2018 Hyundai Kona reliability
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Kona over 9 years — 5 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 7 Kona years on this site. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
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The complaints owners file most often name Engine (42 of 75), then Powertrain (11) and Electrical system (8). Those filings include 9 that report a crash, 10 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.
The 2019 Kona has 191 complaints, 15 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.
The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2018 Hyundai Kona. How we count. Data as of .
Recalls (0)
No recalls on file with NHTSA for this model year.
Complaints by component (75 total)
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Complaints filed per year
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
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"car had an engine knock at 110,000 miles and took it to a repair shop and said they are pretty sure it was an engine rod and that the whole engine needed to be replaced still waiting to get it to the dealership to see…"
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"I purchased a 2018 Hyundai Kona, and it has had one major issue after another. It burns an excessive amount of oil, the engine misfires, and now the turbocharger is failing. I’ve already spent approximately $2,300…"
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"The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the engine bay, followed by grinding gear sounds. The vehicle lost drive…"
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"The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving it began to smoke, a noise was hear, put in neutral to coast down a hill and had to pull the parking break to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was…"
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"The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Koa. The contact stated that while the daughter was driving the vehicle began to sputter and jerk before stalling. During the failure the oil warning light flashed off and on. The vehicle…"
NHTSA crash ratings
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Hyundai Kona SUV AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2018 Hyundai Kona SUV FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.
Fuel economy
| Trim | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona all-wheel drive | 1.6L, 4-cyl | Automatic (7-speed) | All-wheel drive | 26 | 29 | 27 MPG | $2400 |
| Kona all-wheel drive | 2L, 4-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | All-wheel drive | 25 | 30 | 27 MPG | $2400 |
| Kona front-wheel drive | 1.6L, 4-cyl | Automatic (7-speed) | Front-wheel drive | 28 | 32 | 30 MPG | $2150 |
| Kona front-wheel drive | 2L, 4-cyl | Automatic (6-speed) | Front-wheel drive | 27 | 33 | 30 MPG | $2150 |
Specs and fitment
Known issues for this generation
NHTSA campaign 21V301000. 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. A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Hyundai Kona reliable?
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Kona over 9 years — 5 per year. That is the fewest complaints per year among the 7 Kona years on this site. NHTSA has no recalls on file for this model year.
What are common problems with a 2018 Hyundai Kona?
The complaints owners file most often name Engine (42 of 75), then Powertrain (11) and Electrical system (8). Those filings include 9 that report a crash, 10 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.
Is the 2018 Hyundai Kona more reliable than the years next to it?
The 2019 Kona has 191 complaints, 15 per year. The 2018 has fewer complaints per year than the 2019.
Has the 2018 Hyundai Kona been recalled?
NHTSA has no recalls on file for the 2018 Hyundai Kona.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2018 Hyundai Kona?
Owners have filed 75 complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Kona with NHTSA.
What mpg does a 2018 Hyundai Kona get?
EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2018 Hyundai Kona is 28.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.
What oil does a Hyundai Kona take?
OS (2018-2023): 0W-20 for the 2.0L; 5W-30 for the 1.6L turbo where equipped. SX2 (2024-on): 0W-20 for 2.0L and turbo where equipped. Confirm the manual.
What does NHTSA campaign 21V301000 cover on the Kona?
Certain 2019-2021 Kona (with Elantra and Veloster) with 2.0L Nu MPI engines: piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
When did the second-generation Kona start in the US?
Model year 2024 (SX2 generation on this site).