Get Maintenance -> Appearance care Guide for Hyundai Kona SUV Second Generation (2023-2026)

Appearance Care

Exterior care

Exterior general caution

It is very important to follow the label directions when using any chemical cleaner or

polish. Read all warning and caution statements that appear on the label.

Finish maintenance

Washing

To help protect your vehicle's finish from rust and deterioration, wash it thoroughly and

frequently at least once a month with lukewarm or cold water.

If you use your vehicle for off-road driving, you should wash it after each off-road trip. Pay

special attention to the removal of any accumulation of salt, dirt, mud, and other foreign

materials. Make sure the drain holes in the lower edges of the doors and rocker panels are

kept clear and clean.

Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings, industrial pollution, and similar deposits may

damage your vehicle's finish if not removed immediately.

Even prompt washing with plain water may not completely remove all these deposits. Use

a mild soap, safe for use on painted surfaces.

After washing, rinse the vehicle thoroughly with lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow

soap to dry on the finish.

NOTICE

High pressure water may damage front and rear cameras, sensors, vehicle trim, and boots

(rubber or plastic covers) or connectors.

WARNING

After washing the vehicle, dry the brakes by applying them lightly while maintaining a

slow forward speed.

NOTICE

• Do not use strong soap, chemical detergents, or hot water, and do not wash the vehicle

in direct sunlight or when the body of the vehicle is warm.

• To prevent damage to the plastic parts, do not clean with chemical solvents or strong

detergents.

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NOTICE

2C_VehicleWashCaution

• Water washing in the engine compartment including high pressure water washing may

cause the failure of electrical circuits located in the engine compartment.

• Never allow water or other liquids to come in contact with electrical/ electronic

components inside the vehicle to prevent damage.

NOTICE

Matte paint finish vehicle (if equipped)

Automatic car wash which uses rotating brushes should not be used as this can damage

the surface of your vehicle. A steam cleaner which washes the vehicle surface at high

temperature may result the oil to adhere and leave stains that is difficult to remove.

Use a soft cloth (for example, microfiber towel or sponge) when washing your vehicle

and dry with a microfiber towel. When you hand wash your vehicle, you should not

use a cleaner that finishes with wax. If the vehicle surface is too dirty (sand, dirt, dust,

contaminant, etc.), clean the surface with water before washing the car.

Waxing

A good coat of wax helps protect your paint from contaminants.

Wax the vehicle when water no longer beads on the paint.

Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing. Use a good quality liquid or paste

wax, and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Wax all metal trim to protect it and to

maintain its luster.

Removing oil, tar, and similar materials with a spot remover usually strips the wax from

the finish. Be sure to re-wax these areas even if the rest of the vehicle does not yet need

waxing.

NOTICE

• Do not wipe dust or dirt off the body with a dry cloth to prevent scratching the finish.

• Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong detergents containing highly

alkaline or caustic agents on chrome-plated or anodized aluminum parts to prevent

discoloration or paint deterioration.

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NOTICE

Matte paint finish vehicle (if equipped)

Do not use any polish protector such as detergent, abrasive, or polish. If wax is applied,

remove the wax immediately using a silicone remover. If any tar or tar contaminant is on

the surface, use a tar remover to clean.

Be careful not to apply too much pressure on the painted area.

Finish damage repair

Deep scratches or stone chips on the painted surface must be repaired promptly.

Exposed metal quickly rusts and may develop into a major repair expense.

NOTICE

If your vehicle is damaged and requires any metal repair or replacement, make sure the

body shop applies anticorrosion materials to the parts repaired or replaced.

NOTICE

Matte paint finish vehicle (if equipped)

It is impossible to modify only repaint the damaged area. The whole part must be

repainted as necessary. If the vehicle is damaged and painting is required, have your

vehicle maintained and repaired by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer. Take extreme care, as

it is difficult to restore the quality after the repair.

Bright-metal maintenance

• To remove road tar and insects, use a tar remover, not a scraper or other sharp object.

• To protect the surfaces of bright metal parts from corrosion, apply a coating of wax or

chrome preservative and rub to a high luster.

• During winter weather or in coastal areas, cover the bright metal parts with a

heavier coating of wax or preservative. If necessary, coat the parts with non-corrosive

petroleum jelly or other protective compound.

Underbody maintenance

Corrosive materials used for ice and snow removal and dust control may collect on

the underbody. If these materials are not removed, accelerated rusting may occur on

underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust system, even though

they have been treated with rust protection.

