know today if they are going to fix her. I’m praying they do. The Hyundai Kona is such a great little car,” he wrote.

That loyalty to the Kona isn’t unusual, especially as more drivers weigh their options in today’s suddenly shifting EV market. With vehicles like the Chevy Equinox EV stuck in limbo, buyers looking for something dependable, stylish, and efficient are turning to alternatives - and the Hyundai Kona EV is emerging as a smart, well-rounded choice. It might not have the hype of some competitors, but it offers real-world usability and availability that many shoppers find refreshing in such an unexpectedly uncertain segment.

Janc still doesn’t know why or how it happened—but that uncertainty is exactly why this story matters. This isn’t about blaming the vehicle or the owner. It’s about how easily something so simple can escalate, and how few of us are really prepared for it.

What Can We Learn From This?

This isn’t just about a single fire. It’s about being aware of the unseen weak links in our vehicles - especially when we modify or service them ourselves. Things like:

• Loose spark plugs or improperly installed coil packs
• Fuel or oil residue not properly cleaned
• Debris, rodents, or nesting material near hot engine parts
• A cracked part causing hidden misfires without setting off warning lights

It also raises interesting questions about vehicle design and safety. Are modern cars with more sensors and tech also harder to diagnose when something subtle is off? That leads into a related and timely discussion on which new vehicles are engineered to prioritize fire safety and crash protection. If this concerns you, check out our recent report on the safest EV SUVs of 2025 based on crash test ratings and safety features.

You might be surprised to find that the Mustang Mach-E ranks among the top EVs for occupant protection, thanks to its structure and active monitoring systems.

A Bigger Conversation: What Drives Vehicle Loyalty?

Despite what happened, Janc is still hoping to hold onto his Kona. That says a lot. Owners form emotional bonds with their cars, even when things go wrong. In fact, many EV owners who've traded from gasoline to electric models have similar sentiments. One of our readers recently shared their journey in switching from a Jeep Wrangler to a 2024 Mustang Mach-E, detailing the nervous excitement and skepticism in trying something new.

Whether this fire was caused by fuel, oil, a faulty coil, or something more mysterious—what happened to Janc is an eye-opener for all of us. Modern cars are amazing machines, but they need vigilance. Engine bays aren’t just tight—they’re thermal battlegrounds, and one tiny oversight can turn into a smoking mess.

So here's the big takeaway: It’s time more drivers take proactive steps - routine visual inspections, engine bay cleaning, and yes, maybe even keeping a fire blanket in the trunk. It might feel like overkill, until it isn’t.

Your Turn: Let’s Talk

Have you ever experienced or witnessed an unexpected vehicle fire or engine-related scare?
Do you carry any emergency gear in your vehicle—fire extinguisher, blanket, or otherwise?

Share your story in the comments below. You never know who might learn something from it—or who you might help avoid the same smoke-filled surprise.

Armen Hareyan is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Torque News. He founded TorqueNews.com in 2010, which since then has been publishing expert news and analysis about the automotive industry. He can be reached at Torque News Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, and Youtube. He has more than a decade of expertise in the automotive industry with a special interest in Tesla and electric vehicles.