Reliable Auto DB

2020 Hyundai Kona reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2020 Hyundai Kona has 158 complaints with NHTSA after 7 years, or 29 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 7 Kona years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Engine and Labels.

2018 Hyundai Kona
Photo by Kevauto, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

158

Per year

29

Recalls

2

Years on the road

7

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (105 of 158), then Powertrain (20) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, 7 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Next to 2019 and 2021

The 2019 Kona has 191 complaints, 15 per year, and the 2021 has 116 complaints, 18 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

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 2020 Hyundai Kona. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (2)

Recall Engine 2021-04-28 · NHTSA campaign 21V301000
Summary 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.
Remedy 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.
Recall Labels 2020-01-17 · NHTSA campaign 20V022000
Summary 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."
Remedy Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers displaying the correct GAWR over the affected areas of the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 187.

Complaints by component (158 total)

Engine
105
Powertrain
20
Electrical system
11
Forward collision avoidance
7
Speed control
7
Steering
7
Engine and engine cooling
4
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Service brakes
3
Air bags
2
Lane departure
2
Structure
2
Suspension
2
Wheels
2
Back-over prevention
1
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Exterior lighting
1
Seats
1
Visibility
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 12 more Show less
Crash-flagged

8

Fire-flagged

3

Injury reports

7

Death reports

1

Complaints filed per year

13202061202112202214202382024272025232026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine); however, the dealer was unable to perform the recall repair because the vehicle…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-09
  • "The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine); however, the recall repair failed to prevent the failure from occurring. The…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-31
  • "Leaking oil...burns exceptionally fast even with dealership services. Pistons not sealed, melts new spark plugs, misfire on cylinder 3"
    Powertrain, Engine · filed 2026-08-27
  • "My 2020 Hyundai Kona experienced an engine-related malfunction. An authorized Hyundai dealer inspected the vehicle, confirmed diagnostic code P1327, and determined that the complete engine required replacement. Hyundai…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-25
  • "I received the recall, brought the Kona in had the software download. Now the engine code indicates engine issues with the safety code. Hyundai customer service representatives stars because the issue wasn't found and…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-08

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2020 Hyundai Kona Electric SUV FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2020 Hyundai Kona SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2020 Hyundai Kona SUV FWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

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 26 30 28 MPG $2300
Kona Electric — Automatic (1-speed) Front-wheel drive 132 108 120 MPG / 258 mi range $600
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

OS generation, 2018–2023
Body styles SUV
Oil 0W-20 (2.0L); 5W-30 (1.6L turbo where equipped) , 4.2 qt capacity
Tire size 215/55R17 to 235/45R18 (trim dependent)

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.

Compare

Previous year 2019 Hyundai Kona Next year 2021 Hyundai Kona See every Hyundai Kona model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Hyundai Kona reliable?

The 2020 Hyundai Kona has 158 complaints with NHTSA after 7 years, or 29 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 7 Kona years on this site. NHTSA has 2 recalls on file, including Engine and Labels.

What are common problems with a 2020 Hyundai Kona?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (105 of 158), then Powertrain (20) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 8 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, 7 that report an injury, and 1 that reports a death.

Is the 2020 Hyundai Kona more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2019 Kona has 191 complaints, 15 per year, and the 2021 has 116 complaints, 18 per year. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2019. The 2020 has more complaints per year than the 2021.

Has the 2020 Hyundai Kona been recalled?

The 2020 Hyundai Kona has 2 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Hyundai Kona?

Owners have filed 158 complaints about the 2020 Hyundai Kona with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2020 Hyundai Kona get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2020 Hyundai Kona is 47 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).