Thoroughly flush the vehicle underbody and wheel openings with lukewarm or cold water

once a month, after off-road driving and at the end of each winter. Pay special attention

to these areas because it is difficult to see all the mud and dirt. It does more harm than

good to wet down the road grime without removing it. The lower edges of doors, rocker

panels, and frame members have drain holes that must not be allowed to clog with dirt.

Trapped water in these areas may cause rusting.

Aluminum wheel maintenance

The aluminum wheels are coated with a clear protective finish.

• Do not use abrasive cleaner, polishing compound, solvent, or wire brushes on

aluminum wheels.

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• Clean the wheel when it has cooled.

• Use only a mild soap or neutral detergent, and rinse thoroughly with water. Also, clean

the wheels after driving on salted roads.

• Do not wash the wheels with high speed car wash brushes.

• Do not use any cleaners containing acid or alkaline detergents.

Corrosion protection

Protecting your vehicle from corrosion

By using the most advanced design and construction practices to combat corrosion,

HYUNDAI produces vehicles of the highest quality. However, this is only part of the

job. To achieve the long term corrosion resistance your vehicle can deliver, the owner's

cooperation and assistance are also required.

Common causes of corrosion

The most common causes of corrosion on your vehicle are:

• Road salt, dirt and moisture that is allowed to accumulate underneath the vehicle.

• Removal of paint or protective coatings by stones, gravel, abrasion or minor scrapes

and dents which leave unprotected metal exposed to corrosion.

High-corrosion areas

If you live in an area where your vehicle is regularly exposed to corrosive materials,

corrosion protection is particularly important. Some of the common causes of

accelerated corrosion are road salts, dust control chemicals, ocean air and industrial

pollution.

Moisture breeds corrosion

Moisture creates the conditions in which corrosion is most likely to occur. For example,

corrosion is accelerated by high humidity, particularly when temperatures are just above

freezing. In such conditions, the corrosive material is kept in contact with the vehicle

surfaces by moisture that is slow to evaporate.

Mud is particularly corrosive because it is slow to dry and holds moisture in contact with

the vehicle. Although the mud appears to be dry, it can still retain moisture and promote

corrosion.

High temperatures can also accelerate corrosion of parts that are not properly ventilated

so the moisture can be dispersed. For all these reasons, it is particularly important to keep

your vehicle clean and free of mud or accumulations of other materials. This applies not

only to the visible surfaces but particularly to the underside of the vehicle.

To help prevent corrosion

Keep your vehicle clean

The best way to prevent corrosion is to keep your vehicle clean and free of corrosive

materials. Attention to the underside of the vehicle is particularly important.

• If you live in a high-corrosion area - where road salts are used, near the ocean,

areas with industrial pollution, acid rain, etc.-, you should take extra care to prevent

corrosion. In winter, hose off the underside of your vehicle at least once a month and

be sure to clean the underside thoroughly when winter is over.

• When cleaning underneath the vehicle, pay particular attention to the components

under the fenders and other areas that are hidden from view. Do a thorough job; just

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dampening the accumulated mud rather than washing it away will accelerate corrosion

rather than prevent it. Water under high pressure and steam are particularly effective in

removing accumulated mud and corrosive materials.

• When cleaning lower door panels, rocker panels and frame members, be sure that

drain holes are kept open so that moisture can escape and not be trapped inside to

accelerate corrosion.

Keep your garage dry

Don't park your vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated garage. This creates a favorable

environment for corrosion. This is particularly true if you wash your vehicle in the garage

or drive it into the garage when it is still wet or covered with snow, ice or mud. Even

a heated garage can contribute to corrosion unless it is well ventilated so moisture is

dispersed.

Keep paint and trim in good condition

Scratches or chips in the finish should be covered with “touch-up” paint as soon as

possible to reduce the possibility of corrosion. If bare metal is showing through, the

attention of a qualified body and paint shop is recommended.

Bird droppings are highly corrosive and may damage painted surfaces in just a few hours.

Always remove bird droppings as soon as possible.

Interior care

Interior general precautions

Prevent caustic solutions such as perfume and cosmetic oil, from contacting the interior

parts because they may cause damage or discoloration. If they do contact the interior

parts, wipe them off immediately. Refer to the instructions for the proper way to clean

vehicle interior surfaces.

NOTICE

• Never allow water or other liquids to come in contact with electrical/electronic

components inside the vehicle because this may damage them.

