2020 Hyundai Kona Problems
Compared with other Hyundai Kona years
More complaints than typical for this model
95/100 2.8× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 2.8× that of a typical Hyundai Kona year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 86 of its 162 complaints were filed by the end of 2022.
- Most reported problem: Engine stalling and loss of power (63 complaints, median 12,724 mi).
- 2 recall campaigns on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2018
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
- 162filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 12,000miles, 48 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns 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
- 5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
- EPA fuel economy
- 30 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 28 city / 32 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Hyundai Kona (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2020 Kona most often report engine-related problems, particularly higher-than-expected oil consumption, knocking noises and stalling, many of which are tied to the 2.0L Nu engine recall. Reports range from a few hundred miles to well over 100,000 miles, and several owners say the recall inspection or repair did not resolve the problem. A smaller group describes transmission shuddering, forward-collision braking that engages unexpectedly, and steering wander.
- Engine
Engine oil consumption and knocking
- 49 complaints (30%)
- median 17,000 mi at 2.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
- filed 2020–2026
Owners describe needing to add oil between changes, low oil levels found at the dealer, and a ticking or knocking sound from the engine that gets louder over time. Several say dealers performed oil consumption tests and found the engine used a quart or more per 1,000 miles, and some were told the engine needed replacement. Complaints also describe stalling, loss of power and the check engine light coming on, sometimes before any warning appeared. Reported from under 1,000 miles to over 120,000 miles, with many complaints in the first 25,000 miles.
Recall 21V3010002 related service bulletins
What to check: Ask for oil change records and whether the engine has been inspected under recall 21V301000, and check the oil level and listen for a knocking sound at cold start.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“In june I took the car back to the dealership because of a loud ticking noise. I then thought it was the oil level was low... When they checked to see it I needed an oil change they stated I need to have at least 7500 miles on the vehicle before I can get an oil change. They stated that my oil level was good and to come back , I explained to the advisor that this sound (ticking) was not normal he stated that all the 2020 KONA has that sound... …”
NHTSA complaint #11367063, filed 2020-10, 11,008 miles“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 miles - Engine
Engine stalling and loss of power
- 63 complaints (39%)
- median 12,724 mi at 1.7 yrs old (20 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2020–2026
Complaints describe the vehicle stalling while driving or slowing to a stop, losing motive power and sometimes failing to restart. Owners report check engine lights, hesitation on acceleration and towing to a dealer, where some were told parts for the recall repair were not yet available. A few say the problem returned after a recall inspection or repair. Mostly reported between about 5,000 and 30,000 miles, though also at higher mileage.
Recall 21V3010002 related service bulletins
What to check: Ask whether the recall software and engine inspection were completed and whether any stalling or no-start events were recorded; a scan tool check for stored codes is worthwhile.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My 6 month old, Hyundai 2020 KONA that I bought in july of 2020 with only 7000 miles on it had its engine fail as I was driving multiple times before I was able to get it to a mechanic. No indication lights came on telling me that there was something wrong with the car before the engine failed. The car is now at Hyundai dealership and they are telling me that my new car needs a new engine and they have no idea what started it or if replacing the engine will fix it. …”
NHTSA complaint #11395078, filed 2021-02, 7,000 miles“Felt shudder and felt like transmission not catching, later a “ping” sound, then sounded like something dropped or hit (though didn’t see anything in front of me when driving) and then didn’t look behind as on interstate. Then the oil and engine lights and one other came on and the car lost power.”
NHTSA complaint #11440141, filed 2021-11 - Steering
Steering wander and pull
Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners report the vehicle wandering left and right at highway speed without driver input, requiring constant correction, and one describes the car steering left when the driver tried to move right. Complaints say dealers described the behavior as normal for the electric power steering, and one vehicle had steering column parts replaced under warranty. Reported from very low mileage, often under 1,000 miles.
What to check: Drive on a straight stretch at highway speed and check for wander or a pull, and ask whether any steering column work or alignment has been done.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Vehicle wanders from left to right without driver input; requiring constant correction while traveling on a straight 4 lane highway. Condition was presented to dealer. Following a test drive by dealer service manager with my demonstration of wander, service manager test drove the vehicle with me as a passenger. He declared the wander condition as normal for electronic assist power steering. He did, however, change the steering degree wit a marginal improvement but condition has continued. …”
NHTSA complaint #11360770, filed 2020-09, 100 miles“When I drive the car on the street and freeway I have to hold the steering wheel in place so I don't go into the next lane. The car feels like it hydroplanes and shifts on the freeway. When turning the car shifts as well. The car bounces when driving and on the freeway when I go over a bump I have to pull the wheel so the car doesn't go into the next lane. The car lags when accelerating. One tire wasn't holding air so I took it to the tire center to have it fixed. The car drives this way everyday.”
