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Your vehicleHome›Hyundai›Kona› 2021
Hyundai · Compact SUV

2021 Hyundai Kona

Electric Gas
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
C
Safety Signal
72 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical 3
Complaints3 crash · 4 fire · 3 injured reported 147
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
EV rangebest configuration, EPA 258 mi
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 30 mpg
2027202620252024202320222021202020192018

The 2021 Hyundai Kona is sold in the U.S. as an electric and gas compact SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Kona Electric, is EPA-rated at 258 miles with 120 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 147 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Hyundai Kona — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Hyundai Kona · Photo: Damian B Oh · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombRangekWh/100miCharge (240V)Annual fuel*
Kona ElectricElectricFWD150 kW AC PMSM132108120 MPGe258 mi279 h$600
Kona FWDGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo283230———$2,250
Kona FWDGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl273330———$2,250
Kona AWDGasAWD1.6L 4-cyl turbo262927———$2,500
Kona AWDGasAWD2.0L 4-cyl253027———$2,500

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43747, 42593, 42594, 42601, 42602.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Kona Electric10 / 10Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEVAll 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standardsSmartWay Elite
Kona AWD, Kona FWD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors4
GVWR classClass 1B: 3,001 - 4,000 lb (1,360 - 1,814 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders4
Displacement2 L

Engine Output

Horsepower147 hp

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows2
Seating capacity5 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4x2
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds6

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Limited, SE, SEL, Ultimate). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length164.2–164.6 in
Width (body, without mirrors)70.9 in
Height59.1–61.8 in
Wheelbase102.4 in
Track, front61.4 in
Track, rear61.4 in
Curb weight2,890–3,715 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear56/44

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 2.0 AWD 4-door SUV, 2.0 FWD 4-door SUV, Electric 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2021 Kona
Other years The 2027 Kona Recalls Hyundai recalls
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Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Hyundai Kona is in the years where high-voltage electronics and module repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Electrical System

239
853 vehicles 96% reported repaired Electric only
Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Kona EV vehicles. The Electric Power Control Unit (EPCU) may have been improperly sealed and may leak coolant internally. Risk Coolant contacting the EPCU circuit board may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will inspect and replace the EPCU, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 22, 2023. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 239.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V941000 reported Dec 16, 2022 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Engine

203
158,493 vehicles 91% reported repaired
Problem 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. Risk A damaged engine may stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, oil may leak onto hot exhaust components, increasing the risk of a fire. 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 August 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V301000 reported Apr 28, 2021 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

199
8,176 vehicles 99% reported repaired Electric only
Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Nexo Fuel Cell and 2019-2021 Kona Electric vehicles. The Integrated Electronic Brake (IEB) system may detect an abnormal sensor signal and as a result, may significantly reduce braking performance. Risk Reduced braking power could lengthen the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will update the IEB software, free of charge. The recall began January 25, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 199.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 20V748000 reported Dec 1, 2020 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Kona

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Hyundai publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Hyundai’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Hyundai Kona, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

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Parts & accessories for the 2021 Hyundai Kona

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Kona →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
147complaints filed

3 involved a crash · 4 a fire · 3 injuries · 0 deaths reported

19 per 10,000 built · Hyundai reported 75,847 Kona built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2021: 27 · 2022: 24 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 29 · 2026: 31

Most-cited components

Engine → 87
Unspecified 26
Electrical System 21
Power Train 14
Forward Collision Avoidance 6
Fuel/Propulsion System 5

In depth: engine problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated that since purchasing the vehicle, an abnormal rumble sound was heard that grew progressively louder. Additionally, while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle was significantly sluggish.
Engine at 60,000 miles Oct 15, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11771304
On February 3, 2026, while driving in a high-traffic turning lane, my Hyundai Kona Electric vehicle suddenly lost propulsion and would not accelerate. The vehicle shut down without warning and could not be restarted. Traffic was building behind me, creating a safety hazard.
Electrical System Feb 22, 2026 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11719765
While driving on the highway at 70 mph, cruise control engaged, there was a sudden loss of drive power. I could not accelerate, or return to the cruising speed. The speed just dramatically fell. The only remedy was to pull over to the side of the road, turn off the car, and start it again.
Vehicle Speed Control Aug 28, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11541136
After powering on the car, the dashboard displayed multiple brake system warnings, including the brake system warning light and a message on the LCD display that read "Check regenerative brakes." A Hyundai dealer replaced the integrated electric brake unit assembly (invoice attached)
Service Brakes Jun 25, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11669350
My wife's car t-boned another vehicle, but the air bags didn't deploy. Luckily, she wasn't hurt badly, but the vehicle was deemed a total loss, so you can imagine the force of the collision. The forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking didn't activate either. I reported it to Hyundai.
Air Bags Jun 6, 2025 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11665430
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Kona Electric. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the rearview camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the image on the rearview camera went blank. There was no warning light illuminated.
Back Over Prevention at 86,612 miles Dec 13, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11630575

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Hyundai itself: 11 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 1 killed, 16 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 15 per 100,000 built. Every Kona model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 36k

miles, typically

Half the 31 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 9,000 and 86,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 9
10k–20k 1
20k–30k 4
30k–40k 3
40k–50k 0
50k–60k 0
60k–70k 3
70k–80k 0
80k–90k 6
90k–100k 3
100k–150k 1
150k + 1

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Engine2438,0000.76×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2021-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2019–2021 model years the Hyundai Kona ranks 53 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 1.39× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 21,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆14%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.

