Kona (1st)
Data covers 4 NHTSA model names
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
MPI Nu
2.0L 4-cyl / 147 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
T-GDI GAMMA
1.6L 4-cyl Turbo / 175 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
HMC Battery + Traction Motor
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Hyundai Kona Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
T-GDI THETA II
2.0L 4-cyl Turbo / 280 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Battery Electric (BEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona
That's about 2.3x the typical rate for BEVs in this dataset (median 5.7 per year). Above peer average — but high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints, so check the issue mix below before drawing conclusions.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 53 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Regen brake feel, one-pedal driving, B-mode complaints.
Battery fires, smoke, thermal runaway. Includes any complaint with fire reported.
Battery & propulsion recalls (3)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric and 2020 Ioniq Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Consequence: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Kona EV vehicles. The Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) may have been improperly sealed and may leak coolant internally.
Consequence: Coolant contacting the EPCU circuit board may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Sample complaint excerpts
High-Voltage Battery
- [2019] There has been a battery recall on our Kona EV since March 2021. We were asked to keep the battery charged only to 80% to prevent problems. Hyundai is aware that we need a battery and we were contacted in late summer to set up an appointment to replace it. Every time we try to set something up they tell us that they don't have the battery or the proper parts. This is unacceptable. We have spoken w
- [2019] I was directed by Jennifer Kruger at the NHTSA to complete this form. My 2019 Hundai Kona EV is part of the EV battery recall. On August 27, 2021, my local dealer took my car while waiting for a replacement battery. I do have use of a rental vehicle. I've reached out to Hyundai Customer Service many times in an attempt to find out when my care will be fixed and returned to me. I've not been a
- [2019] Took my 2019 Hyundai Electric Kona into dealer on 7/30/21, re: Recall #200. They kept the car for 2 1/2 weeks, finally determining that the entire battery pack should be replaced. Five months later, I am still waiting. The maximum charge is at 80%, I have brought it in for all the other recalls. The dealership keeps telling me that they have some battery packs, but that those are for "other" custo
Electric Propulsion
- [2019] Component Failed: Electric transmission/drive unit failed twice before 150,000 miles. Still in vehicle, available for inspection. Safety Risk: Loss of propulsion while driving creates risk of being rear-ended or stranded in dangerous traffic conditions. Right now the car is not drivable Confirmed By: Problem confirmed by Hyundai dealership/service center on both failures. Inspection: Inspected
- [2020] While driving approximately 70 mph on I-10 in Louisiana late at night, my 2020 Hyundai Kona EV displayed a “Check EV System” warning while I was on the highway. There were no safe areas or emergency shoulders available to pull over, so I continued driving toward the nearest exit. Approximately 15 minutes after the warning appeared, as I attempted to exit the highway, the vehicle suddenly lost pow
- [2020] I am concerned about the safety of my car and have little faith that there are qualified mechanics who understand EVs and can properly service an EV car. Two times on April 9, 2024 (and on at least 4 other occasions in 2023) while drive at approximately 45 miles an hour on a RI State highway at a safe distance from any care in front of me, my vehicle went into the fail-safe mode while I was drivi
12V Auxiliary Battery
- [2020] 6/17/2024 12 volt battery was dead; EV was fully charged 6/16/2024 using Level 2 charger in my home garage. AAA charged the battery; I drove to Crossroads Hyundai Loveland, CO and asked to have the converter to the main battery checked; this was not done. Crossroads checked the battery via CADEX with "good battery charge" as result. No other diagnostic work was performed. 8/26/2024 12 volt battery
- [2020] We just had our 2020 Kona updated from the dealer with major software and recall updates. Since that point the car has been draining from the 12volt battery on it's own and killing the charging circuit for the battery. It has caused us to have to jump start the car and not be able to keep the 12 volt charged which runs all of the environmentals and car systems. Unless you have a jump pack with you
- [2022] The electrical system is not fulling shutting down after the vehicle is turned off and the 12 volt battery drains. This also caused the Instrument Panel to fail and made the car not safe to drive as we had no speedometer or odometer. The battery drain happened over and over again. The car is a lemon. This car has been at the dealer since December 30th, with no fix in sight.
