Hyundai Kona Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 813 consumer complaints across the 9 model years of the Hyundai Kona (2018–2026) that have at least 5 complaints. 2019 has the most, with 198. Across all years, the part named most often is engine (422 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Kona model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 835 | 3 | 9 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 28 | 5,399 | 1 | 28 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 53 | 12,000 | 4 | 34 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 66 | 34,072 | 1 | 39 | 43 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 101 | 19,842 | 0 | 73 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 120 | 23,700 | 1 | 71 | 63 · Typical | Stable |
| 2020 | 162 | 12,000 | 2 | 85 | 95 · More | Falling |
| 2019 | 198 | 44,000 | 1 | 94 | 51 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 75 | 15,500 | 0 | 97 | 13 · Fewer | Rising |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine422 43%
- Other or unknown141 14%
- Electrical system138 14%
- Transmission and drivetrain100 10%
- Forward collision avoidance62 6.4%
- Vehicle speed control46 4.7%
- Brakes35 3.6%
- Fuel system31 3.2%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2018: “When going from gas to brake, even at low speed the car lurches forward, even after the brake is compressed. I have been in two crashes now with the same car tis has happened. I see that in australia, over 4000 of the same cars were recalled for this issue. Two years ago I crashed into a tree. This morning I crashed into my garage door and demolished it.”
NHTSA complaint #11363820, filed 2020-10, 32,000 miles2019: “As I was coming to a stop light I pressed my brake pedals I felt a shudder through the brake pedal and my car died. This occurred three times in a short. Of time. This occurred three times in a short. Of time I was on a highway and it was very disconcerting I was able to finally get it back home.”
NHTSA complaint #11348676, filed 2020-08, 15,200 miles2020: “In the last 3 weeks the engine started making a rapping noise, from the time I start it and drive till its parked and shut off. The rapping is getting progressively louder. I had the oil changed at the dealership in january and is not due for another yet. I bought the KONA in august of 2020 and it has less than 3800 miles on it. I am driving to charlottesville virginia with three family members so I will be taking it to the dealership for service asap.”
NHTSA complaint #11415579, filed 2021-05, 3,478 milesOther Hyundai models
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology