2018 Hyundai Kona problems and recalls

55% of owner complaints on the 2018 Hyundai Kona related to the Engine (41 of 74).

74
Complaints
0
Recalls
9
Crash reports
10
Fire reports
12
Injuries
145.4
Severity index

Severity index 145.4 High. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 145.4p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 2 of 122 by severity index among 2018 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 98% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2018 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 41 complaints (55.4%)41 55%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 25 complaints (33.8%)25 34%Power TrainPower Train: 11 complaints (14.9%)11 15%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 8 complaints (10.8%)8 11%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 4 complaints (5.4%)4 5%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 3 complaints (4.1%)3 4%Engine And Engine Cooli…Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 complaints (4.1%)3 4%Forward Collision Avoid…Forward Collision Avoidance: 3 complaints (4.1%)3 4%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE4155.4%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2533.8%
POWER TRAIN1114.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM810.8%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM45.4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL34.1%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING34.1%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE34.1%

Complaints filed per year

07142018: 92019: 42020: 32021: 52022: 52023: 112024: 122025: 142026: 11 (partial year)18192021222324251426
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20189
20194
20203
20215
20225
202311
202412
202514
2026 (year to date)11
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 2.8x those in 2020 to 2022 (37 against 13).

Other Hyundai Kona model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 8 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.