2020 Hyundai Kona Problems, Recalls & Reliability
196 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2020 Hyundai Kona, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 82/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 12,448 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 2020 Hyundai Kona sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings.
Avoid
Where 2020 sits among all Kona years
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2020 Kona
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 45 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 12,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 7,000 and 28,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (2)
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.
Fix: 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…
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Kona vehicles. The certification label may indicate incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers displaying the correct GAWR over the affected areas of the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 2,…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 22V063000.
Technical service bulletins
81 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2020 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 2020 Hyundai Kona reliable?
The 2020 Hyundai Kona drew 196 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 82/100, scored against the model's worst year (2019).
What are the most common 2020 Hyundai Kona problems?
The top reported problems for the 2020 Hyundai Kona are engine (105 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (19), and other (18).
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Kona problems show up?
Owners most often report 2020 Hyundai Kona problems around 12,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 7,000 and 28,000 miles.
Does the 2020 Hyundai Kona have recalls?
2 recall campaigns apply to the 2020 Hyundai Kona. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
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.