Hyundai Kona Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Yes. 454 of the 967 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018–2025 Hyundai Kona (46.9%) name the engine, 2.4× the median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Engine complaints
454
Filed with NHTSA, 2018–2025 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
46.9%
of 967 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
2
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Hyundai Kona engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 44 | 58.7% | 7 | — | 10 |
| 2019WORST | 149 | 59.1% | 5 | 21V301000 | 9 |
| 2020WORST | 114 | 60.3% | 4 | 21V301000 | 8 |
| 2021WORST | 86 | 58.5% | 2 | 21V301000 | 7 |
| 2022 | 38 | 29% | 0 | — | 8 |
| 2023 | 11 | 14.7% | 0 | — | 5 |
| 2024 | 10 | 14.7% | 0 | 24V308000 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 | 6.7% | 0 | — | 2 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Hyundai Kona engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 454 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Hyundai Kona years to avoid for the engine
2019 Hyundai Kona
149 engine complaints (59.1% of the year's 252). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving. Covered by engine recall 21V301000.
2020 Hyundai Kona
114 engine complaints (60.3% of the year's 189). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving. Covered by engine recall 21V301000.
2021 Hyundai Kona
86 engine complaints (58.5% of the year's 147). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving. Covered by engine recall 21V301000.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Hyundai Kona years to avoid.
Hyundai Kona engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Hyundai Kona model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 24V308000 · 2024-05-01 · 2024 models
An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
- 21V301000 · 2021-04-28 · 2019–2021 models
The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2019 Hyundai Kona have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 149 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2019 Hyundai Kona, 59.1% of all 252 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (58 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 21V301000. 5 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2020 Hyundai Kona have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 114 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2020 Hyundai Kona, 60.3% of all 189 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (42 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 21V301000. 4 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2021 Hyundai Kona have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 86 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2021 Hyundai Kona, 58.5% of all 147 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (37 complaints). One engine-related recall covers it: 21V301000. 2 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Hyundai Kona years have the most engine complaints?
2019 (149), 2020 (114) and 2021 (86), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Hyundai Kona engine problems?
In the 454 engine complaints, owners most often describe stalling or shutting off while driving (35.9%), misfire or check-engine light (26%) and engine failure, seizure or replacement (25.6%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Hyundai Kona model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration