2020 Hyundai Kona problems and complaints
Owners have filed 161 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Hyundai Kona. The most-reported areas: Engine (108), Power Train (20), Unknown Or Other (17).
Key takeaways
- 161 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 8 involve a crash, 3 a fire, 12 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 108 | 67% |
| Power Train | 20 | 12% |
| Unknown Or Other | 17 | 11% |
| Electrical System | 11 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 4% |
| Steering | 7 | 4% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | 2% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 | 2% |
| Service Brakes | 3 | 2% |
| Suspension | 2 | 1% |
| Structure | 2 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Hyundai Kona SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2020 Hyundai Kona SUV FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-10-13
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle hesitated, and there was white smoke coming from the exhaust. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the contact was advised to take the vehicle to a dealer. The d...
Engine - filed 2026-09-29
COMPONENT THAT FAILED: The engine short block piston rings (related to NHTSA recall 203) failed, causing severe cylinder wall scoring. The vehicle is currently located at an authorized Hyundai dealership and is available for manufacturer or NHTSA inspection. SAFETY RISK; The defective piston rings caused severe inter...
Engine - filed 2026-09-27
I was fortunate to check my daughter's oil and noticed that it was almost empty. I alerted the dealer because I recently got an oil change and thought there was a leak, but no oil was on the driveway. The dealer performed an oil consumption test. They said it was 1 quart per 1,000 miles and this is acceptable. There ar...
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More for the 2020 Hyundai Kona
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.