Reliable Auto DB

2021 Hyundai Kona reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Kona over 6 years — 18 per year. The other Kona years sit at about the same rate: their median is 17 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Engine.

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

116

Per year

18

Recalls

1

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (77 of 116), then Powertrain (14) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2020 and 2022

The 2020 Kona has 158 complaints, 29 per year, and the 2022 has 98 complaints, 21 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

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 2021 Hyundai Kona. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

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.

Complaints by component (116 total)

Engine
77
Powertrain
14
Electrical system
11
Forward collision avoidance
4
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Speed control
4
Lane departure
3
Service brakes
3
Engine and engine cooling
2
Steering
2
Wheels
2
Exterior lighting
1
Seats
1
Structure
1
Tires
1
Visibility
1
Show 8 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

3

Injury reports

3

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

232021182022122023172024212025252026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • ""The vehicle suffered sudden internal engine failure while in operation due to catastrophic oil starvation, presenting a severe risk of engine stalling and loss of propulsion on the road. Active diagnostic codes are…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-11
  • "At approximately 100,500 miles, the 2.0L Nu engine experienced a sudden, catastrophic internal failure while operating, causing a loss of power and stalling. Failed Component & Availability: The engine block assembly…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-21
  • "2021 Hyundai Kona, VIN [XXX], 45,575 miles. Engine unexpectedly stalled while driving on 45 mph road and stopped at a light. Oil-pressure warning appeared when the engine stalled. Upon checking afterward, the oil level…"
    Engine · filed 2026-08-18
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the horn button was depressed but was inoperable. The dealer was contacted and notified of the failure. The contact…"
    Electrical system · filed 2026-07-22
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 5 MPH while making a turn, the vehicle stalled. Several warning lights illuminated but turned off after the vehicle was…"
    Engine · filed 2026-07-09

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Hyundai Kona EV SUV FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated Not rated
2021 Hyundai Kona SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2021 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 25 30 27 MPG $2400
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 2020 Hyundai Kona Next year 2022 Hyundai Kona See every Hyundai Kona model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Hyundai Kona reliable?

Owners have filed 116 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Kona over 6 years — 18 per year. The other Kona years sit at about the same rate: their median is 17 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Engine.

What are common problems with a 2021 Hyundai Kona?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (77 of 116), then Powertrain (14) and Electrical system (11). Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 3 that report a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Is the 2021 Hyundai Kona more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2020 Kona has 158 complaints, 29 per year, and the 2022 has 98 complaints, 21 per year. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2020. The 2021 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Hyundai Kona been recalled?

The 2021 Hyundai Kona has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

Owners have filed 116 complaints about the 2021 Hyundai Kona with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Hyundai Kona get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Hyundai Kona is 46.8 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).