2018 Hyundai KONA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
74 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
15,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 24 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 41 of 74 complaints (55.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 14 | 18.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 10.8% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 6.8% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 41 |
| Unknown Or Other | 25 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
Engine: 41; Unknown Or Other: 25; Power Train: 11; Electrical System: 8; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Exterior Lighting: 3; Structure:Body: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 50 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 9 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 12 |
| 2025 | 14 |
| 2026 | 11 |
2018: 9; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2021: 5; 2022: 5; 2023: 11; 2024: 12; 2025: 14; 2026: 11
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11090963 · 2018-04-30 (April 30, 2018)
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF CAR, THE FRONT OF CAR, DISCONNECT FROM FRAME AND FELL TO GROUND. WITHOUT REALIZING IT, BACKED OUT DRIVEWAY,DRAGGING THE FALLEN END AND RIPPING THE WHOLE FRONT OF CAR OFF EXCEPT FOR A 3 INCH "FIBERGLASS" PIECE THAT HELD THE DIVERS SIDE ON TO CAR. (PICTURES AVAILABLE)
Owner-reported narrative. 800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11090963 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11110180 · 2018-07-09 (July 9, 2018)
UNKNOWN TYPE OF AIRBAG. THE OTHER BAG DEPLOYED. I HIT SEVERAL TREES , ONE DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THE MAIN DRIVER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING ME TO BE THROWN FORWARD AND RECEIVED HORRIFIC INJURY TO MY HEAD. BY THE WINDSHIELD COMING IN LIKE A V AND SAWING MY SCALP ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SKULL.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,040 miles reported. Look up ODI 11110180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11122263 · 2018-08-25 (August 25, 2018)
PRONE TO ROLLOVER WITH LOSING CONTROL OF VEHICLE, ON THE LATER MODEL KONA LIKE THE SECOND I PURCHASED THAT HAVE INSTALLED ANT-ROLLOVER BARS IN THE FRONT END. I TOTALED MY VEHICLE ON 7/8 AND WAS INJURED WITH HEAD TRAUMA
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11145203 · 2018-11-04 (November 4, 2018)
BCW (BLIND COLLISION WARNING) NOW FOR THE SECOND TIME ABOUT 3000 MILES APART FROM THE FIRST TIME AT 8960 AND NOW AT 11246 AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING IN PERFECT WEATHER, NO GRIME OR MUD ANYWHERE NEAR OR ON THE SENSORS IN REAR BUMPER. TURNS OFF WARNING TRIANGLE TURNS ON FOR APPROX 15 MINUTES THEN TURNS ON LEAVING WITHOUT ANY WARNING.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,246 miles reported. Look up ODI 11145203 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150759 · 2018-11-10 (November 10, 2018)
3RD TIME NOW CONCERNING BCW (BLIND COLLISION WARNING) SHUTTING OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS , NO GRIME/MUD/SNOW/BAD WEATHER TO BE THE BLAME. THE SYSTEM JUST SHUTS DOWN AUTOMATICALLY LEAVING A ORANGE SAFETY TRIANGLE ILLUMINATED ON DASH. BUTTON WAS NEVER TOUCHED EVEN IF IT WAS THERE WOULD AGAIN BE NO ERROR MESSAGE AND TRIANGLE. THIS TIME SYSTEM STAYED SHUTDOWN FOR LONGER THAN 15 MIN MILEAGE 11442 9-10-18. THIS HAS BECOME MORE OF NUISANCE AND MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,442 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151515 · 2018-11-14 (November 14, 2018)
FCA WARNINGS COME ON WHEN ONLY NORTHBOUND ON THE CAUSEWAY IN LOUISIANA. HAPPENS DAILY
Owner-reported narrative. 1,317 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151515 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11160531 · 2018-12-10 (December 10, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HYUNDAI KONA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "BLIND SPOT HAS BEEN DISABLED" ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SHORTLY AFTER, THE BLIND SPOT MONITORS TURNED OFF AND FAILED TO WORK. THE CONTACT HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE ON AND OFF FOR THE BLIND SPOT MONITORS TO WORK PROPERLY AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KUNES COUNTRY HYUNDAI OF QUINCY (207 N 36TH ST, QUINCY, IL 62301) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A GLITCH, BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11160531 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11163177 · 2018-12-23 (December 23, 2018)
I AM REQUESTING INVESTIGATION INTO EXCESS GLARE FROM LED HEADLIGHTS ON THE KONA LIMITED MODEL, YEAR 2018 FOR THOSE MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO JUNE. EXCESSIVE GLARE ORIGINATES FROM THE LED LIGHTS AND RESULTS IN CONSISTENT "BRIGHT BEAM" FLASHES FROM ON COMING DRIVERS, AS THEY THINK YOU HAVE YOUR BRIGHTS ON. THIS RESULTS IN BLINDING AND UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHEN DRIVING ON NARROW ROADS FOR BOTH DRIVERS. HYUNDAI APPEARS TO HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE ISSUE AS THEY REDESIGNED THE LED HEADLIGHTS MID YEAR. JUNE AND LATER MODELS DO NOT HAVE EXCESS GLARE. THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11163177 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.