Hyundai Kona Reliability
973 NHTSA complaints (2018–2026). Complaint rate: 18.8 per 1,000 vehicles.
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: The 2019 Hyundai Kona had a notable spike in NHTSA complaints. Other years had typical complaint volumes. Most common issue across all years: ENGINE.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
No years stand out as significantly better.
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Hyundai Kona Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 355 | 1.4% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 126 | 7.1% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 105 | 5.7% |
| POWER TRAIN | 85 | 0.0% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 36 | 11.1% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 26 | 30.8% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 25 | 0.0% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 25 | 20.0% |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS | 21 | 23.8% |
| STEERING | 15 | 20.0% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | — | 106 | 14 | 19 | View 2018View→ |
| 2019AVOID | — | 224 | 18 | 6 | View 2019View→ |
| 2020 | — | 179 | 10 | 2 | View 2020View→ |
| 2021 | — | 137 | 2 | 5 | View 2021View→ |
| 2022 | — | 132 | 4 | — | View 2022View→ |
| 2023 | — | 97 | 8 | — | View 2023View→ |
| 2024TOO NEW | — | 57 | 8 | — | View 2024View→ |
| 2025TOO NEW | — | 35 | 2 | — | View 2025View→ |
| 2026TOO NEW | — | 6 | 0 | — | View 2026View→ |
See also: Hyundai Konaaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Hyundai Kona?
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