Charging System
- [2022] Charging port door will not open. Not sure if it is an issue with acuator, which employee in service dept at dealer said that is common problem. Seems like if this issue with less than 20k, perhaps should also be recall item.
- [2020] 6/17/2024 12 volt battery was dead; EV was fully charged 6/16/2024 using Level 2 charger in my home garage. AAA charged the battery; I drove to Crossroads Hyundai Loveland, CO and asked to have the converter to the main battery checked; this was not done. Crossroads checked the battery via CADEX with "good battery charge" as result. No other diagnostic work was performed. 8/26/2024 12 volt battery
- [2022] The push door to the charging port locks and I am unble to open it. It will sometimes unlock if I push the unlock button several times. This is worrisome since I need access to the charging port to charge my batter. Not sure if there is a design flaw with the latch to the door.
Regenerative Braking
- [2020] I am receiving an intermittent "check regenerative brake" message. The message will clear automatically and then reappear every three to four weeks. An internet search reveals this is a common error for the Kona. Most people report no repair by the dealer. In several cases, the brakes stopped working, resulting in collisions. The hydraulic breaks do not work if the regenerative brake system fa
- [2022] I found a lot of shaved metals when I did the oil change for the Gear Reduction. It made a lot of noises when driving or the wheel of fortune sounds whether the car is in Regenerative Braking. The sounds developed as time goes on but Hyundai failed to recall this issue. I found this has been an ongoing issue since 2019 when Hyundai make this Kona EV, but their engineers didn’t fix this type of is
- [2020] I was driving at about 45mph and my vehicle brakes suddenly stopped responding. The car alarms went crazy and said "regenerative brake failure" which is fine and all, but why the hell would the regent failing impact my ability to stop entirely? I could not get the vehicle to respond by pumping the brakes, so I put my flashers on and rolled into a lot and thankfully didn't kill anyone. Rolled into
Thermal Events
- [2019] The manufacturer has announced a safety recall (NHTSA Recall Number21V127000) due to the hazard of battery fire. It has been months since the recall was announced (and a year since battery fires were first reported) and the manufacturer has offered no remedy. Manufacturer has not provided timely communication or remedy to this safety problem, and we need help from NHTSA to get a safe solution
- [2021] The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated that while his wife disconnected the charger, the vehicle caught fire without warning. There were no reported injuries. The installation plug was melted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed the connection wiring needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. An inspector was able to inspect the ve
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Battery: Hyundai Kona Electric / Kia Niro EV (64 kWh, first generation)
Pack overview
Known issues
How this pack ages (industry context)
Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).
OEM warranty floor on this pack: 10 yr / 100k mi to 70% capacity.
Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Hyundai Kona, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona
On a used 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the engine (434), the electrical system (190) and the transmission and drivetrain (104). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 434 owner complaints on the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona about the engine, all engines combined.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 190 owner complaints on the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona about the electrical system.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 104 owner complaints on the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona about the transmission and drivetrain, all engines combined.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 82 owner complaints on the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Let the engine idle for five minutes, walk around the car and smell for fuel.Safety. NHTSA has 45 owner complaints on the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona about the fuel system, all engines combined.
- Read the traction battery’s state of health with a dealer tool or an EV-capable scan tool.Costly repair. NHTSA has 26 owner complaints on the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona (hybrid and electric versions only) about the high-voltage battery.
Recalls (9)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Kona EV vehicles. The Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) may have been improperly sealed and may leak coolant internally.
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Show 4 older recalls
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric and 2020 Ioniq Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell and 2019-2021 Kona Electric vehicles. The Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may detect an abnormal sensor signal and as a result, may significantly reduce braking performance.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Kona vehicles. The certification label may indicate incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 567, "Certification" and 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."
NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings
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Alternatives in Subcompact SUV
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona complaints?
Owners have filed 857 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona. The systems they name most often are the engine, the electrical system and the transmission.
Is the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 857 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona have?
NHTSA has 857 owner complaints on file for the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona?
NHTSA lists 9 recalls covering some 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Hyundai Kona?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the engine, the electrical system and the transmission, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Kona?
The 2023 Hyundai Kona received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 4 stars (13.6% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard & Optional. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 857 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.