2018 Hyundai Kona Problems, Recalls & Reliability
116 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2018 Hyundai Kona, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 1 defect investigation. It scores 79/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 90,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2018 sits among all Kona years
What owners report
“The car stalls out and I have to now replace the entire engine. There has been recalls for this exact issue on other years of this car but not on this one.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Kona
“Bcw (blind collision warning) now for the second time about 3000 miles apart from the first time at 8960 and now at 11246 automatically shut off while driving in perfect weather, no grime or mud anywhere near or on the sensors in rear bumper. Turns off warning triangle turns on for approx 15…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2018 Kona
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 35 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 17,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 3,400 and 54,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls
No recall campaigns on file for the 2018 Hyundai Kona.
Federal defect investigations
Technical service bulletins
94 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2018 Hyundai Kona. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2018 Hyundai Kona reliable?
The 2018 Hyundai Kona drew 116 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 79/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2018 Hyundai Kona problems?
The top reported problems for the 2018 Hyundai Kona are engine (44 complaints), other (26), and electrical (11).
At what mileage do 2018 Hyundai Kona problems show up?
Owners most often report 2018 Hyundai Kona problems around 17,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 3,400 and 54,000 miles.
Does the 2018 Hyundai Kona have recalls?
No recall campaigns are on file for the 2018 Hyundai Kona. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.