Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 63/100 (GOOD)

2021 Hyundai Kona Reliability Report

The 2021 Hyundai Kona has a good reliability standing, but oil loss and sudden engine failure lead its owner complaints.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

102

Complaint Rate

11.4per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

N/A

Annual Fuel Cost

$2,000–$2,200

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity57/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs50/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact75/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity84/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

Facelift year with a good standing but below average among 2021 SUVs, with engine oil loss and stalling as the main complaints.

Top Issues to Watch

ENGINE (52)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (18)
POWER TRAIN (14)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Refresh Year

2021 received a facelift update for the First generation (OS; 2018-2023).

Changes: Exterior aesthetic changes; Increased cargo capacity; Increased rear seat legroom; Added mild hybrid system for 1.0L engine.
Year 4 in this generation (2018–2023).
1st generation Kona (US).

What this means for buyers

Refresh years bring updates but can also introduce new issues. Check early recall data before buying.

2018: First generation (OS; 2018-2023) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2021: This Model Year (Refresh)

2021 received a facelift update for the First generation (OS; 2018-2023).

Should You Buy the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

Standing is good, yet this is one of the weaker Konas. It ranks below average against other 2021 SUVs and among the weaker of the nine scored Kona model years. This is the facelift year of the first generation. The 2020 rates worse, with 140 complaints, and the 2022 rates about the same. The federal crash-test rating is 5 of 5 stars.

Engine trouble makes up about half of the 102 owner complaints. Owners describe engines that burn or lose oil between changes, often with no low-oil warning, then knock, stall, or seize. Some of this starts early, between 4,000 and 17,600 miles. Others report heavy oil use from 61,000 miles on. Stalling while driving shows up at 14,000 to 21,400 miles, and dealers often find no fault code. Some owners also describe the dual-clutch automatic jerking or lunging. Federal records list one recall, covering the electrical system, service brakes, and engine.

Ask for service records that show any oil consumption tests or engine work, and confirm the recall repair was done. Test drive for stalling, hesitation, and rough shifts. The 2022 is a comparable alternative.

Compared to the 2022 Hyundai Kona, which scored 1 points higher. See also the 2020 Hyundai Kona for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Acceptable reliability score
+Low recall count
+Below-average complaint rate for SUV

Cons

−ENGINE: Heavy oil use and sudden engine failure dominate these reports (52 complaints)
−UNKNOWN OR OTHER: These reports cover a wide mix of problems (22 complaints)

Compare 2021 Hyundai Kona With

2021 Kia Soul

Reliability: 72/100

Good

2021 Mazda CX-30

Reliability: 60/100

Good

2021 Buick Encore

Reliability: 80/100

Excellent

2021 Chevrolet Trax

Reliability: 81/100

Excellent

2021 Kia Sportage

Reliability: 76/100

Good

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK

1 manufacturer recall issued

Other

HIGH RISK

ENGINE (52)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (22)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recall on record

The 2021 Hyundai Kona carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

11.4

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 16.7

LowAvgHigh

Moderate

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2021 Hyundai Kona Recall Details

1 recall has been issued for the 2021 Hyundai Kona. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

22V9410002022-12-16

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Kona EV vehicles. The Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) may have been improperly sealed and may leak coolant internally.

Consequence

Coolant contacting the EPCU circuit board may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the EPCU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 22, 2023. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 239.

20V7480002020-12-01

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell and 2019-2021 Kona Electric vehicles. The Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may detect an abnormal sensor signal and as a result, may significantly reduce braking performance.

Consequence

Reduced braking power could lengthen the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the IEB software, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 199.

21V3010002021-04-28

ENGINE

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could result in engine damage.

Consequence

A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification letters were mailed August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2021 Hyundai Kona? Check its history first

Engine problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Hyundai Kona, and 1 recall was issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.

Accidents
Open Recalls
Title History
Odometer Rollback

2021 Hyundai Kona NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 13.6%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Not Available)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Not Available)Additional Air Bags (None)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Optional)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver, Front Passenger)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Hyundai KonaRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

2.5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Hyundai Kona Resale Value

The Hyundai Kona is estimated to retain about 75.9% of its original value after 3 years, based on observed used-car listings.

This benchmark covers the Hyundai Kona model overall and is not specific to the 2021 model year.

Value Retained: 75.9%
Depreciation: 24.1%
Listings Analyzed: 65

Listings observed in May 2021. This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.

Explore Hyundai Kona depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.com

2021 Hyundai Kona Example Repair Prices

National average price ranges for common repairs. These are not model-year-specific failure predictions.

