Hyundai KONA Reliability by Year
Best & Worst Years, Problems & Recalls — NHTSA Data

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Safety Recall

Coke spill in cup holders caused a leak to the wiring harness below the center console. It drained the battery, shut down all of the buttons on the steering wheel and shut the infotainment system down. It finally died and had to be towed to Vann York Hyundai in Highpoint NC. They told me that because it was cased by an outside influence it's not covered by the warranty and estimated $800 labor for repair. The leak is a defect.

On April 20, 2026 I was pulling into a parking space. I began to break but something went terribly wrong. My car accelerated on it's own, went over the curb and crashed into a building. Three air bags deployed: two on the drivers side of the car (front and side air bag) and one in the back seat behind the driver (the side air bag). I had a [XXX] in the back seat behind the passenger side of the car in a car seat. I was told at the time of the incident that there was not structural damage to the building that was hit. I have asked my insurance company to inspect the car for any malfunctions but they won't. They deem it totaled and say I am at fault because it's my responsibility to control my car. The police arrived but they did not inspect the car either. I have contacted the dealership (Parkway Hyundai), but they are of no help either. There were not warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. However, I did notice recently that when I put my foot on the break to start the car that sometimes the break was very stiff and other times it was not. I thought it strange but thought it was just the way my car was. My insurance is Progressive. Claim # XXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Hyundai needs to eliminate the “CONSIDER TAKING A COFFEE BREAK “ alert! Its completely distracting, comes in way too frequently, and is loud

I bought the car in November 2025. I was on a highway, going at a comfortable, 65 mph speed (a few weeks after purchasing this happened the first time ). Suddenly, the car stopped accelerating, of course I panicked, slowly pulled off to the shoulder, and shut the car off. Luckily, it was not rush hour . I restarted the car, and it was normal driving. I texted my salesperson and asked if he had heard about this issue. He said no. No warning lights or messages appeared as that happened. The speed had decreased and stayed at 36 mph for a few seconds. A few weeks later, it happened again, this time it stayed at around 36 mph. I pulled over and shut the car off, restarted, and no issues. This time I told my salesperson I wanted to bring it in, but they had a one-month wait and offered no help, didn't seem phased or concerned. I took the appointment for February 17, which was approximately a 4-week wait. Again, no lights or warning signals. The third time this happened I was merging on to a very busy ramp to enter a busy highway, and the speed stopped at 11 mph, and I panicked, pulled over restarted the car and that was enough for me to call and insist they take the car as soon as possible, as we were expecting a major snowstorm which did happen the next day. I did not take the car out and brought it in to the dealer on Monday. Again, they seemed unconcerned but took the car after I insisted. The car has been there for 2-weeks now and they claim they cannot find a problem. I called Hyundai corporate. After investigating, they too said there was nothing they could do since they could not find a problem. I may add that while this is happening I am stepping on the gas and nothing happens.

The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, an inspector discovered a puddle of fuel on the ground underneath the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the hood insulation was damaged, and the fuel lines were punctured. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that two other GSA fleet vehicles of the same year, make, and model, as well as a coworker who owns a 2025 Hyundai Konda had experienced the same failure. The contact related the failure to rodents chewing the organic-based fuel lines. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 900.

Body: The hood/Under the hood: There is a wide ½“ or more gap on the right and left side of the hood. I can see inside under the hood from a distance. It is not flush while connecting to the rest of the vehicle. I can see the ground after opening the hood. The engine and all the components are exposed to the elements. This is a new vehicle from the dealership brand. There is no cover for the bottom to protect the engine or protection for wirings and other mechanisms under the hood. Winters in Illinois is brutal and floods. Poor acceleration and Brakes Restriction while steering experienced dragging sounds and forced pushing and pulling. I do not trust the steering wheel mechanism at all and have to grip it to make sure I keep complete control of the steering wheel and fearful of the reliability of the breaks because I have experience being pulled or pushed while merging and having to panicky while using the brakes. I must press extremely hard to brake in slow traffic and use extreme hard brake to slow to a complete stop during rush hours. Fuel performance is horrible. This model requires gasoline. When I feel my vehicle up with fuel the tank is a fuel guzzler. The fuel disappears in days. I must refill the tank once a week. This car does not have good mileage. Doors All the doors automatically unlock when put in park. Fuel performance is horrible. This model requires gasoline. When I feel my vehicle up with fuel the tank is a fuel guzzler. The fuel disappears in days. I must refill the tank once a week. This car does not have good mileage. The steering mechanism is terrorizing my driving experience. Merging and changing lanes while driving in traffic I experience resistance and restriction. Inside the front panel Inside the car appears to have glitches such as the temperature settings flipping from inside/outside air. The radio shuts down. Window fluid splatters the entire windshield obstructing view. Purchased 2025

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 engaged. The contact stated that the ESC warning light was illuminated temporarily. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, but was a recurring failure. The check engine warning illuminated and remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the electric oil pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact had not informed the manufacturer about the failure. The contact researched online and associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V526000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

My horn is not working again. It was replaced when I initially got the Kona in 2023. It did not work coming out of the dealership. And now again it is back to not working. This is a liability and also a danger to my children.

