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Hyundai Kona ElectricModel year report

2021 Hyundai Kona Electric Problems

Compared with other Hyundai Kona Electric years

Fewer complaints than typical for this model

28/100 0.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

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
38,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher 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 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric. The part named most often is electrical system, with 10 complaints (37% of the total), followed by other or unknown (7) and engine (5). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 60% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 38,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 42 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the fluid/coolant and 16 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Other or unknown complaints overlap with 3 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 28 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than 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.

Also reported: Fuel system (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “My 2021 Hyundai Kona EV battery need to be replaced. But the dealer would not have estimated time when my Kona EV get new battery. It could take 1 month or 3 months. No clues. I would not make a mistake to buy another car like Hyundai EV.”

NHTSA complaint #11486128, filed 2022-09

Other or unknown: “My vehicle has said, refill inverter coolant, I took it in a couple of days ago and they said there is an open recall and they would fix it. They called me back after I dropped it off and informed me that they did not have the specific coolant, and no one in the area did. Over the past couple days, my vehicle has had issues turning on.”

NHTSA complaint #11586833, filed 2024-05

Engine: “Fill coolant warning came on, we checked the coolant and the coolant level was good. I spoke to a Hyundai service center and the rep said that sometimes this happens with Hyundais and it may go off. Indeed it did but then Fill coolant warning came back and the coolant level was still good. …”

NHTSA complaint #11657178, filed 2025-04

Brakes: “Check regenerative brake warning comes on and the emergency brake applies while driving also when I come to a stop. When I started my car the immediately the light came on. When I cut my car off the light clears. It happens when I’m braking. The regenerative brake light warning is becoming more frequent. I took my car back to the Hyundai dealership and they “checked” it out and found no problem with my vehicle. They ran a diagnostics and a update for my car, but 4 days later the warning can on again, after the repair.”

NHTSA complaint #11468863, filed 2022-06

Mileage when problems were reported

60% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,000 and 60,000 miles.

40%0–100%10–2520%25–5020%50–7520%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 38,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2021202220232024202582026
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 2021 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 2021 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. 42 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 42 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 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric have?

NHTSA recorded 27 consumer complaints for the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 10 complaints (37% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 7.

Has the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How efficient is the 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric according to the EPA?

The EPA rates the 2021 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 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 38,000 miles and the middle half falls between 8,000 and 60,000 miles; 60% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.