Common repair costs and price estimates
Repair	Estimated Cost
AC Diagnosis	$122 – $179
AC Condenser Replacement	$814 – $905
Battery Test	$49 – $72
Brake Booster Replacement	$471 – $578
Fuel Level Sending Unit Replacement	$1,433 – $1,484
Headlamp Alignment Adjust	$49 – $72
Hood Latch Replacement	$177 – $205
Intake Manifold Gasket Replacement	$413 – $487
Water Pump Replacement	$624 – $738
Exhaust Muffler Replacement	$959 – $988

Estimates based on national average repair costs. Actual costs may vary by location and shop.

MPG & Annual Running Costs

Gas

27–30 MPG

Fuel cost: $2,000–$2,200/yr

Fuel only

25–28 city / 29–33 hwy MPG

Electric

258 mi range

Fuel cost: $600/yr

Fuel only

27 kWh/100mi · 9 hrs @ 240V

Based on EPA fuel-cost estimates. Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.

Gas trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	City	Hwy	Comb	Fuel Cost
Kona FWD 1.6L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM7)	28	32	30	$2,000
Kona FWD 2.0L 4-cyl	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	27	33	30	$2,000
Kona AWD 1.6L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (AM7)	26	29	27	$2,200
Kona AWD 2.0L 4-cyl	All-Wheel Drive	Automatic (S6)	25	30	27	$2,200

Electric trims

Trim	Drive	Trans.	Range	kWh/100mi	Fuel Cost
Kona Electric	Front-Wheel Drive	Automatic (A1)	258 mi	27.0	$600

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Hyundai Kona.

Pull the dipstick and compare the oil level with the last oil change date in the service records.
Start the engine cold and listen for knocking or ticking in the first minute.
Have a Hyundai dealer run the VIN for open recalls and print records of completed engine and transmission work.
Drive in stop-and-go traffic and watch for jerky shifts, delayed takeoff, hard downshifts, or stalling.
Run the highway on cruise control and watch for sudden power loss or false blind-spot alerts.
On a Kona Electric, check for regenerative brake, high-voltage, or inverter coolant warnings and test DC fast charging.
Look at the headlamp lenses for trapped moisture or condensation.
Pull back the front carpets and check for dampness or a musty smell from a clogged AC drain.

2021 Hyundai Kona Common Problems by Component

102 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

ENGINE (52)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (22)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (18)POWER TRAIN (14)VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (4)SERVICE BRAKES (3)EXTERIOR LIGHTING (2)STEERING (2)Other (11)

ENGINE

52 complaints

Heavy oil use and sudden engine failure dominate these reports. Engines burn or lose oil between changes, often with no low-oil warning, then knock, stall, or seize, sometimes on highways and in traffic. Some fail by 12,034 miles. Others start burning oil or lose piston rings much later. Cold-start knocking is a common early sign. Dealers sometimes find nothing wrong at first or run oil consumption tests. Many complaints are about long waits for replacement engines, recall repairs, and parts, with cars off the road for months.

52 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

22 complaintsSafety-related

These reports cover a wide mix of problems. One describes smoke, every dash light coming on, and a shutdown just before the engine burned. On electric models, owners report high-voltage battery faults that leave the car unable to start, plus coolant leaks with overheating and stalling. Other reports include sudden acceleration while parking, a car rolling out of park and injuring its driver, headlight condensation, a blurry rear camera, false collision alerts, and hesitation when passing. One owner sold the car back while waiting for recall work.

22 complaints total1 fire2 injuries

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

18 complaintsSafety-related

Stalling while driving is the most common pattern. The engine cuts out with no warning and restarts normally. Dealers often find no fault code and cannot fix it. Two fires are reported: a parked car that burned from the engine compartment, and an electric model that caught fire while being unplugged. Electric-model owners also describe battery warnings, failed DC fast charging, repeated inverter coolant warnings, and long waits for recall parts. Other complaints include false blind-spot and collision warnings, a failed heater and defroster, and a clogged AC drain that let water and mold into the cabin.

18 complaints total2 fires

POWER TRAIN (14 complaints)

POWER TRAIN

14 complaints

The dual-clutch automatic jerks, downshifts hard, and lunges when coming to a stop. It can also hesitate for several seconds when pulling away from a rolling stop. Owners report sudden drops into low gear, stalling at lights, and a total loss of drive power in traffic. One describes the transmission overheating on a steep snowy grade, then bucking and smoking. Dealers often find no code, and software updates do not always help. Oil consumption is also reported starting around 61,000 miles. An electric model was left inoperable by a motor position sensor failure while waiting for parts.

