Hyundai Kona reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 803 complaints about the Hyundai Kona with NHTSA since 2018, most often about engine and other or unspecified. Hyundai has filed 2 warranty extensions and 18 service campaigns for it, and there are 9 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Hyundai Kona? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Kona a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2018 on.
- Owner complaints
- 803
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 2
- Filed by Hyundai
- Service campaigns
- 18
- Filed by Hyundai
- Safety recalls
- 9
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Kona with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | Other or unspecified (30%) | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 28 | Electrical system (32%) | 1 | 6 |
| 2024 | 52 | Electrical system (60%) | 4 | 4 |
| 2023 | 66 | Electrical system (39%) | 1 | 4 |
| 2022 | 100 | Engine (33%) | 0 | 7 |
| 2021 | 119 | Engine (67%) | 1 | 8 |
| 2020 | 160 | Engine (67%) | 2 | 6 |
| 2019 | 193 | Engine (69%) | 1 | 7 |
| 2018 | 75 | Engine (56%) | 0 | 6 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Kona model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Hyundai
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Hyundai filed with NHTSA for the Kona, in its own words. A warranty extension means Hyundai pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Warranty extensionMay 2026· Other or unspecified· model years 2021–2023
Certain 2021-2023 model year Kona, 2021-2023 model year Kona Electric, and 2022-2023 model year Kona N vehicles may experience an inoperable horn that may be caused by foreign substances causing internal parts to oxidize.
- Warranty extensionAug 2020· Electrical system· model years 2019
Certain 2019 - 2020 MY NEXO (FE) vehicles may experience a condition in which the radio presets may reset during AVN start up. This service campaign provides the procedure to install an Audio Video Navigation (AVN) software update, which corrects this condition.
- Service campaignAug 2026· Engine· model years 2021
Certain Kona (OS) vehicles equipped with the 1.6T-GDI engine may exhibit elevated engine-out emissions that may not meet engine-out NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) and Particulate Matter (PM) emission standards.
- Service campaignDec 2025· Electrical system· model years 2018–2022
Upon customer's request ONLY, the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 25-01-089H provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows.
- Service campaignAug 2025· Exterior lights· model years 2024–2025
Some Kona (SX2) vehicles may experience battery drain due to faulty logic keeping the taillights illuminated while the vehicle is parked and turned off. Follow the procedures outlined in this TSB to update the Body Domain Controller (BDC) to the latest software.
- Service campaignJul 2025· Electrical system· model years 2022–2023
A software update is available for multiple vehicles equipped with either Display Audio 2.0V or the AVN 5th Gen Wide system.
- Service campaignMar 2025· Electrical system· model years 2018–2023
Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service functions.
- Service campaignFeb 2025· Electrical system· model years 2024–2026
Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink functions.
- Service campaignFeb 2025· Electrical system· model years 2024
The subject vehicles may not be providing the Wi-Fi Hotspot setting information, specifically, the Mac address. Hyundai has deployed an Over-The-Air (OTA)* update for the CCU to improve the vehicle’s Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity.
- Service campaignFeb 2025· Automatic emergency braking and collision warning· model years 2025
Certain Kona (SX2) vehicles may exhibit a warning light ON in the cluster related to the “Check Forward Safety system” due to software intended from an alternate region.
- Service campaignJan 2025· Electrical system· model years 2025
Certain vehicles listed below may have a Bluelink malfunction or not able to have Bluelink setup. This bulletin provides instructions to reset the network in Dealer Mode to prevent the Data Concentrator Unit (DCU) modem from experiencing a "Blue Link Not Open" error.
- Service campaignDec 2024· Electrical system· model years 2024–2025
Certain Kona (SX2) vehicles may exhibit a dead battery concern linked to the Multimedia Keyboard (MKBD) logic.
- Service campaignSep 2024· Automatic emergency braking and collision warning· model years 2025
Certain Kona (SX2) vehicles may exhibit a warning light ON in the cluster related to the “Check Forward Safety system” due to software intended from an alternate region.
- Service campaignAug 2024· Electrical system· model years 2022–2023
A software update is available for multiple vehicles equipped with either Display Audio 2.0V or the AVN 5th Gen Wide system.
- Service campaignMay 2024· Electrical system· model years 2018–2022
A class settlement against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) that had alleged that certain 2011 – 2022 model year Hyundai vehicles that were not equipped with an engine immobilizer (called the “Class Vehicles”) contain design flaws, including the failure to manufacture the Class…
- Service campaignAug 2023· Electrical system· model years 2018–2022
Some models from service campaign 993 (IBU/BCM Software Update and Decals Application) equipped with the Hyundai OEM remote start system may exhibit the horn honking when remote starting the vehicle after receiving the software update.
- Service campaignMay 2022· Electrical system· model years 2019–2021
Hyundai is conducting a service campaign to enhance the knock sensor logic with the Cylinder Noise Diagnostic System (CNDS) software update.
- Service campaignMay 2022· Engine and cooling· model years 2019–2021
Hyundai is conducting a service campaign 974 to enhance the knock sensor logic with the Cylinder Noise Diagnostic System (CNDS) software update.
- Service campaignApr 2018· Automatic emergency braking and collision warning· model years 2018
Hyundai Motor America is conducting a Service Campaign to update the FCA (front collision avoidance assist)software on certain 2018 model year Kona vehicles. Service Campaign T2Y provides a service procedure to update the FCA software.
- Service campaignMar 2018· Electrical system· model years 2018
Hyundai Motor America is conducting a Service Campaign to the ECM software to update the cruise control setting logic on certain 2018 Model Year Kona equipped with 1.6T-GDI engine. Service Campaign T2V provides a procedure to update the ECM software.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Kona model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Engine413 (51%)
- Other or unspecified139 (17%)
- Electrical system138 (17%)
- Transmission and drivetrain99 (12%)
- Automatic emergency braking and collision warning59 (7%)
- Cruise control and speed control41 (5%)
- Fuel and propulsion25 (3%)
- Brakes24 (3%)
Safety recalls
9 recalls cover at least one Kona model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays.
An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The 12-Volt battery cables may chafe against the engine control module bracket and short circuit during a crash.
The seat belt assemblies in the right and left rear seats may not function properly.
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
The certification label may indicate incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- DP22005Defect petition· opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023· Electrical system· model years 2019–2022
Pedestrian alert sounds
Led to recall 22V063000.
- DP22003Defect petition· opened Sep 2022, closed Dec 2023· Engine· model years 2018–2020, 2022
Loss of Motive Power
NHTSA's own page for the 2026 Hyundai Kona has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Hyundai Kona reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2018 on: 803 owner complaints, 2 warranty extensions and 18 service campaigns Hyundai filed, and 9 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2019 (193), 2020 (160), 2021 (119). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Hyundai Kona?
Across every model year since 2018, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name engine (51%), other or unspecified (17%), electrical system (17%). Hyundai has filed 2 warranty extensions covering the Kona, listed on this page.
Which Kona model years have the most complaints?
2019 (193), 2020 (160), 2021 (119). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Kona with each other rather than with other models.
Has Hyundai extended the warranty on the Kona?
Yes: other or unspecified (model years 2021–2023); electrical system (model years 2019). A dealer does a covered repair for free within the extended time or mileage.
How do I check recalls on a Kona?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 9 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.