• When cleaning leather products (steering wheel, seats, etc.), use neutral detergents or

low alcohol content solutions. If you use high alcohol content solutions or acid/ alkaline

detergents, the color of the leather may fade or the surface may get stripped off.

• During window tinting, make sure window tinting solution does not flow into electronic

devices inside the vehicle. It may cause breakdown and malfunction of devices.

Cleaning the upholstery and interior trim

Vehicle interior surfaces (if equipped)

Remove dust and loose dirt from interior surfaces with a whisk broom or a vacuum

cleaner.

If necessary, clean interior surfaces with a mixture of warm water and mild non-detergent

cleaner (test all cleaners on a concealed area before use).

Fabric (if equipped)

Remove dust and loose dirt from fabric with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner. Clean

with a mild soap solution recommended for upholstery or carpets. Remove fresh spots

immediately with a fabric spot cleaner. If you do not pay attention to fresh spots

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immediately, the fabric may be stained and its color may be affected. Also, its fire-

resistant properties may be reduced if the material is not properly maintained.

NOTICE

Using anything but recommended cleaners and procedures may affect the fabric's

appearance and fire-resistant properties.

Leather (if equipped)

• Features of seat leather

- Leather is made from the outer skin of an animal, which goes through a special

process to be available for use. Since it is a natural product, each part differs in

thickness or density.

Wrinkles may appear as a natural result of stretching and shrinking depending on the

temperature and humidity.

- The seat is made of stretchable fabric to improve comfort.

- The parts contacting the body are curved and the side supporting area is high which

provides driving comfort and stability.

- Wrinkles may appear naturally from usage. It is not a fault of the products.

NOTICE

• Wrinkles or abrasions which appear naturally from usage are not covered by warranty.

• Belts with metallic accessories, zippers or keys inside the back pocket may damage the

seat fabric.

• Make sure not to wet the seat. It may change the nature of natural leather.

• Jeans or clothes which could bleach may contaminate the surface of the seat covering

fabric.

• Caring for the leather seats

- Vacuum the seat periodically to remove dust and sand on the seat. It will prevent

abrasion or damage of the leather and maintain its quality.

- Wipe the natural leather seat cover often with dry or soft cloth.

- Use of proper leather protector may prevent abrasion of the cover and helps

maintain the color. Be sure to read the instructions and consult a specialist when

using leather coating or protective agent.

- Light colored (beige, cream beige) leather is easily contaminated and the stain is

noticeable. Clean the seats frequently.

- Avoid wiping with wet cloth. It may cause the surface to crack.

• Cleaning the leather seats

- Remove all contaminations instantly. Refer to instructions below for removal of each

contaminant.

- Cosmetic products (sunscreen, foundation, etc.)

Apply cleansing cream on a cloth and wipe the contaminated spot. Wipe off the

cream with a wet cloth and remove water with a dry cloth.

- Beverages (coffee, soft drink, etc.)

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Apply a small amount of neutral detergent and wipe until contaminations do not

smear.

- Oil

Remove oil instantly with absorbable cloth and wipe with stain remover used only for

natural leather.

- Chewing gum

Harden the gum with ice and remove gradually.

Interior wooden trim

• Use a wooden furniture protector (for example, wax, coating compound) to clean the

interior wooden trim.

• Often wipe the interior wooden trim with a lint-free, clean cloth to maintain the unique

wooden textures for a longer period of time.

• If you spill beverage (for example, water, coffee) over the interior wooden trim,

immediately wipe it with clean, dry cloth.

• Sharp objects (for example, driver, knife), adhesive materials, or tapes may damage the

interior wooden trim.

• Any strong impacts may damage the interior wooden trim.

• If the coating finish over the interior wooden trim is removed, moisture may damage or

change wood traits.

• If the interior wooden trim is damaged, you may get a splinter from the wood surface.

Have the damaged interior wooden trim replaced by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

Cleaning the seat belt webbing

Clean the belt webbing with any mild soap solution recommended for cleaning

upholstery or carpet. Follow the instructions provided with the soap.

WARNING

Do not bleach or re-dye the webbing because this may weaken the seat belt.

Cleaning the interior window glass

If the interior glass surfaces need to be cleaned, use a glass cleaner. Follow the directions

on the glass cleaner container.

NOTICE

Do not scrape or scratch the inside of the rear window. This may result in damage to the

rear window defroster grid.

Maintenance 699

Maintenance -> Appearance care for Your Hyundai Kona SUV Second Generation (2023-2026)

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