Hyundai Kona years to avoid
Every Hyundai Kona model year on file (2018-2025), ranked worst to best by severity index - the share of owner complaints that report a crash, fire, injury or fatality.
2018
Worst year on file
144.5
Severity index
Engine
Most-reported system
2022
Cleanest year on file
Ranked worst to best
| # | Model year | Severity | Complaints | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2018 Hyundai Kona | 144.5 High | 75 | Engine |
| 2 | 2020 Hyundai Kona | 94.6 High | 161 | Engine |
| 3 | 2024 Hyundai Kona | 79.1 Medium | 53 | Electrical System |
| 4 | 2025 Hyundai Kona | 78.9 Medium | 28 | Electrical System |
| 5 | 2023 Hyundai Kona | 60.8 Medium | 66 | Electrical System |
| 6 | 2019 Hyundai Kona | 59.8 Medium | 196 | Engine |
| 7 | 2021 Hyundai Kona | 50.4 Medium | 120 | Engine |
| 8 | 2022 Hyundai Kona | 40.3 Low | 101 | Engine |
A high rank here means a larger share of this year's complaints described a crash, fire or injury - not that the vehicle is unsafe to drive, and not a reliability or repair-cost rating. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold.
Hyundai Kona complaints and recalls by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crashes | Fires | Severity | Most-reported system |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 75 | 0 | 9 | 10 | 144.5 High | ENGINE |
| 2019 | 196 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 59.8 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2020 | 161 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 94.6 High | ENGINE |
| 2021 | 120 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 50.4 Medium | ENGINE |
| 2022 | 101 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 40.3 Low | ENGINE |
| 2023 | 66 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 60.8 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2024 | 53 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 79.1 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
| 2025 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 78.9 Medium | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM |
Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs. Complaint counts are not normalised by units sold; a high-volume seller will attract more filings than a rare trim.