The Verdict
Worst problem area
Electrical
Electrical leads by volume: 29 of 71 complaints (41%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Driver Assistance & Speed Control include more crash reports (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 124 in 2022 to 71 in 2023.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 71
- Recall campaigns
- 2
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $1,950–$3,350
- Combined MPG
- 23–32
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | vs. 2023 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,100–2,300 | 1,950–3,350 | 1,950–3,350 | 2,000–2,400 | 2,000–2,400 | |
| Combined MPG | 27–30 | 23–32 | 23–32 | 26–31 | 26–31 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 25–28 / 29–33 | 20–30 / 27–35 | 20–30 / 27–35 | 24–29 / 29–35 | 24–29 / 29–35 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 300–326 | 281–396 | 281–396 | 284–337 | 284–339 | |
| Complaints filed | 147 | 124 | 71 | 68 | 30 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 4 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2023 Hyundai Kona have?
2 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2023 Hyundai Kona?
Electrical: 29 of 71 NHTSA complaints (41%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2023 Hyundai Kona get?
EPA rates it 23–32 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2023 Hyundai Kona?
EPA estimates $1,950–$3,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AV-S1) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 30 mpg (high) | 35 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 281 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 27 mpg | 32 mpg | 29 mpg | $2,150 | 311 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (AV-S1) | 4 | 2.0L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 28 mpg | 33 mpg | 30 mpg | $2,100 | 301 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (AM-S7) | 4 | 1.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 29 mpg | 35 mpg (high) | 32 mpg (high) | $1,950 (low) | 284 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (AM-S8) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 20 mpg (low) | 27 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 396 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (A1) | — | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Electricity | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 134 MPGe | 106 MPGe | 120 MPGe | $600 | 0 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 18 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 19 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (2)
AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Kona Electric vehicles. A software error in the air bag control unit (ACU) may improperly deactivate the air bag system and seat belt pretensioners.
- Consequence
- Air bags and seat belt pretensioners that do not activate in a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the ACU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 1, 2027. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 311. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 6, 2026.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:FLUID/LUBRICANT:PUMP
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
- Consequence
- An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 246.