Hyundai Kona years to avoid (and the best years)
781 NHTSA owner complaints and 7 recalls across 8 model years, 2018 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 781complaints
- 7recalls
- 44reported crashes
- 20reported fires
- 46reported injuries
- 1reported deaths
Which Hyundai Kona years should you avoid?
No Hyundai Kona model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Hyundai Kona year has 86 complaints on file. The busiest years are the 2019 (191) and 2020 (158).
What are the best Hyundai Kona years?
The Hyundai Kona years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2023 (65), 2022 (97) and 2021 (116). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 28 | 0.3× | 1 | 2 | 4 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2024 | 51 | 0.6× | 4 | 5 | 5 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 65 | 0.8× | 1 | 4 | 3 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2022 | 97 | 1.1× | 0 | 3 | 1 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2021 | 116 | 1.3× | 1 | 2 | 3 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2020 | 158 | 1.8× | 2 | 8 | 12 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2019 | 191 | 2.2× | 1 | 11 | 6 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2018 | 75 | 0.9× | 0 | 9 | 12 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 515 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain292 (57%)
- Electrical & infotainment108 (21%)
- Brakes34 (7%)
- Other systems28 (5%)
- Steering, suspension & tires25 (5%)
Recalls (7)
Seat belts · 26V452000 · Jul 2026 · model years 2024, 2025
A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.
Engine · 24V308000 · May 2024 · model year 2024
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 23V901000 · Dec 2023 · model year 2024
A short circuit increases the risk of an engine compartment fire.
Seat belts · 23V650000 · Sep 2023 · model year 2024
A seat belt that does not function properly may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Transmission · 23V526000 · Jul 2023 · model year 2023
An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Safety · 21V301000 · Apr 2021 · model years 2019, 2020, 2021
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.
Safety · 20V022000 · Jan 2020 · model year 2020
An incorrect GAWR could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.