2018 Hyundai Kona problems and complaints
Owners have filed 75 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Hyundai Kona. The most-reported areas: Engine (42), Unknown Or Other (25), Power Train (11).
Key takeaways
- 75 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 9 involve a crash, 10 a fire, 12 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 42 | 56% |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 | 33% |
| Power Train | 11 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 8 | 11% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 | 5% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 4% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 | 4% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3 | 4% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 | 4% |
| Structure | 3 | 4% |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 4% |
| Air Bags | 2 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Hyundai Kona SUV FWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
| 2018 Hyundai Kona SUV AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-09-19
car had an engine knock at 110,000 miles and took it to a repair shop and said they are pretty sure it was an engine rod and that the whole engine needed to be replaced still waiting to get it to the dealership to see what they are going to do due to this car being a leased car and it will not run anymore.
Power Train,vehicle Speed Control,engine - filed 2026-07-21
I purchased a 2018 Hyundai Kona, and it has had one major issue after another. It burns an excessive amount of oil, the engine misfires, and now the turbocharger is failing. I’ve already spent approximately $2,300 repairing the air conditioner and engine, and I can’t afford thousands more in repairs.
Engine - filed 2026-07-13
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the engine bay, followed by grinding gear sounds. The vehicle lost drive power, causing the driver to coast over to the side of the road, where the vehicle eventually stalled. Th...
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More for the 2018 Hyundai Kona
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.