Reliability & cost of ownership
Hyundai Kona Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Hyundai Kona? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Hyundai Kona problems by model year
13 recall entries across 7 model years and 814 owner complaints across 9 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 2 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kona | 3 | 11 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2025 Kona | 1 | 28 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2024 Kona | 4 | 53 | 4.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2023 Kona | 1 | 66 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2022 Kona | Not confirmed | 101 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2021 Kona | 1 | 120 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2020 Kona | 2 | 162 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2019 Kona | 1 | 198 | 5.0 | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2018 Kona | Not confirmed | 75 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Hyundai Kona, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- engine422 complaints
- unknown or other141 complaints
- electrical system138 complaints
- power train100 complaints
- forward collision avoidance62 complaints
- vehicle speed control46 complaints
- service brakes35 complaints
- fuel/propulsion system30 complaints