Hyundai Kona: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Hyundai Kona problems by model year, from 721 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2019 (83%, 155 drivetrain complaints), 2020 (77%, 122 drivetrain complaints) and 2021 (76%, 88 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 6 Hyundai Kona years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 4 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2023 (32%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2022 (48%) to 2023 (32%), down 16 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (155 of 480 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Hyundai Kona year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Kona | very high | 64% | 45 | 75 | 4/6 | 0 |
| 2019 Kona | very high | 83% | 155 | 193 | 1/6 | 1 |
| 2020 Kona | very high | 77% | 122 | 160 | 2/6 | 2 |
| 2021 Kona | very high | 76% | 88 | 117 | 3/6 | 1 |
| 2022 Kona | high | 48% | 49 | 107 | 5/6 | 2 |
| 2023 Kona | no elevated signal | 32% | 21 | 69 | 6/6 | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Hyundai Kona years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Hyundai Kona engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns on the Hyundai Kona involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2021 | 21V301000 | engine | 2019–2021 |
| Oct 2022 | 22V746000 | power train: automatic transmission | 2022 |
| Jul 2023 | 23V526000 | power train: automatic transmission: fluid/lubricant: pump | 2023 |
| Jul 2024 | 24V528000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module | 2022–2023 |
1 other recall (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | 20V022000 | equipment: other: labels | 2020 |
What the free pages leave out on the Hyundai Kona
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Hyundai Kona
What are the worst years for the Hyundai Kona?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Hyundai Kona years are the 2019 (83% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2020 (77% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2021 (76% of relevant complaints, very high). 5 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Hyundai Kona?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Hyundai Kona years are the 2023 (32%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Hyundai Kona have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 480 of 709 relevant NHTSA complaints (68%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Is the Hyundai Kona reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 6 Hyundai Kona years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 68% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Hyundai Kona?
Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Hyundai Kona years we track, out of 5 in total: 22V746000 (Oct 2022, 2022), 23V526000 (Jul 2023, 2023), 24V528000 (Jul 2024, 2022–2023), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.