NHTSA complaint #11343979, filed 2020-08, 44 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission shudder and slipping
- 13 complaints (8%)
- median 13,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2021–2026
Owners describe shuddering, slipping and hesitation between low gears, especially at low speed and in stop-and-go traffic. One complaint says a dealer measured significant transmission wear well under 20,000 miles, and another describes the vehicle becoming stuck in a gear until it was restarted. Reported from under 20,000 miles up to about 30,000 miles.
What to check: Test drive at low speed in stop-and-go conditions and ask whether the transmission fluid has been serviced or the transmission inspected.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“While on the highway, a message collision detection system failure flashed on the instrument panel, and the brakes slammed on full, followed by the transmission stuck in 4th gear. I had to leave the highway, and power off the engine - effectively rebooting the car. I continued on to work but I shut off the collision detection system, which has to be set at each power cycle. This has happened to my car 3 times, twice on the highway. Dealer service downloaded logs with no indication of the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #11400028, filed 2021-03, 29,000 miles“Transmission stutters and slips between 1-2k rpms, especially at low speeds and in stop and go traffic. I took my vehicle to the dealer. At less than 20,000 miles they said transmission wear is at 85%. Unacceptable performance and concerning that this will continue to degrade.”
NHTSA complaint #11551145, filed 2023-10 - Forward collision avoidance
Forward collision system braking unexpectedly
- 7 complaints (4%)
- median 16,000 mi at 1.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
- 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2021–2026
Complaints describe a forward collision warning with no obstacle present, followed by the brakes engaging briefly and the transmission dropping into a lower gear. Owners say the vehicle has to be shut off and restarted to reset the system, and that dealers could not reproduce the problem or found no fault in the logs. Mostly reported under about 10,000 miles, with some at higher mileage.
What to check: Ask whether the forward collision system has been inspected or updated, and confirm during a test drive that the driver-assist settings behave as expected.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Front-collision warning light kicks on while going 45-50mph. No obstructions. Brakes engage, stuck in 4th gear. Must pull over and restart car to reset. Occurs intermittently, but has happened at least weekly for the last 6 weeks. In and out of dealer several times. Brand new vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11405331, filed 2021-03, 7,200 miles“I have a 2020 Kona SE AWD and have a problem with a Check Forward Collision Sensor error that happens infrequently. When it happens, you get a ding then on the dash in a large graphic check forward collision sensor then BANG the brakes are applied for a split second and the car violently drops into a lower gear and revs until you turn the car off and reset the system. This has happened 4 times in the last 2 thousand miles. Been to the dealer twice and they cannot recreate the problem, so they can not fix anything. …”
NHTSA complaint #11501418, filed 2023-01
Buying note. Check that recall 21V301000 has been completed and ask for service records showing oil consumption history, since engine-related reports dominate this model year. A thorough test drive covering highway speed, slow stop-and-go traffic and the driver-assist features will help confirm how the car behaves.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 162 consumer complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Kona. 48 of the complaints include a mileage, and 77% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 12,000 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 3 a fire, 12 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 85 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 5 Hyundai Kona model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 95 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more 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.
- Engine109 67%
- Other or unknown17 10%
- Electrical system11 6.8%
- Steering7 4.3%
- Vehicle speed control7 4.3%
- Engine cooling4 2.5%
- Fuel system4 2.5%
- Brakes3 1.8%
Also reported: Air bags (2), Lane departure (2), Body and structure (2), Suspension (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Wheels (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Electronic stability control (1), Exterior lighting (1), Seats (1).
Example complaints
Engine: “Bought new car july 2020, was good for a little while then started to have loud ticking noise under hood. Brought car in for service at 3100 (approx) miles had a few issues at this service, main was noise. Was told mechanic looked under heard noise (as did front desk rep) and mechanic said it was normal on this car. I took car back again for same issues approx 2 weeks later (they hear noise dont know where its coming from I was told, they have tech advice looking into it now). They now have had my car for 6 days. …”
NHTSA complaint #11375178, filed 2020-11, 35 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “I am filing a safety complaint against Scott Stark’s South Point Hyundai for selling me a vehicle with an active open safety recall, a blown transmission, an A/C failure, and a dry-rotted tire. Before returning the car for service under a promised 1,000-mile warranty, my sister, who has worked for Corporate Hyundai for 15 years, helped me conduct a full intake baseline inspection at her dealership. …”
NHTSA complaint #11754634, filed 2026-08Other or unknown: “My Car Has Had Problems With The Starter It Would Not Start At Times My Car Has Been Checked By Priority Acura On They My Starter Needed To Be Replaced At At Times My Car Has Trouble Picking Up Speed Consumer stated vehicle was diagnosed in June 8th, 2021. Today different issues occurring all windows not down at the same time and when 2 are down the car shakes.”
