Hyundai Kona Problems by Year
NHTSA has 806 owner complaints and 9 safety recalls on file for the Hyundai Kona, across 9 model years (2018–2026). The 2019 model year has the most complaints (194). The most reported problem area overall is engine.
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Hyundai Kona years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Kona year: 2019, 2020. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2019 Kona: 194 complaints, 1 recall
- 2020 Kona: 160 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2021 Kona: 120 complaints, 1 recall
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2026 Kona: 10 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2025 Kona: 28 complaints, 1 recall
- 2024 Kona: 52 complaints, 4 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Hyundai Kona problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 416 | 9 | 5 |
| Electrical System problems | 138 | 9 | 6 |
| Power Train | 99 | 9 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 62 | 9 | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 46 | 9 | 5 |
| Service Brakes | 34 | 8 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 30 | 7 | 0 |
| Steering | 20 | 7 | 4 |
| Lane Departure | 19 | 8 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 18 | 4 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 18 | 8 | 0 |
| Structure | 17 | 8 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 14 | 6 | 14 |
| Suspension | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Visibility/wiper | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Wheels | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 6 | 5 | 1 |
| Visibility | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Hyundai Kona problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
All Hyundai Kona model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kona | 10 | 3 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Kona | 28 | 1 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Kona | 52 | 4 | 4★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Kona | 66 | 1 | 5★ | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Kona | 101 | 0 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2021 Kona | 120 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | More complaints than other years |
| 2020 Kona | 160 | 2 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2019 Kona | 194 | 1 | 5★ | Engine | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2018 Kona | 75 | 0 | — | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Hyundai: all Hyundai models · Hyundai VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Kona years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2019 (194), 2020 (160) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Kona year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Kona?
Engine, with 416 complaints across 9 model years.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Kona have?
9 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.