Hyundai Kona
Registered from 2018 to 2027.
About this model
The Hyundai Kona is a subcompact crossover SUV produced by the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai. The first-generation Kona debuted in June 2017 and the production version was revealed later that year. The current, second-generation model was revealed in December 2022 and launched in 2023. It was developed first as a battery-electric model before being adapted for petrol and hybrid variants, which are offered depending on the market. Depending on the market, the Kona is positioned above either the Venue or the Bayon and below the Tucson in Hyundai's crossover SUV line-up. The battery-electric version, called the Kona Electric or Kona EV, was first launched in South Korea during the first half of 2018 and was rolled out gradually worldwide afterwards.
From the Wikipedia article Hyundai Kona, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it stands out against its peers
- Engine: more complaints than 98% of 2019 cars — 68% of its 187 complaints, where an ordinary 2019 car has 22%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- ENGINE — 95 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash, 3 involving a fire
- POWER TRAIN — 7 owners reported this
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — 6 owners reported this
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 6 owners reported this
- POWER TRAIN,ENGINE — 5 owners reported this
Crash test
| Overall | ★★★★☆ |
| Frontal crash | ★★★★☆ |
| Side crash | ★★★★★ |
| Rollover | ★★★★☆ |
| Stability control | Standard |
| Forward collision warning | No |
| Lane departure warning | No |
Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2027 | 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 9.0 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway |
| 2026 | 147 hp · 1570 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (EPA) · 9.0 L/100km city · 8.1 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
| 2025 | 147 hp · 1570 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 7.6 L/100km (EPA) · 8.4 L/100km city · 6.9 motorway · 181 Wh/km · Suv, 4-door |
| 2024 | 147 hp · 1570 kg · 2660 mm wheelbase · 8.4 L/100km (EPA) · 8.7 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway · 181 Wh/km · Suv, 4-door |
| 2023 | 147 hp · 1465 kg · 2600 mm wheelbase · 7.4 L/100km (EPA) · 8.1 L/100km city · 6.7 motorway · 171 Wh/km · Suv, 4-door |
| 2022 | 147 hp · 1465 kg · 2600 mm wheelbase · 7.4 L/100km (EPA) · 8.1 L/100km city · 6.7 motorway · 174 Wh/km · Suv, 4-door |
| 2021 | 175 hp · 1399 kg · 2600 mm wheelbase · 7.8 L/100km (EPA) · 8.7 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway · 168 Wh/km · Suv, 4-door |
| 2020 | 175 hp · 1399 kg · 2600 mm wheelbase · 7.8 L/100km (EPA) · 8.7 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway · 171 Wh/km · Suv, 4-door |
| 2019 | 175 hp · 1399 kg · 2600 mm wheelbase · 7.8 L/100km (EPA) · 8.7 L/100km city · 7.4 motorway · 174 Wh/km · Suv, 4-door |
| 2018 | 175 hp · 1399 kg · 2600 mm wheelbase · 8.7 L/100km (EPA) · 9.0 L/100km city · 7.8 motorway · Suv, 4-door |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
84% of 2021 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 4. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.
20V022000
An incorrect GAWR could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers displaying the correct GAWR over the affected areas of the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 187.
21V301000
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.
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.
Regulator investigations
Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.
Pedestrian alert sounds
Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.
Loss of Motive Power
Defect petition, opened September 2022, closed December 2023.
What the maker told its dealers
Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.
Hyundai filed 5 bulletins about the 2026 Kona.
- Air bags: 2
- Electrical system: 1
- Exterior lighting: 1
- Forward collision avoidance: 1
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile… · May 2026
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo… · May 2026
- Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink functions. This may be due to an occasional disconnection on Verizon’s communication network. Follow… · April 2026
- Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain warning lights and trigger DTC C272246 fault code for the front camera. In the following cases, the front… · March 2026
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the… · November 2025
Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.