Recalled components: powertrain and fuel system. Most-described problems: loss of power or limp mode and the check engine light coming on (8 complaints, 11% each). Most-reported area: electrical system (27 complaints, 39%).
More complaints than a typical Kona year
The 2023 drew 57 owner complaints in its first three years, against 55 for a typical Kona year.
No Kona year stands out enough to avoid; best year: 2018. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.
The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 246.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles.
The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix and full notice
Fix: Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning September 9, 2024. Some interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 262 and 023G.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles.
NHTSA listing: KONA N. Hyundai campaign 262-023G.
Questions about any of these recalls: call NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2023 Hyundai Kona.
What owners report
Owners have filed 70 complaints with NHTSA about the 2023 Kona. Below, they are sorted by the problems owners describe and by the areas NHTSA files them under. NHTSA does not verify complaints.
Most named: automatic emergency braking (7); warnings (7)
Engine11 · 16%
Powertrain11 · 16%
Speed control7 · 10%
Fuel and propulsion system4 · 6%
Brakes3 · 4%
Unknown or other20 · 29%
A complaint can name more than one area, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Hyundai Kona recalls and complaints by model year
The highlighted bars are the 2023 model year. Newer model years have had less time on the road, so their counts are lower. Counting complaints filed in each model year's first three years, the 2020 Kona drew the most (86) and the 2023 drew 57.
Owner complaints
2023: 70 complaintsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Owner complaints by model year, Hyundai Kona
Model year
Complaints
2018
75
2019
198
2020
162
2021
120
2022
109
2023
70
2024
53
2025
29
2026
11
Safety recalls
2023: 2 recallsTap or drag across the chart for other years.
Show as a table
Safety recalls by model year, Hyundai Kona
Model year
Recalls
2018
0
2019
1
2020
2
2021
1
2022
2
2023
2
2024
4
2025
1
2026
3
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for each version it tested. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimate of the chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
In the 70 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2023 Hyundai Kona, the problems described most are loss of power or limp mode (8) and the check engine light coming on (8). NHTSA does not verify complaints, and one complaint can describe several problems.
Is the 2023 Hyundai Kona safe?
In NHTSA crash tests every tested version of the 2023 Hyundai Kona earns 5 stars overall. The table above lists each tested version.
Is NHTSA investigating the 2023 Hyundai Kona?
No. NHTSA's investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026, lists no investigations for the 2023 Hyundai Kona.
How do I check if my Kona has an open recall?
Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard, door jamb or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The lookup lists unrepaired recalls for that exact vehicle. Safety recall repairs are free at Hyundai dealers.
Sources and method
NHTSA recalls file (NHTSA datasets), dated Nov 12, 2026; every campaign checked against NHTSA's recalls API.
NHTSA owner complaints file, dated Nov 11, 2026. Counted by complaint number, so a complaint naming three components counts once in the total.
NHTSA investigations file, dated Nov 12, 2026. Defect petitions, which ask NHTSA to open an investigation, are listed apart and only while open. Audit queries, which check whether a company met its recall and reporting duties rather than whether a vehicle has a problem, are not listed.
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP).
NHTSA model names covered: KONA, KONA N.
Complaint counts are unverified owner reports. They rise with sales volume and time on the road, so compare model years with care. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.