The Hyundai Kona has only been on the market since 2018. Best model years include 2018 and 2019 for minimal issues and the introduction of an all-electric Kona. But worst years include 2020 and 2021 for increasing early-life issues.
Key Points
- The Hyundai Kona has received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and has been a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ with the International Institute for Highway Safety since 2018.
- After four years on the road, the 2018 Kona has no recalls issued, nor any open investigations with the NHTSA. There are only 21 complaints filed, with the 2020 Kona having the highest number of complaints.
- Hyundai introduced an all-electric Kona Electric model in 2019. Not many problems, but issues with its battery sparked a recall for 2019 and 2020 models.
- The 2021 Kona already has more problems reported than the 2018 Kona.
Hyundai Kona has a History of Great Safety Ratings, and its Best Years Include 2018 for Reliability and 2019 for the Introduction of an All-electric Model
The Kona was Hyundai’s all-new subcompact crossover first introduced for the 2018 model year. The automaker quickly found the sweet spot of affordability, styling, and driving dynamics with the Kona.
Showcasing capable powertrains, convenient amenities, and a roughly $20,000 starting MSRP, the Hyundai Kona is a practical entry-level crossover.
Overall, every Kona model year has received great safety ratings. However, the Kona is starting to show which years are better than others in terms of reliability.
2018 Kona is the Subcompact SUV’s Most Reliable Model Year with the Least Problems and Solid Safety Ratings
According to NHTSA, the 2018 Hyundai Kona has accumulated only 21 complaints filed by owners, with no recalls being issued by the automaker and no investigations open with the NHTSA.
Owners of the 2018 Kona have experienced seemingly isolated incidents with their vehicles, such as issues with the infotainment system or other electrical-related quirks. However, a couple of owners documented engine issues that resulted in a fire.
Despite these few problems, the Hyundai Kona has received reputable safety ratings from both the NHTSA and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for all model years since 2018.
The Kona has received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA since 2019, and the IIHS has given it a good overall safety evaluation since 2018. In addition, the Kona was an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ in 2018 and 2019 and an IIHS Top Safety Pick in 2020 and 2021.
2019 Kona has a few More Problems and Recalls but is Still a Safe Bet, Plus the Model Year Welcomed All-electric SUV
In 2019, Hyundai added the all-electric Kona Electric model to its lineup. With just over 250 miles of electric range, updated active safety features like forward collision avoidance assist, and a starting MSRP of under $40,000, Hyundai continued to build on the 2018 Kona’s safety success with the 2019 Kona.
In terms of problems and recalls, the 2019 Kona saw an increase in complaints reported to the NHTSA, with some related to the conventional Kona and others related to the Kona Electric. Owners reported an increase in issues with the conventional Kona’s engine smoking, misfiring, and stalling.
These complaints appear to relate to a recall for the engine on the gas-only Kona where piston oil rings were improperly heat treated. Affecting over 150,000 Hyundai vehicles, including the 2019 Kona.
The first year of the Kona Electric added problems to the vehicle’s reliability history. Owners filed several complaints with the NHTSA related to the Kona Electric’s battery and electrical systems, which stem from several recalls issued by Hyundai.
The 2019 Kona Electric has three recalls. Two of them are related to an issue where the lithium-ion battery may short-circuit after it is fully charged, which could increase the risk of a fire.
The first year of any model year can be troublesome. While it seems like the 2019 Kona experienced a significant increase in issues since 2018, the introduction of the all-electric Kona skews this.
Hyundai Kona’s Worst Years are not that Bad, with 2020 and 2021 Adding New Safety Features but Experiencing More Problems Sooner
The Kona’s first two years on the road showed that Hyundai could not only create a successful and reliable new subcompact crossover but also turn that new subcompact crossover into an all-electric model. Unfortunately, Kona owners seem to be experiencing more problems sooner on their newer 2020 and 2021 vehicles than older 2018 and 2019 vehicles.
2020 Kona Adds New Active Safety Technology as Standard, but it Also Includes More Problems, Too
In 2020, Hyundai added new standard active safety technologies (“Hyundai SmartSense“) to the Kona for a mid-cycle refresh. These include forward collision avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, and driver attention warning.
Unfortunately, the added safety tech only garnered a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS for the 2020 Kona, instead of a Top Safety Pick+.
The 2020 Kona saw a slight increase in problems reported over the 2019 model year, with 97 complaints filed with the NHTSA. These problems appear similar to the 2019 model year, which mostly experienced issues with the engine on the conventional Kona and battery/electrical system issues on the Kona Electric.
The engine and electrical system complaints stem from the same recalls that affected the 2019 model year related to the improperly heat-treated piston rings and lithium-ion battery short-circuiting.
Not Many Changes for 2021 Kona, but More Problems are Reported After One Year than 2018
Minimal changes were made to the 2021 Hyundai Kona as it nears a complete redesign for 2022, with the most notable being the addition of a cosmetically-upgrade trim called the Night Edition.
The 2021 Kona Night Edition gets blacked-out exterior and interior enhancements, updated LED headlights and taillights, and an upgraded 1.6-liter turbocharged engine as standard.
While visual upgrades are great, the Kona is still experiencing more problems sooner than prior model years.
After just a year on the road, the 2021 Kona and Kona Electric currently have a combined 59 complaints reported to the NHTSA and a couple of recalls issued by Hyundai. Unfortunately, this is more complaints reported than the 2018 Kona.
The 2021 Kona was recalled for the same issue with improperly heat-treated piston rings as prior model years. The 2021 Kona Electric was recalled for an issue with the integrated electronic brake system, which may detect an abnormal sensor signal and as a result, may significantly reduce braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
2018 and 2019 are Hyundai Kona’s Best Years, while 2020 and 2021 are the Worst Years
After a promising and successful introduction to the subcompact crossover market, the Hyundai proved it could create a car that is not only affordable, but also safe and fun to drive.
The 2018 and 2019 model years offer a lot of features for buyers, and the addition of an all-electric model may appeal to more buyers. While the 2018 Kona offers great reliability with minimal issues, newer Konas appear to be experiencing more issues early on.
The Kona Electric adds new problems to consider, with ongoing battery issues impacting the 2019 and 2020 Kona Electric model years. And the 2021 Kona already has more reported problems than the 2018 model.
Overall, all Kona model years have excellent safety ratings. But the pros and cons of adding updated technology and safety features should be weighed against the increase in issues on newer Kona model years.
Photos: Hyundai
