What years of the Hyundai Kona should I avoid?

NHTSA data flags 2019 and 2020 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 86 and 100. Both years are dominated by engine complaints and share a piston oil ring recall, campaign 21V301000.

Which Hyundai Kona years are best?

2018 and 2022 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 0 and 14. The 2025 Kona is rated Good with an index of 43.

Does the Hyundai Kona have an engine recall?

Yes. Campaign 21V301000 covers 2019-2021 Kona models with 2.0L Nu MPI engines whose piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, requiring inspection and possible engine replacement.

Is the 2023 or 2024 Hyundai Kona reliable?

Both are rated Caution. The 2023 Kona is capped to Caution because it has a Do Not Drive or Park Outside recall despite a low complaint index of 29, while 2024 has an index of 57 with four recall campaigns.

What is the most common problem area across all Hyundai Kona years?

Engine problems lead with 445 complaints, 57% of the total 782 complaints across all years, followed by Electrical System issues at 19%.

Hyundai Kona Best and Worst Years (2018–2025)

Avoid the 2019 and 2020 Hyundai Kona, which carry complaint indexes of 86 and 100 and lead in engine complaints. The 2018 and 2022 Kona rate Best, and 2025 is Good, with far fewer reported problems.

Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls per model-year, ranked within this model — not a reliability rating. Methodology.

Avoid 2019 Avoid 2020 Best 2018 Best 2022

Model years: 8; 2018–2025
NHTSA complaints: 782
Recall campaigns: 7
Crashes reported: 44
Fires reported: 20
Top problem area: Engine

Kona Complaint Index by year

Higher = more complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and Do-Not-Drive recalls per year on the road, relative to other years of this model.

Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best

Hyundai Kona problems and recalls by year

Year	Verdict	Index	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Recalls	Top issue	MPG	NCAP
2018	Best	0	75	9	10	0	Engine	28.5	—
2019	Avoid	86	191	11	4	1	Engine	28.5	5★
2020	Avoid	100	158	8	3	2	Engine	29	5★
2021	Caution	71	116	2	3	1	Engine	28.5	5★
2022	Best	14	98	3	0	0	Engine	30	5★
2023	Caution	29	65	4	0	1	Electrical System	30	5★
2024	Caution	57	51	5	0	4	Electrical System	28	4★
2025	Good	43	28	2	0	1	Electrical System	28	4★

Kona years to avoid: what went wrong

2020 Hyundai Kona Index 100 · 158 complaints · 2 recalls

The 2020 Kona has the worst complaint index in the lineup at 100, despite fewer total complaints (158) than 2019. Engine issues account for 72% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of just 12,000 miles, the lowest among engine-related years. Owners describe sudden acceleration and stalling incidents, some involving crashes. This year has two recall campaigns: the same 21V301000 piston oil ring engine recall as 2019, plus a separate recall for incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating labeling. One death is recorded for this year.

2020 engine problems →2020 transmission & powertrain problems →

2019 Hyundai Kona Index 86 · 191 complaints · 1 recalls

The 2019 Kona logged 191 complaints, the highest count of any year, with a complaint index of 86. Engine problems make up 73% of its complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 70,000. Owners describe jerking, oil consumption, and knocking tied to engine campaign 21V301000, which covers piston oil rings that were not properly heat-treated. Electrical and transmission complaints followed, with much lower median mileages of 11,500 and 1,950. One recall campaign applies to this year, addressing the engine issue.

2019 engine problems →2019 electrical system problems →2019 transmission & powertrain problems →

Most common Hyundai Kona problems (all years)

Share of NHTSA complaints by component group across all model years.

Engine445 (57%)
Electrical System145 (19%)
Other134 (17%)
Transmission & Powertrain97 (12%)
Collision Avoidance & Cameras60 (8%)
Brakes33 (4%)
Fuel System29 (4%)
Structure & Body23 (3%)
Steering20 (3%)
Lane Departure18 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Hyundai Kona should I avoid?: NHTSA data flags 2019 and 2020 as the years to avoid, with complaint indexes of 86 and 100. Both years are dominated by engine complaints and share a piston oil ring recall, campaign 21V301000.
Which Hyundai Kona years are best?: 2018 and 2022 are rated Best, with complaint indexes of 0 and 14. The 2025 Kona is rated Good with an index of 43.
Does the Hyundai Kona have an engine recall?: Yes. Campaign 21V301000 covers 2019-2021 Kona models with 2.0L Nu MPI engines whose piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, requiring inspection and possible engine replacement.
Is the 2023 or 2024 Hyundai Kona reliable?: Both are rated Caution. The 2023 Kona is capped to Caution because it has a Do Not Drive or Park Outside recall despite a low complaint index of 29, while 2024 has an index of 57 with four recall campaigns.
What is the most common problem area across all Hyundai Kona years?: Engine problems lead with 445 complaints, 57% of the total 782 complaints across all years, followed by Electrical System issues at 19%.