Driver-assist crash reports (4)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
4reports filed

4 no injury reported

Oct 2021 to Jun 2023 · 0 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: L4 (3), 20230319_RC117 (1)

Crash partner: Other 2 · Passenger Car 2

Filed by: Pony.ai

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
Jun 2023ADS · 20230319_RC117Passenger Carno injury reportedCA—30711-5675
May 2022ADS · L4Passenger Carno injury reportedCA4 mph30711-3157
Oct 2021ADS · L4Otherno injury reportedCA35 mph30711-1759
Oct 2021ADS · L4Otherno injury reportedCA35 mph30711-1624

From the manufacturer’s own filing

The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.

CONTEXT AND HISTORY FOR THIS "OTHER" UPDATED REPORT: Pony.ai originally submitted a monthly report on November [redacted], 2021, and an amended and corrected report on November [redacted], 2021. As required by the SGO, Pony.ai submitted a "10-day" update to the amended report on November [redacted], 2021.
Pony.ai report 30711-1759 Oct 2021 NHTSA SGO filing
On May [redacted], 2022, while operating in autonomous mode with a safety operator in the driver's seat, a Pony.ai Autonomous Vehicle was proceeding straight at a low speed when a passenger vehicle reversed into the side of the Pony.ai vehicle. The Pony.ai vehicle did not suffer damage.
Pony.ai report 30711-3157 May 2022 NHTSA SGO filing
On [redacted], 2023, while in supervised ("Drivered") autonomous mode with Pony.ai's ADS engaged, a Pony.ai AV was rear-ended twice, in quick succession, by a passenger vehicle. The incident occurred at the intersection of [redacted] and [redacted] in Fremont, CA.
Pony.ai report 30711-5675 Jun 2023 NHTSA SGO filing

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 1 filing by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Hyundai warranty extension (62) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 111
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-08
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 78 service bulletins, 16 service campaigns, 11 others

Most often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Engine, Steering, Power Train.

  • 26-EM-016H TSB Service bulletin
    2026-10-08 · Engine
  • Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this procedure should only be performed when dee
  • 26-EM-015H TSB Service bulletin
    2026-10-07 · Engine
  • Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and mainte
  • 9D1 OL Service campaign
    2026-09-22 · Engine
  • Hyundai has become aware that certain Kona vehicles equipped with 1.6T-GDI engines may not meet engine-out NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) and Particulate Matter (PM) emission standards.
  • 9C5 OL Service campaign
    2026-09-09 · Electrical System
  • Hyundai has determined that certain Kona Electric and Ioniq Electric vehicles are eligible for a BMS software update. This update to the BMS software improves the system’s diagnostic capability.
  • Z07 OL Warranty extension
    2026-05-16 · Unknown Or Other
  • Certain 2021-2023 model year Kona, 2021-2023 model year Kona Electric, and 2022-2023 model year Kona N vehicles may experience an inoperable horn that may be caused by foreign substances causing internal parts to oxidize. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment, the warranty coverage for the horn assembly replacement
  • 26-EE-003H TSB Service bulletin
    2026-04-18 · Engine
  • Some vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the procedure to perform an inspection on the starter magnetic switch for potential freezing and, if necessary, replace the starter magnetic switch (solenoid) assembly.
  • 11032523 Other
    2026-04-10 · Air Bags
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and
  • 11032522 Other
    2026-04-10 · Air Bags
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P1AA6
P1AA6 on Hyundai →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P1AA7
P1AA7 on Hyundai →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P1AAF
P1AAF on Hyundai →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Power Train4 bulletins
P0017
P0017 on Hyundai →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine3 owner reports
P1327
P1327 on Hyundai →		Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Equipment2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Hyundai Kona failed the emissions check on 0.92% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 0.92%

failed emissions

3,511 initial inspections of 3,442 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 KonaEvery 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check0.92%1.9%3,256
Failed the safety inspection1.7%1.5%3,511
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.06%0.19%3,511
Miles driven a year9,29610,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer49,30554,681odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Kona by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 0 31 mpg2026 C 3 10 31 mpg2025 A 1 29 261 mi2024 C 4 68 261 mi2023 C 2 75 Park outside2022 B 2 130 258 mi2021 this page C 3 147 258 mi2020 F 5 189 Park outside2019 F 4 250 Park outside2018 A 0 75 30 mpg

Common questions about the 2021 Kona

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Hyundai Kona have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2021 Hyundai Kona, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 21V301000, covering Engine. 1 of them was filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Hyundai Kona 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (72/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

Across the 5 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Hyundai Kona, the best EPA combined figure is 30 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions) and the longest EPA range is 258 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

Transport Canada measured it at 164.2–164.6 in long, 70.9 in wide (body, without mirrors), 59.1–61.8 in tall, on a 102.4 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,890–3,715 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

Owners have filed 147 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Kona, most often about engine, unspecified, electrical system. Of those, 3 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 3 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Hyundai Kona runs 5 to 10 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, California ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Hyundai Kona?

The manufacturer has filed 111 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Hyundai Kona, most often covering electrical system, equipment, engine. The most recent is dated 2026-10-08. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2021 Hyundai Kona do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Hyundai Kona failed the emissions check on 0.92% of first inspections — lower than the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.7% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations5 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates3 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls3NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints147NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins111NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations1NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports4NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA12 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Kona The Kona model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Hyundai recall on file All campaigns filed against Hyundai vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Kona by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

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