Reliable Auto DB

2023 Hyundai Kona reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2023 Hyundai Kona has 65 complaints with NHTSA after 4 years, or 18 per year. That is about even with the other Kona years here. Their median is 17 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Pump.

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

65

Per year

18

Recalls

1

Years on the road

4

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (26 of 65), then Forward collision avoidance (13) and Powertrain (10). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Next to 2022 and 2024

The 2022 Kona has 98 complaints, 21 per year, and the 2024 has 51 complaints, 17 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2024.

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 2023 Hyundai Kona. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, fluid, pump 2023-07-27 · NHTSA campaign 23V526000
Summary 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.
Remedy Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 246.

Complaints by component (65 total)

Electrical system
26
Forward collision avoidance
13
Powertrain
10
Engine
8
Speed control
7
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Service brakes
3
Lane departure
2
Air bags
1
Exterior lighting
1
Seat belts
1
Steering
1
Structure
1
Tires
1
Wheels
1
Show 7 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

2

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

42022202023152024142025122026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving 64 MPH, the vehicle experienced a loss of motive power with reduced acceleration. The check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was…"
    Engine · filed 2026-09-15
  • "I was in a rotary and there were two lanes and they both exited to a bridge. I was on the outside lane of the rotary and when exiting the rotary the car from the inside cut me off and I was unable to alert the driver…"
    Electrical system, Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-09
  • "Dear Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs, My name is [XXX], and I am submitting this correspondence as a formal safety and customer-service complaint concerning my 2023 Hyundai Kona SEL, the recurring failure of its…"
    Electrical system, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-08-11
  • "I was driving to work on a normal day under normal circumstances when a check engine light won my dashboard. Seconds later my car started showing car is over heating. I immediately swayed from the speed lane to the side…"
    Engine · filed 2026-07-30
  • "The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle hesitated before driving forward. The Engine START/STOP feature was…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-04-01

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2023 Hyundai Kona Electric SUV FWD Not rated 4 stars 5 stars Not rated
2023 Hyundai Kona SUV AWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 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 (AM-S7) All-wheel drive 27 32 29 MPG $2250
Kona all-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S1) All-wheel drive 28 33 30 MPG $2150
Kona Electric — Automatic (1-speed) Front-wheel drive 134 106 120 MPG / 258 mi range $600
Kona front-wheel drive 1.6L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S7) Front-wheel drive 29 35 32 MPG $2050
Kona front-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S1) Front-wheel drive 30 35 32 MPG $2050
Kona N 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S8) Front-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $3450

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 2022 Hyundai Kona Next year 2024 Hyundai Kona See every Hyundai Kona model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Hyundai Kona reliable?

The 2023 Hyundai Kona has 65 complaints with NHTSA after 4 years, or 18 per year. That is about even with the other Kona years here. Their median is 17 complaints per year. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Pump.

What are common problems with a 2023 Hyundai Kona?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (26 of 65), then Forward collision avoidance (13) and Powertrain (10). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 2 that report an injury.

Is the 2023 Hyundai Kona more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 Kona has 98 complaints, 21 per year, and the 2024 has 51 complaints, 17 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2024.

Has the 2023 Hyundai Kona been recalled?

The 2023 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 2023 Hyundai Kona?

Owners have filed 65 complaints about the 2023 Hyundai Kona with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Hyundai Kona get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Hyundai Kona is 44.3 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).