Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government
holds on this vehicle.
Owners have filed 52 safety complaints
about the 2024 Hyundai Kona with the US government. Of those, 5 describe a crash, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it.
The most complained-about system is the electrical system,
named in 31 complaints, 60% of the total.
The typical failure was reported at 12,000 miles,
the median across the 10
complaints that gave
an odometer reading.
Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files
· Covers December 2023 to September 2026 · How this is counted
What is on file
52 complaints on file
52
Complaints
5
Describe a crash
0
Mention fire
5
People injured
0
Deaths
A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a
finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts
them.
A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free.
Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can
answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a
model year.
Which system owners named
Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31 · 60%
31 60%
ENGINE 9 · 17%
9 17%
STEERING 7 · 13%
7 13%
SERVICE BRAKES 6 · 12%
6 12%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 5 · 10%
5 10%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5 · 10%
5 10%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4 · 8%
4 8%
POWER TRAIN 3 · 6%
3 6%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 · 4%
2 4%
LANE DEPARTURE 1 · 2%
1 2%
SEAT BELTS 1 · 2%
1 2%
SEATS 1 · 2%
1 2%
01531
Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it.
One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 52.
When the complaints arrived
By the year NHTSA received them
By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures
happened. They peaked in 2026 at 20.
24 18 12 6
232023242024252025262026
This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure
happened. The range runs from 2023 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program
NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what
happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2024 Hyundai KONA, and it is a separate
question from what owners report going wrong later.
Test
SUV AWD
SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover
15.9%
15.1%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard
A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed.
A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.
Recall campaigns
3 on file
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Elantra, Venue, and Kona vehicles. An electrical short circuit may occur in the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve assembly, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The risk
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 28, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 260.
Hyundai Motor America · up to 13,511 vehicles across all model years covered
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Kona vehicles. The 12-Volt battery cables may chafe against the engine control module bracket and short circuit during a crash.
The risk
A short circuit increases the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The remedy
Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 22, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 252.
Hyundai Motor America · up to 10,984 vehicles across all model years covered
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024 Kona vehicles. The seat belt assemblies in the right and left rear seats may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupation Crash Protection" and 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
A seat belt that does not function properly may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 250.
Hyundai Motor America · up to 2,354 vehicles across all model years covered
In owners’ own words
Quoted from the complaint file
Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the
people who filed them, not findings of fault.
STEERING
2 injured · crash · towed
the car loss power and shut completely off and ran into the wall with my sister and my child in there on the interstate can I please get help about this matter it could've been worse where i could've lost them forever. I don't want this to happen to nobody else they cars know about these malfunctions and still but these cars on the market for accidents to happen. Please something needs to be done about this.
NHTSA complaint 11681842. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
1 injured · crash · towed · 28,791 miles
The contact owned a 2024 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving and pulling out of a parking space, the steering wheel turned to the right and then left, after which the vehicle lost power and steering capability. As a result, the contact was unable to maintain control of the vehicle and collided with a pole. The contact could not recall any warning indicators that illuminated after the incident. The driver side bumper and hood sustained damage from the collision and a nearby concrete barrier was also scratched. The vehicle came to a stop in the parking lot in front of the pole. No air bags deployed. The vehicle was subsequently towed to a collision repair facility. No police …
NHTSA complaint 11745098, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1 injured · crash
My family got in a accident on this recall of loss of power on the high way making the car crash into a wall... 8/16/25 3:06 pm in Duval county Jacksonville,FL Something needs to be done about this my kids have gotten hurt
NHTSA complaint 11681288. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
1 injured · 35,000 miles
The contact leased a 2024 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel independently turned from the left to the right, and the contact lost control of the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact experienced temporary left wrist pain but had not sought medical attention. The contact regained control of the vehicle and stopped the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred a week later while reversing out of a parking space. During the failures, there were no other vehicles or objects nearby. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, but the service department was unable to duplicate the failure. The dealer claimed that the vehicle was safe to …
NHTSA complaint 11758234, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
sitting at a light, pressing the accelerator, the engine remaining on but the vehicle not accelerating.
NHTSA complaint 11767206. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
STEERING
See attached document for complaint.
NHTSA complaint 11764953. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
This mainly concerns the forward collision detection sensor, if that’s even what it’s actually called. My vehicle is available for testing and inspection. I was driving on an interstate, with my adaptive cruise control set to 75 mph. I was in the left of 3 lanes when got to a curve that went to the right. As I came to the beginning of the curve, all of a sudden my dash is warning me of a forward collision and the car started braking hard on its own. There is a metal guardrail that separates the 2 sides of the interstate and cars are also coming from the other direction. There wasn’t anyone behind me, thank goodness. If there had been, I can’t say for sure what would have happened, but it …
NHTSA complaint 11762027, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Consider taking a coffee break distracts driver. This issue warrants immediate consideration for a recall. Anytime I drive, this warning keeps going off shortly after going on a windy or pothole filled road (all of PA). Despite driving safely and normally, the problem persists. This occurs regardless of the time of day, weather conditions, or whether I am sitting upright or reclining. The warning randomly activates and deactivates, sometimes without any intervention. Occasionally, I simply allow the warning to sound without taking any action, and it remains active for a few seconds or until it triggers a warning that the system will be turned off, at which point it deactivates. I have …
NHTSA complaint 11760057, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
ENGINE
11,000 miles
The contact owns a 2024 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message to “Turn off Engine and Restart Engine” was displayed and the engine seized. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a busy highway. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle started. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that four months later the failure reoccurred. The failure became a persistent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000.
NHTSA complaint 11759192. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.
If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's
lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How
many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by
the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.
Complaints: NHTSA's ODI
complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One
complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall
campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed May 1, 2024.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI
investigation file, published October 2, 2026.
A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by
us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that
sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.
G
Compiled and maintained by guarledes Independent developer and analyst