The Lemon Index2025 Hyundai Kona.
The 2025 Hyundai Kona is so far better than average by owner complaints: 28 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 59, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, and it has 1 recall. The best Hyundai Kona year is 2018.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 28 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Kona year. 2025 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 1K to 12K miles on the car (6 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 1
- seat belts 2026
The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
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 28 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
- Certain vehicles (See Applicable Vehicles List below) equipped with the 12-inch instrument…
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
Transmission issues with this vehicle since 70 miles. Failed at 989 miles
2025 Hyundai Kona owner · NHTSA complaint 11666179
More owner reports
Power train the engine roars up and drops jarring you back and forth second car within a yr first blew up brand new both and Hyundia and dealership blew me off
NHTSA complaint 11745464
Quick answers
Is the 2025 Hyundai Kona reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.7× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2025 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 59; 100 is average). The best Hyundai Kona year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2025 Hyundai Kona problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (32%), transmission & drivetrain (18%) and automatic emergency braking (18%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2025 Hyundai Kona have?
1 safety recall (latest: seat belts). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Is the 2025 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 2025 Hyundai Kona have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 18% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2025 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 2025?
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