Last updated: 2026-10-10

Dodge Hornet vs Hyundai Kona: Reliability Compared

Dodge Hornet reliability comparison

Dodge Hornet

59
MixedReliability score: 59 out of 100, rated Mixed
VS
More ReliableHyundai Kona reliability comparison

Hyundai Kona

65
GoodReliability score: 65 out of 100, rated Good

Clear edge on reliability goes to the Hyundai Kona over the Dodge Hornet, whose owners file complaints at a higher rate per car sold. Door latch, battery, and driver-assist faults stand out on the Hornet. The Kona's longer record is led by engine and electrical complaints.

How Do the Dodge Hornet and Hyundai Kona Generations Compare?

Every used Hornet comes from a single generation, sold in the US for 2023 through 2025. A minor refresh arrived for 2025. That makes it a young car with a short record. The Kona has two generations. The first ran from 2018 to 2023 and received a facelift for 2021. The second began in 2024 and is still on sale. Shoppers on a budget will mostly see first-generation cars, which have the longest complaint history. Second-generation cars have had less time to collect complaints, so a thin record does not mean a clean one.

Verdict

The Hyundai Kona is more reliable than the Dodge Hornet, scoring 65/100 vs 59/100.

Reliability favors the Kona, and the edge is clear. Hornet owners file complaints at a noticeably higher rate per car sold, and their problems center on door latches, dead batteries, and driver-assist systems that shut off. Dealers often have no fix or no parts. The Kona has more total complaints because its record covers far more cars and years, but its rate is lower and its standing is good. Its engine and electrical faults are real, yet they come from a much larger and older pool of cars.

Key Differences

  1. 1Hyundai Kona has 8.3 fewer complaints per 10k sold
  2. 2Hyundai Kona scores 6 points higher in reliability
  3. 3Dodge Hornet has 3 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

1Dodge Hornet
—
2Hyundai Kona
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Dodge Hornet vs Hyundai Kona: Which Is More Reliable?

Dodge Hornet vs Hyundai Kona at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricDodge HornetHyundai Kona
Reliability Score59/10065/100
Years Tracked39
Total Recalls1316
Complaints per 10k Sold21.713.4
Year Wins03

What Are the Common Problems With the Dodge Hornet and Hyundai Kona?

Electrical failures define the Hornet's record: door latches that will not open or lock, batteries that drain, and total power loss. Steering and driver-assist faults often follow from those failures. The Kona's complaints lean toward engine power cutting out, coolant leaks, failed transmissions, and a horn that quits. Crash-linked reports exist for both. The Kona has them in engine, speed control, and brakes, including automatic braking that fires on the highway. The Hornet has them in back over prevention and forward collision avoidance, where a lane assist fault steered a car off the road. Hornet brake complaints are mostly about recall parts delays.

Dodge Hornet vs Hyundai Kona common problem areas comparison
ComponentDodge HornetHyundai Kona
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6.8Average3.3Average
ENGINE1.3Low4.5Average
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1.8Low1.8Low
SERVICE BRAKES2.5Low0.4Very Low
STEERING1.8Low0.3Very Low
POWER TRAIN0.5Very Low1.6Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION2Low—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1.5Low0.2Very Low
STRUCTURE0.5Very Low0.1Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL—None0.5Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING—None0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS—None0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM—None0.2Very Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING—None0.1Very Low
LANE DEPARTURE—None—None
VISIBILITY—None—None
WHEELS—None—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Dodge Hornet vs Hyundai Kona Reliability Compare by Year?

Dodge Hornet vs Hyundai Kona year-by-year reliability scores
YearDodge HornetHyundai KonaEdge
202564/1002R / 1C74/1000R / 21CHyundai Kona
202454/1007R / 60C68/1003R / 50CHyundai Kona
202359/1004R / 25C66/1002R / 68CHyundai Kona

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Dodge Hornet scored 59/100 and the 2024 Hyundai Kona scored 68/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Dodge Hornet vs the Hyundai Kona?

Choose the Kona if you want the lower-risk used car. Its complaint rate is lower, and nine model years give you plenty of cars to compare. The 2018 model year is among its stronger years, while 2019 and 2020 are its weakest, so be cautious there. Ask for records of any cooling, horn, or transmission work. If you are looking at a Kona Electric, check how the 12V battery behaves and whether the car has been left dead after charging. Choose the Hornet only if you find a price that makes the risk worth it. All three model years share one generation, and 2024 and 2023 are its weakest. The 2025 looks stronger, but it is the newest and has had less time to collect complaints, so do not treat it as proven. Test every door latch from inside and outside. Confirm all recall work is finished, and check that the rear camera and driver-assist features work. Walk away if the seller cannot show that open recalls were completed.

Dodge Hornet vs Hyundai Kona: Common Questions

Is the Dodge Hornet more reliable than the Hyundai Kona?
No. The Kona comes out ahead by a clear margin. Hornet owners file 21.7 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 13.4 for the Kona. Hornet reports describe failing door latches, drained batteries, and power loss. The Kona's standing is good despite engine and electrical complaints.
Which has more recalls, the Hornet or the Kona?
The Kona has more in total, with 16 across nine model years. The Hornet has 13 across only three model years, so its recalls are packed into a much shorter span. Hornet owners also report long waits for recall parts, including brake and rear camera repairs.
What goes wrong most often on the Hyundai Kona?
Engine and electrical complaints lead. Owners describe power cutting out while driving, coolant leaks, and a horn that quits and sometimes fails again after replacement. Transmission failures also appear, some at low mileage. Kona Electric owners report a 12V battery that drains and leaves the car dead.
Are the Hornet's driver-assist problems serious?
They can be. One owner reported adaptive cruise switching off while lane assist steered the car off the road, and the car hit a sign. Others describe hard braking with nothing ahead and radar-blocked messages. Owners say dealers had no fix and told them to wait for a software update.
Which Kona model years should I avoid?
Be most cautious with 2019 and 2020, which are the Kona's weakest years. The 2018 model year ranks among its stronger ones. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so a short complaint list on a recent Kona is not proof it is trouble free.

Related Reliability Comparisons

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How we score the Dodge Hornet and Hyundai Kona

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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