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that the horn was working intermittently. The horn occasionally operated but had become permanently inoperable. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Liftgate was clicking leaving interior lights on Drained battery- had to buy new battery! NOW Liftgate wil NOT open at all.

Dear Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs, I am formally escalating a safety defect involving my 2023 Hyundai Kona, VIN [XXX] , purchased [XXX]. Since the purchase, the vehicle’s horn has repeatedly failed. I have brought the car in for service multiple times, and the issue is thoroughly documented in service records and email correspondence. Despite these efforts, the defect has not been permanently resolved. A non-functioning horn is a serious safety issue. This defect is not isolated; identical horn failures in Hyundai Kona vehicles are widely documented across public Internet forums, consumer complaint sites, and owner reports, further underscoring the seriousness of this issue. Given the repeated repair attempts and ongoing safety risk, I am requesting immediate corporate-level review and a clear, permanent resolution. This matter requires prompt attention. [XXX] , service manager, informed me today that my horn was changed/serviced 4 times already. As of today, 2-10-2-26 he is ordering me another horn. Please respond in writing with next steps. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Rear latch unlocks while vehicle is running or not running up to 30 times at once. Rear latch unlocks without key being in vehicle. This has been reported to Hyundai Motor America since August 2025. The front collision warning goes off at random times, left side departure goes off at random times.

I brought vehicle in once for horn not working to dealer. They fixed it. Seven months later in a near traffic incident horn not working. Outside temperatures were below freezing at the time. Following week outside temperatures goes above freezing & horn is working again. It appears horn has an intermittent problem.

Safety system that automatically puts the car in park if a door is opened while in gear failed to apply

After a routine service visit, the vehicle’s braking and speed‑control systems began to behave abnormally. The ABS/ESC control module was replaced or reprogrammed without documentation, and immediately afterward the vehicle’s braking feel, speed‑control behavior, and forward‑collision warning timing changed noticeably. These changes created a safety risk because the vehicle no longer responded in a predictable way compared to its original performance. The affected components are available for inspection upon request. The issue was reproduced multiple times under normal driving conditions. Braking response became inconsistent, and the speed‑control system no longer behaved as it did before the service. The timing and behavior of forward‑collision alerts also changed compared to pre‑service operation. These changes created unpredictability in traffic, especially during following‑distance adjustments, stop‑and‑go situations, and sudden‑braking scenarios. The dealership did not provide technical documentation or explanation for the module replacement or configuration changes and did not acknowledge the change in system behavior. The manufacturer’s customer service reviewed the case but did not provide technical findings. An independent service center could not verify the original configuration because the manufacturer did not provide the Manufacturer Build Sheet. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared before or after the issue. The only indication of a problem was the sudden change in braking, speed‑control, and forward‑collision system behavior immediately after the service visit.

My Kona N Line is not functioning well. Especially after driving for a longer period of time. About 60% of the time, upon letting go of my brake, the car jerks. Going from 0 - 5 mph is the worst. The car definitely hesitates many times. Again, it is when I have driven it for over 10 minutes. I took the car to a service department in El Monte, CA on 11/1. They cannot find the problem. They rode with me and it did not show at that time. They released the car to me. The Kona N has a recall but not my car, the Kona N Line. The recall is for the same problem. I am extremely frustrated. I have another appointment on Tuesday of this week to take to the Glendora service department. I don't know what to do. I am not one to complain but this is not safe. This is my fifth Hyundai. Nothing but good cars until now. Please advise. [XXX] [XXX] . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I was trapped inside the liftgate of my 2023 Hyundai Kona and was unable to operate the emergency release. I had the key fob with me and the car was unlocked, but the trunk would not open from the inside. I tried sliding a standard key and a flat card into the release, but it would not engage. It was not specified that the mechanical key inside the Hyundai fob was required. The release is a small black sliding latch at the bottom of the liftgate with only a car symbol. It is recessed, not easily visible in low light, and does not glow in the dark. I also could not climb over the rear seats because the liftgate hood was sealed, so the fire department had to open the trunk to get me out. Even the operator and the fire department found the instructions difficult to determine. While this may be a rare circumstance, it could have been dangerous. I was able to get out safely, but it would be helpful if the emergency release were redesigned with clearer instructions or made more visible, such as using neon or glow in the dark markings, so that in the future it can be accessed more easily by anyone inside.

The issue is the horn. On three different occasions, I've attempted to use the horn and it wasn't working. I've taken it to Hallmark Hyundai in Flowood and they've repaired and/or replaced the horn on four separate occasions. The new horn is always working when I leave the dealership, but it eventually goes out. Or it goes out for a period of time and then comes back without explanation. My most recent horn outage happened while I was driving on I-55 in Jackson MS and an 18 wheeler started shifting in my lane. I wasn't able to notify them with my horn and ended up having to drive on the shoulder to avoid a collision. This is a major safety issue and they haven't taken the time to remedy it.

Horn keeps failing

The contact owns a 2023 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while pressing the horn pad, the horn failed to produce a sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the horn was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the horn had been replaced four times and was scheduled for a fifth horn replacement. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.