7 recalls covering model years 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
Hyundai found that the seat belt buckle for the middle rear seat may not hold a passenger properly in a crash. Someone belted into that center spot might not be restrained the way the belt is supposed to restrain them, so they could be hurt more badly in a collision. Hyundai is telling owners that nobody should sit in the rear center seat until the fix is done. A dealer will replace the buckle assembly at no charge.
Your engine has a part called the EGR valve, which routes some exhaust back through the engine. On these vehicles, the wiring inside that valve can short out. If that happens, the engine can lose power, so the car may slow down or stop moving even while you are pressing the gas pedal. That could happen anywhere, including in traffic or on the highway. The dealer replaces the entire valve assembly at no cost to you.
Hyundai found that on some 2024 Kona vehicles the heavy 12-volt battery cables can rub against a metal bracket in the engine bay. Over time that rubbing can wear through the cable covering, and in a crash the bare wire can short out. A short like this can start a fire under the hood. Dealers slip a protective sleeve over the wiring so the cables can no longer be worn through.
The seat belts for the two outer rear seats in some 2024 Kona vehicles may not work correctly. The problem is in the retractor, the spool inside the belt that pulls it snug and locks it in a crash. If a belt does not lock or hold as it should, a passenger in the back may not be held safely during a crash. Dealers will check both belts and replace the retractor if needed.
These cars have a system that shuts the engine off at stoplights to save fuel. The electronic controller for that system's oil pump may have damaged parts inside, and it can overheat. An overheating pump unit can start a fire in the car. Hyundai says park outside and away from buildings until the repair is done. Dealers check the oil pump controller and replace it if needed, at no charge to you.
⚠ NHTSA advises: park outside and away from structures (fire risk).
The 2.0-liter engine in these cars has piston rings that may not have been hardened correctly when they were made. Over time the rings can wear, damage the engine, and let oil escape. Hyundai is also adding software that listens for piston ring noise so trouble can be caught early. A badly damaged engine can shut off while you are driving, and leaking oil can drip onto hot exhaust parts and start a fire. A dealer will check the engine and replace it if needed.
Some 2020 Hyundai Konas left the factory with a sticker that lists the wrong weight limit for the axles. That label tells you how much weight the vehicle and its tires are built to carry. If the number is too high, an owner could load the car heavier than it should be. Hyundai says the label does not meet federal rules for certification and tire and wheel information. A dealer will place a corrected sticker over the wrong one, free.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Hyundai Kona. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 189 | 11 | 4 | 6 |
| 2020 | 158 | 8 | 3 | 12 |
| 2021 | 116 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 2023 | 64 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 2024 | 50 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2025 | 28 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: