Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD

2026 Hyundai KonaRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

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.

Combined MPG
26–31mpg
EPA · 6 versions
NHTSA overall
4of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jul 2026
Owner complaints
11
Top: structure
Fuel cost / yr
$2,000est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Seat belts: rear

Free remedy

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.

Seat beltsReported Jul 15, 2026NHTSA 26V452000

Steering: arm

Free remedy

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.

SteeringReported Feb 6, 2026NHTSA 26V069000

Electrical system: instrument cluster

Free remedy

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."

Electrical systemReported Jan 27, 2026NHTSA 26V047000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

11 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 2025 – Nov 2026
  1. Structure2
  2. Electrical system2
  3. Vehicle speed control2
  4. Service brakes2
  5. Forward collision avoidance1
  6. Seat belts1
  7. Engine1
  8. Fuel system, gasoline1
  9. Power train1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Kona model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
201875
2019252
2020189
2021147
2022124
202371
202468
202530
202611
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Structure

2 reports
“-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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 1, 2026StructureODI 11775024

Electrical system

2 reports
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2026Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11769128

Vehicle speed control

2 reports
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2026Vehicle speed controlODI 11718634
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

6 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
2.0L 4-cyl · 1.6L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic (AV-S1) · Automatic (S8)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Kona FWD
Auto (AV-S1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
283531$2,000288
Kona FWD w/Stop-Start
Auto (AV-S1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · Front-Wheel Drive
293431$2,000284
Kona AWD w/Stop-Start
Auto (AV-S1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
272928$2,200319
Kona FWD SX2 1.6T 8AT FWD
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive
263128$2,200320
Kona AWD
Auto (AV-S1), 4 cyl, 2.0 L · All-Wheel Drive
262927$2,300323
Kona AWD SX2 1.6T 8AT AWD
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 1.6 L, Turbo · All-Wheel Drive
252826$2,400340
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
4/ 5
4 of 5
HYUNDAI KONA SUV N/A AWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.9%
Overall
4 / 5
HYUNDAI KONA SUV N/A FWD
Frontal crash
4 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
15.1%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 21147Vehicle 21146
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2026 Kona questions

How many recalls does the 2026 Hyundai Kona have?

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.

What are the most common 2026 Hyundai Kona problems?

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.

What MPG does the 2026 Hyundai Kona get?

The EPA rates the 2026 Hyundai Kona at 26–31 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (6 versions rated).

How safe is the 2026 Hyundai Kona?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2026 Hyundai Kona 4 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026