14 complaints total

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (4 complaints)

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

4 complaintsSafety-related

Unwanted acceleration and loss of power appear in a small number of reports. In the most serious one, a stuck accelerator led to a crash and rollover. The steering wheel airbag caught fire and the driver suffered fractures and head injuries. Other reports describe the car surging forward when the brake is released, a transmission stuck in third gear that hits the fuel cutoff on the interstate, and a sudden loss of drive power on cruise control that only a restart fixes.

4 complaints total1 crash1 fire1 injury

SERVICE BRAKES (3 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

3 complaints

Two failure types appear. In one, the pedal sinks and stopping takes hard pressure because brake fluid leaks from pinholes and fittings in the brake lines. In the other, on electric models, a "Check regenerative brakes" message appears with brake warning lights, and the parking brake may apply while driving or stopping. One dealer replaced the integrated electric brake unit. Another warning came back days after a dealer update.

3 complaints total

EXTERIOR LIGHTING (2 complaints)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2 complaints

Rainwater gets inside the headlamps and cuts their light output. The one dealer response reported was to let them dry out, with no repair. A separate complaint says the low-mounted LED headlights leave dark spots in the beam and glare at oncoming drivers over small bumps, even when the dealer finds the aim correct. Water intrusion was reported at 5,052 miles.

2 complaints total

STEERING (2 complaints)

STEERING

2 complaints

The car pulls to the right from new, with the wheel off center and heavier effort turning left. An alignment did not fix it. A separate report describes noise from the steering column plus bucking when pulling away from stops at 16k miles, with a long wait for a dealer appointment. Neither report describes a loss of steering control.

2 complaints total

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (2 complaints)

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2 complaints

Stalling at low speed or in turns comes with excessive oil use in both reports. Owners describe ticking or dinging noises, rough revving, and slow acceleration before the stall. One owner was adding oil every other week. Shops either found no cause or recommended more testing, and neither car was repaired. The pattern matches the oil-consumption complaints filed under engine.

2 complaints total

WHEELS (2 complaints)

WHEELS

2 complaints

Running the compact spare on a front wheel can cause heavy smoke within 10 miles and damage the front drivetrain. A dealer advised never mounting the spare on the front, and a similar spare-tire report appears under other complaints. A separate complaint involves a car sold new in April 2021 with tires made in 2019.

2 complaints total

When Do 2021 Hyundai Kona Problems Start?

Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.

4,000–17,600 milesEarly oil loss, engine failure

14,000–21,400 milesStalling while driving

61,000–116,000 milesExcessive oil consumption

Best & Worst Hyundai Kona Years

Best Hyundai Kona Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Good

Hyundai Kona Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Hyundai Kona reliability scores by year
Year	Score	Rating
2018	69/100	Good
2019	55/100	Mixed
2020	57/100	Mixed
2021	63/100	Good
2022	64/100	Good
2023	66/100	Good
2024	68/100	Good
2025	74/100	Good
2026	67/100	Good

Hyundai Kona Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026	67/100	-7	Good	2	4
2025	74/100	+6	Good	0	21
2024	68/100	+2	Good	3	50
2023	66/100	+2	Good	2	68
2022	64/100	+1	Good	2	115
2021(selected)	63/100	+6	Good	1	102
2020	57/100	+2	Mixed	2	140
2019	55/100	-14	Mixed	4	224
2018	69/100	—	Good	0	66

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2021 Hyundai Kona reliable?

It has a good reliability standing, but it is not among the better Konas. It ranks below average against other 2021 SUVs and among the weaker of the nine Kona model years. Owners filed 102 complaints, and engine problems account for about half of them.

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

Engine problems lead, followed by electrical, power train, and speed control complaints. Owners report heavy oil use, knocking, stalling, and seized engines. Electrical reports center on stalling while driving. Power train reports describe the dual-clutch automatic jerking, downshifting hard, or hesitating when pulling away.

Does the 2021 Hyundai Kona have engine problems?

Yes, engine complaints are the largest group, at 52. Engines burn or lose oil, often with no low-oil warning, then knock, stall, or seize. Early failures appear between 4,000 and 17,600 miles, and heavy oil consumption is reported from 61,000 to 116,000 miles. Some owners waited months for replacement engines.

Does the 2021 Hyundai Kona have a recall?

Federal records list one recall for this model year. It covers the electrical system, service brakes (hydraulic), and the engine. Check that the repair was completed before buying, and ask the seller for proof of the completed work.

Is the 2021 Hyundai Kona better than the 2022?

Not clearly. The 2022 rates about the same, with 115 complaints and 2 recalls. The 2021 has 102 complaints and 1 recall. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare each car's engine and recall history rather than choosing by year.

Don’t buy a 2021 Hyundai Kona without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

How we score the 2021 Hyundai Kona

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Hyundai Kona does best on how many systems draw complaints (84/100) and worst on repair costs (50/100). 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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