Seat belts: rear
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 11 owner complaints for the 2026 Hyundai Kona. Most complaints involve structure (2) and electrical system (2). The EPA rates it 26–31 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Kona vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
“-NEW Vehicle purchased 8/26 -All of the weatherstripping is not adhered to the vehicle, on all 4 doors This can create an issues with moisture and mold Dealer stated they replaced front door weatherstripping, but the same issue is there-it is not adhered to the vehicle and the other doors are the same Again this vehicle is brand new-it is a manufacture defect”
“I have a 2026 Hyundai Kona that I’ve only had for 3 months and it has 7192 miles on it. Today I turned my vehicle on and the screen that displays my mileage, speedometer, gas level, coolant temp gauge, tire pressure monitor, and other safety features was blacked out with the words “NO SIGNAL” in red. I turned my car on and off a couple times and it still said the same thing. Eventually the dash came back on but now it’s randomly shows the dash display and then goes to a completely black screen. I contacted the dealership and have an upcoming appt however I will not be driving the car because I’m not able to gauge what speed I’m going, if I’m running out of gas, or if my car overheats. There were no previous warning signs; no warning light on the dashboard. The Hyundai app states all systems in my car are working fine. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police insurance rep, or anybody else yet.”
“I bought the car in November 2025. I was on a highway, going at a comfortable, 65 mph speed (a few weeks after purchasing this happened the first time ). Suddenly, the car stopped accelerating, of course I panicked, slowly pulled off to the shoulder, and shut the car off. Luckily, it was not rush hour . I restarted the car, and it was normal driving. I texted my salesperson and asked if he had heard about this issue. He said no. No warning lights or messages appeared as that happened. The speed had decreased and stayed at 36 mph for a few seconds. A few weeks later, it happened again, this time it stayed at around 36 mph. I pulled over and shut the car off, restarted, and no issues. This time I told my salesperson I wanted to bring it in, but they had a one-month wait and offered no help, didn't seem phased or concerned. I took the appointment for February 17, which was approximately a 4-week wait. Again, no lights or warning signals. The third time this happened I was merging on to a very busy ramp to enter a busy highway, and the speed stopped at 11 mph, and I panicked, pulled over restarted the car and that was enough for me to call and insist they take the…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kona FWD Auto (AV-S1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 35 | 31 | $2,000 | 288 |
| Kona FWD w/Stop-Start Auto (AV-S1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 34 | 31 | $2,000 | 284 |
| Kona AWD w/Stop-Start Auto (AV-S1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive | 27 | 29 | 28 | $2,200 | 319 |
| Kona FWD SX2 1.6T 8AT FWD Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 26 | 31 | 28 | $2,200 | 320 |
| Kona AWD Auto (AV-S1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive | 26 | 29 | 27 | $2,300 | 323 |
| Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive | 25 | 28 | 26 | $2,400 | 340 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
3 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 11 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are structure (2), electrical system (2), vehicle speed control (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2026 Hyundai Kona at 26–31 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2026 Hyundai Kona 4 out of 5 stars overall.