YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Kona Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#8 most-complained of 8 Kona years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2018 Hyundai Kona has 75 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 0 out of 100 — #8 highest of 8 Kona model years (verdict: Best). The most reported problem area is engine (44 complaints, 59% of the total). Complaints report 9 crashes, 10 fires, and 12 injuries.

Complaints
75
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
9 / 10
Injuries / deaths
12 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
28.5
26.5 city / 31 hwy

Top 2018 Hyundai Kona problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine44 (59%)
  2. Other25 (33%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain11 (15%)
  4. Electrical System10 (13%)
  5. Collision Avoidance & Cameras4 (5%)
  6. Fuel System4 (5%)
  7. Structure & Body3 (4%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers3 (4%)
  10. Airbags2 (3%)
2018 Hyundai Kona complaints: complaints filed per quarter102018 Q22019 Q22021 Q12022 Q22023 Q32024 Q32025 Q32026 Q3
112 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q3; peak 2023 Q1 (10).

2018 Hyundai Kona recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2018 Hyundai Kona fuel economy and fuel cost

City
26.5 MPG
Highway
31 MPG
Combined
28.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,275
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2018 compared with other Kona years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020182019202020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Best075028.5
2019Avoid86191128.5
2020Avoid100158229

All Hyundai Kona years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Hyundai Kona a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Hyundai Kona ranks #8 of 8 among Kona model years (Complaint Index 0/100, verdict: Best). It has 75 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Hyundai Kona?
The most reported problem areas are engine (44 complaints), transmission & powertrain (11 complaints), and electrical system (10 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 15,500 miles.
Does the 2018 Hyundai Kona have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2018 Hyundai Kona in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Hyundai Kona?
EPA rates the 2018 Hyundai Kona at 28.5 MPG combined (26.5 city / 31 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,275. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.