NHTSA complaint #11424245, filed 2021-07Electrical system: “Got a notice about engine control system to take car to dealership. Previous we were having poor gas mileage. Was told by dealership it had to break in. We purchased it at the end of may. First notice came in early march and called dealer for appt. Was told to wait as mileage was not yet 6,000 miles, too early for service. Late march blue link again notified me about this DTC problem. Then had engine light come on plus it stalled out while driving. Called service dept again and was told april 9th was earliest appt. On march 29th was on rte 495 and car stalled again. …”
NHTSA complaint #11405511, filed 2021-03, 5,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
77% of the 48 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 5,000 and 28,000 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.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2020 Hyundai Kona. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona · SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 13.6% risk |
| Kona · SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | 5 / 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 · 14.1% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2020 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking optional.
Neighbouring years: 2019: same overall rating; 2021: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2020 Hyundai Kona version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona AWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 7-speed automatic | 26 | 29 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Kona AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 26 | 30 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Kona FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 7-speed automatic | 28 | 32 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Kona FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 27 | 33 | 30 | $2,250 |
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
- 21V301000Apr 28, 2021EngineCovers: Hyundai Kona 2019–2021, Veloster 2019–2021, Elantra 2019–2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
- 20V022000Jan 17, 2020Equipment › Other › LabelsCovers: Hyundai Kona 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Kona vehicles. The certification label may indicate incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…
Recall details for the 2020 Hyundai Kona → · 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. 85 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038798Oct 27, 2026Electrical system. This bulletin provides information related to the navigation and head unit software changes introduced in the 2026 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle…
- 11038722Oct 15, 2026Back-over prevention (rear camera). Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger various DTCs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the PDW…
- 11038458Oct 8, 2026Engine. Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles…
- 11038456Oct 7, 2026Engine. Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles…
- 11031400Apr 18, 2026Engine, Electrical system. Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary…
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026Air bags. 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…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026Air bags. 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…
- 11027047Dec 19, 2025Air bags. A Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided. Based on the Class Action, customers are eligible for certain settlement benefits. Please see attached for details. Impacted…
- 11027046Dec 19, 2025Air bags. A Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided. Based on the Class Action, customers are eligible for certain settlement benefits. Impacted vehicles are also noted below…
- 11027045Dec 19, 2025Air bags. Hyundai has settled a class action lawsuit that alleges that certain Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles (defined below) contain defective ZF-TRW airbag control units (“ZF-TRW ACUs”) that are vulnerable…
Other model years of the Hyundai Kona
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 10 | 835 | 3 | 4 | 31 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 28 | 5,399 | 1 | 4 | 31 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 53 | 12,000 | 4 | 4 | 31 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 66 | 34,072 | 1 | 5 | 32 | 43 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 101 | 19,842 | 0 | 5 | 32 | 48 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 120 | 23,700 | 1 | 5 | 30 | 63 · Typical | Stable |
| 2020 | 162 | 12,000 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 95 · More | Falling |
| 2019 | 198 | 44,000 | 1 | 5 | 30 | 51 · Typical | Rising |
| 2018 | 75 | 15,500 | 0 | — | 30 | 13 · Fewer | Rising |
All Hyundai Kona model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Hyundai Kona?
Owners of the 2020 Kona most often report engine-related problems, particularly higher-than-expected oil consumption, knocking noises and stalling, many of which are tied to the 2.0L Nu engine recall. The issues reported most often: Engine oil consumption and knocking; Engine stalling and loss of power; Steering wander and pull.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020 Hyundai Kona have?
NHTSA recorded 162 consumer complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Kona as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2020 Hyundai Kona is reported most often?
Engine is named most often, in 109 complaints (67% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 20.
Has the 2020 Hyundai Kona been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2020 Hyundai Kona do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2020 Hyundai Kona 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Hyundai Kona get?
The EPA rates the 2020 Hyundai Kona (Kona FWD, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 30 mpg combined, 28 city and 32 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2020 Hyundai Kona reported?
Among the 48 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 12,000 miles and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 28,000 miles; 77% 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. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.