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Hyundai · Compact SUV

2021 Hyundai Kona

ElectricGas

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

74 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical3

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA141

Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★

EV rangebest configuration, EPA258 mi

Fuel economybest combined, EPA30 mpg

2027 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018

The 2021 Hyundai Kona is sold in the U.S. as a 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 141 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
Kona Electric	Electric	FWD	150 kW AC PMSM	132	108	120 MPGe	258 mi	27	9 h	$600
Kona FWD	Gas	FWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	28	32	30	—	—	—	$2,100
Kona FWD	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl	27	33	30	—	—	—	$2,100
Kona AWD	Gas	AWD	1.6L 4-cyl turbo	26	29	27	—	—	—	$2,300
Kona AWD	Gas	AWD	2.0L 4-cyl	25	30	27	—	—	—	$2,300

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

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Electrical System

239

853 vehiclesElectric only

ProblemHyundai 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.RiskCoolant contacting the EPCU circuit board may cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers 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.

NHTSA campaign 22V941000reported Dec 16, 2022Hyundai Motor America

!critical

Engine

203

158,493 vehicles

ProblemHyundai 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.RiskA 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.FixDealers 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.

NHTSA campaign 21V301000reported Apr 28, 2021Hyundai Motor America

○minor

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

199

8,176 vehiclesElectric only

ProblemHyundai 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.RiskReduced braking power could lengthen the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixHyundai 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.

NHTSA campaign 20V748000reported Dec 1, 2020Hyundai Motor America

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 matt

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

141complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2021: 27 · 2022: 24 · 2023: 17 · 2024: 19 · 2025: 29 · 2026: 25

Most-cited components

Engine80

Unspecified25

Electrical System21

Power Train14

Vehicle Speed Control6

Forward Collision Avoidance5

What owners describe

“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. I felt unsafe due to surrounding vehicles exp…”Feb 22, 2026 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

“Hyundia has had my car in for the SAME recall 4 to 5 times . 6 total weeks this time around. The ""refill inverter coolant" light kept coming back on . The last time I got it home it had more issues than when I took it in and wouldn't even catch a charge . (EV) They fried my compassitor trying to fix the inverter coola…”Jul 19, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

“The car was unable to charge using level 3 DC fast chargers, necessitating the use of a level 2 charger for an extended length of time in order to be able to return home. A Hyundai dealer replaced the charging inlet lock actuator (invoice attached).”Jun 26, 2025 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report

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.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV AWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	14%
SUV FWD	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★★	★★★★☆	14%

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

Other Kona model years

2027 Hyundai Kona

0 recalls · 0 complaints

2026 Hyundai Kona

3 recalls · 9 complaints

2025 Hyundai Kona

1 recalls · 29 complaints

2024 Hyundai Kona

4 recalls · 65 complaints

2023 Hyundai Kona

2 recalls · 72 complaints

2022 Hyundai Kona

2 recalls · 123 complaints

2020 Hyundai Kona

5 recalls · 184 complaints

2019 Hyundai Kona

4 recalls · 242 complaints

2018 Hyundai Kona

0 recalls · 74 complaints

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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

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

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