The Lemon Index2021 Hyundai Kona.
The 2021 Hyundai Kona is better than average by owner complaints: 70 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 81, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about engine, and it has 1 recall. The best Hyundai Kona year is 2018.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 120 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Kona year. 2021 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 86K miles on the car (29 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 7K–86K miles
Recalls 1
- engine 2021
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 71 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Transfer case oil leaks
- Certain Hyundai vehicles may not be equipped with an immobilizer
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedPedestrian alert sounds2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Kona SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Kona SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Kona EV SUV FWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $600–2400 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
Transmission has hard shift sometimes, and disengages in other times. It's very irratic.
2021 Hyundai Kona owner · NHTSA complaint 11612002
More owner reports
Unknown the vehicle stopped running and wonât start back up
NHTSA complaint 11606207
While driving on the interstate highway the engine stopped. The circumstances surrounding the failure matched those for Kona VINs that were recalled.
NHTSA complaint 11618291
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Hyundai Kona reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.2× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 81; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Kona year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Kona problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are engine (61%), transmission & drivetrain (16%) and electrical (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Kona have?
1 safety recall (latest: engine). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2021 Hyundai Kona safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2021 Hyundai Kona problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 6,400 and 86,500 miles. The middle report was at 23,700 miles, from 29 complaints.
Does the 2021 Hyundai Kona have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 16% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2021 Hyundai Kona cost in fuel a year?
About $600 to $2400 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Hyundai Kona year is better than the 2021?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2021 and 2019.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works