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Hyundai Kona ElectricModel year report

2020 Hyundai Kona Electric Problems

Compared with other Hyundai Kona Electric years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2021

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
27filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
4,250miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—no overall rating published
EPA fuel economy
120 MPGecombined, Electric FWD · 132 city / 108 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric. The part named most often is electrical system, with 17 complaints (63% of the total), followed by brakes (5) and forward collision avoidance (5). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 4,250 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 54 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the traction battery and 27 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the software and 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 2 Hyundai Kona Electric model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “Hyundai is failing to provide the interim remedy promised in your safety recall report 21v-127 (attached). This remedy consists of simply disclosing the safe charging limit percentage for the propulsion battery. The recall report states, under remedy program, owners will also be provided with instructions to manually lower the battery's state of charge limit via the infotainment system. I requested that information from Hyundai customer care. However they replied currently there is no remedy available. …”

NHTSA complaint #11404447, filed 2021-03, 3,600 miles

Brakes: “Driving during rush hour on interstate in an urban area. Cars in front slowed rapidly, applied brakes to slow down, did so successfully. Dynamic brake support then apparently kicked in, and forced the car to a stop, despite brake being fully released. Car from behind barely able to avoid crashing into me, the driver had to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid me and ended up stopping beside my car. Once car came to a stop, was able to get going again. Issue has not reproduced since.”

NHTSA complaint #11309058, filed 2020-02, 530 miles

Forward collision avoidance: “My vehicle unnecessarily activated automatic emergency braking, locking the wheels and causing the truck behind me to swerve onto the shoulder to avoid crashing into my vehicle. This is the second time this has occurred with this car. I was driving in the slow lane of a limited access freeway. The lane was congested and I estimate the speed at about 40 MPH. The cars ahead slowed and began to stop. I took my foot off the accelerator and moved to the brake. At this time I was three or four car lengths behind the car ahead, and could have stopped easily with firm but normal braking. …”

NHTSA complaint #11415035, filed 2021-05, 4,100 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “While driving approximately 70 mph on I-10 in Louisiana late at night, my 2020 Hyundai Kona EV displayed a “Check EV System” warning while I was on the highway. There were no safe areas or emergency shoulders available to pull over, so I continued driving toward the nearest exit. Approximately 15 minutes after the warning appeared, as I attempted to exit the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost power and rapidly slowed. The vehicle came to a complete stop and could not accelerate, move forward, or reverse. …”

NHTSA complaint #11722050, filed 2026-03

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 3,600 and 5,000 miles.

83%0–1017%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 4,250 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

202020211320222023202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving); for electric versions it is the cost of electricity and the rating is in MPGe.

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Kona Electric FWDElectricsingle-speed132108120 MPGe$600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 54 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 54 bulletins →

Other model years of the Hyundai Kona Electric

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2024153,0001—118 MPGe—Too new
202351750—120 MPGe—Too new
202222—0—120 MPGe—Stable
20212738,0002—120 MPGe28 · FewerRising
2020274,2503—120 MPGe50 · TypicalFalling
20195417,7333—120 MPGe68 · MoreFalling

All Hyundai Kona Electric model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric have?

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 17 complaints (63% of the total), followed by brakes with 5.

Has the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How efficient is the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric according to the EPA?

The EPA rates the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric (Kona Electric, Electric) at 120 MPGe combined, 132 city and 108 highway, with an estimated annual electricity cost of $600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other battery and motor versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2020 Hyundai Kona Electric reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,250 miles and the middle half falls between 3,600 and 5,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.