2021 Hyundai Kona Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Kona years
- More complaints than other years 3rd of 9 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 5 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 120 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Kona. That ranks 3rd out of 9 Kona model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (80 complaints, 67%), typically at around 23,350 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes, 3 fires, 3 injuries. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 120owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Hyundai Kona problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine problems | 80 | 67% | 23,350 | “oil consumption” (13%) | — |
| Unknown or Other | 19 | 16% | 5,331 | — | — |
| Power Train | 14 | 12% | 96,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 11 | 9% | 23,000 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 4% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 3% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Lane Departure | 3 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2% | 47,500 | — | — |
| Steering | 2 | 2% | 25 | — | — |
| Wheels | 2 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 5,052 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Structure | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 1% | 170,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Hyundai Kona recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Risk: A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Pedestrian alert sounds (DP22005) — opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V063000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My 2021 Kona has undergone five separate oil consumption checks. The engine is depleting oil at an abnormal rate, creating a clear risk of sudden catastrophic engine failure and highway stalling. Dealership service personnel have repeatedly dismissed consumption data despite documented top-offs…
All 4 fuel injectors failed. They were replaced but the check engine light came back on. Crank shaft sensor was then replaced and now the check engine light is back on. Driving the car waiting for something to fail is not safe
My exact engine was as in a recall but not my car which failed prematurely at 84,000. I have taken extensive maintenance in the car in the for the past 2 years. Hyundai made me pay to tow my car to a dealership denied me for a goodwill replacement with the same exact problems as the same exact…
My 2021 Kona Limited 1.6L Turbo is consuming oil so rapidly that the Low Oil Pressure light has activated on the highway, creating a sudden risk of stalling and engine failure, that the dealership and Hyundai are declining service. According to research, when your oil pressure light flashes, your…
"The vehicle suffered sudden internal engine failure while in operation due to catastrophic oil starvation, presenting a severe risk of engine stalling and loss of propulsion on the road. Active diagnostic codes are P0014, P0017, and P0303. An independent mechanic confirmed the engine was found 3…
Other Hyundai Kona years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kona | 10 | 3 |
| 2025 Kona | 28 | 1 |
| 2024 Kona | 52 | 4 |
| 2023 Kona | 66 | 1 |
| 2022 Kona | 101 | 0 |
| 2021 | 120 | 1 |
| 2020 Kona | 161 | 2 |
| 2019 Kona | 194 | 1 |
| 2018 Kona | 75 | 0 |
See all Hyundai Kona problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Kona?
Owners most often report engine, unknown or other, power train problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 80 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Hyundai Kona?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Hyundai Kona a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Kona model years, the 2021 has more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 5 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.