The Lemon Index2024 Hyundai Kona.
The 2024 Hyundai Kona is so far better than average by owner complaints: 52 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 74, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, and it has 4 recalls. The best Hyundai Kona year is 2018.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 52 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Kona year. 2024 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 4K to 19K miles on the car (10 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 4
- seat belts 2026
The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
- engine 2024
An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
- electrical 2023
The 12-Volt battery cables may chafe against the engine control module bracket and short circuit during a crash.
Show all 4 recalls
- seat belts 2023
The seat belt assemblies in the right and left rear seats may not function properly.
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 34 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Dead battery concern linked to the Multimedia Keyboard (MKBD) logic
- Battery drain due to faulty logic keeping the taillights illuminated
- Some 2019MY and newer vehicles equipped with a front view camera may illuminate certain…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Kona SUV AWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Kona SUV FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Kona Electric SUV RWD | not rated | not rated | not rated | not rated |
Fuel cost and engines
About $650–2450 a year in electricity (EPA estimate).
In owners' words
Car will restart after it is turned off and left for awhile. Transmission will jerk hard while in gear and driving.
2024 Hyundai Kona owner · NHTSA complaint 11588547
More owner reports
The cars battery drains to the point that it will not start or allow entry into the vehicle. This happens when vehicle is sitting and not running. All lights, screens, etc. are off when this happens also
NHTSA complaint 11632086
I was driving the speed control panel completely gets blackout for a few second and come back ( dash board ) it happened five times so far and the car is 37,000 MI
NHTSA complaint 11756933
Quick answers
Is the 2024 Hyundai Kona reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.4× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2024 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 74; 100 is average). The best Hyundai Kona year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2024 Hyundai Kona problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (63%), engine (17%) and automatic emergency braking (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2024 Hyundai Kona have?
4 safety recalls (latest: seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2024 Hyundai Kona safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2024 Hyundai Kona have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2024 Hyundai Kona cost in fuel a year?
About $650 to $2450 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What Hyundai Kona year is better than the 2024?
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