Diagsheet

First generation (OS, incl. facelift)

2020 Hyundai Kona

The most reported problem on the 2020 Hyundai Kona is stalling, with 56 complaints, usually around 14,000 miles.

  • 160owner complaints
  • 2recalls
  • 8involved a crash
  • 12,448median miles at failure

Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026

miles

2020 Hyundai Kona
Photo: Cutlass, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

What is your Kona doing?

Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2020 model year.

Is the 2020 Hyundai Kona reliable?

The 2020 Hyundai Kona has 160 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, below the median of 233 for 2020 SUVs on this site. Of the 8 Kona model years since 2018, it has the 2nd most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.

At a glance

Next to the 2019 and 2021
At 23 complaints for each year on the road, the 2020 runs close to the 2019 (24) and above the 2021 (19).
Top problem
One problem takes up much of the file: stalling, named in 56 of the 160 complaints (35%). Stalling tends to show up early. Of the 26 owners who gave a mileage for it, half were under about 14,000 miles and a quarter under about 10,000.
Crash, fire and injury reports
11 of the 160 complaints (7%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 8 reports mention a crash, 3 mention a fire and 12 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death.
Recalls behind the top problems
stalling and engine failure all have recalls on the same system, and the same campaigns cover them: 21V-301. A recall on the same system doesn't always cover the failure owners describe, so compare its summary with the complaints.
When owners filed
Filings jumped in 2021, with 61 complaints, 2.3 times the next busiest year. So far in 2026, 25 more have come in.

When each problem shows up

Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 56 complaints.

0k25k50k75k100k125k150kyou
Every complaint with a mileage67 of 160
67 complaints state a mileage. The most, 21, fall between 0 and 10,000 miles; 2 are past 150,000.
Burns oil or oil level rises14 reportsrecall
Check engine light or misfire23 reportsrecall

middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.

Behind you

    Around your mileage

      Ahead of you

        How this compares

        2020 Hyundai Kona160
        Median 2020 model here (75 vehicles)219
        Median 2020 SUV here (42)233

        160 complaints is 1.4 times fewer than the median 2020 model on this site and 1.5 times fewer than the median 2020 SUV. Among the 3 Kona model years here it ranks 2nd for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.

        Service bulletins for the 2020 Hyundai Kona

        Hyundai filed 81 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2020 Hyundai Kona. 7 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.

        Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.

        Engine stalls or loses power while driving 1 bulletin · 56 complaints

        • Service bulletin19-AT-021H-1Dec 17, 2019

          If you are servicing a vehicle with a transmission slipping concern, follow the Service Procedure shown below and perform a stall test. This TSB provides a procedure to test each clutch in the transmission.

        Check engine light or misfire 2 bulletins · 23 complaints

        • Service bulletin20-FL-006HJun 9, 2020

          This bulletin provides information related to the Engine Control Module (ECM) software logic update for DTC P0300-P0304 Misfire. This update addresses an incident of intermittent misfire that may only occur at cold engine warmup.

        • Service bulletin20-AT-007HFeb 20, 2020

          If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a “Check Engine” light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.

        Engine knocking or ticking 2 bulletins · 13 complaints

        • Service bulletin22-EM-008HMay 5, 2022

          Hyundai is conducting a service campaign 974 to enhance the knock sensor logic with the Cylinder Noise Diagnostic System (CNDS) software update.

        • Service bulletin22-01-043HMay 5, 2022

          Hyundai is conducting a service campaign to enhance the knock sensor logic with the Cylinder Noise Diagnostic System (CNDS) software update.

        Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 2 bulletins · 6 complaints

        • Service bulletin20-AT-018HMay 21, 2020

          If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with the following symptoms and DTC, follow the Service Procedure on Page 3.

        • Service bulletin20-AT-001HJan 2, 2020

          This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and repair a transaxle for the following Incorrect Ratio DTC (transaxle clutch slipping more than 200 rpm in gear).

        Complaints filed by year

        Complaints by the year NHTSA received them: 2020: 13, 2021: 61, 2022: 12, 2023: 14, 2024: 8, 2025: 27, 2026: 2513'2061'2112'2214'238'2427'2525'26

        61 complaints came in 2021, 4.7 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.

        NHTSA investigations

        DP22-005opened Jan 27, 2023
        Electrical · model years 2019 to 2022

        Pedestrian alert sounds. Closed aug 7, 2023, led to recall 22V-063.

        NHTSA summary
        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 matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
        DP22-003opened Sep 12, 2022
        Engine · model years 2018 to 2022

        Loss of motive power. Closed dec 12, 2023.

        NHTSA summary
        The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) received a letter dated July 13, 2022, petitioning the Agency to initiate a safety defect investigation into loss of motive power allegations attributed to oil drain pan assembly failures on certain Hyundai Motor America, Inc. and Kia America, Inc. vehicles spanning Model Years (MY) 2005-2021. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug back outs, resulting in loss of motive power and/or catastrophic engine damage. Additional complaints were provided which alleged that the oil drain pans lack sufficient structural integrity and are susceptible to cracking. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI number 11481745. On September 12, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Defect Petition (DP22-003) to evaluate the Petitioners’ request. The Petitioners have provided additional complaints within four supplemental letters dated January 31, 2023, March 21, 2023, May 23, 2023, and August 4, 2023. ODI’s evaluation included the review and analysis of the complaints and supporting information submitted by the Petitioners, as well as additional complaints submitted directly to NHTSA which referenced either the oil drain plug or a crack in the oil pan. After reviewing the available data, ODI has not identified evidence that would support opening a defect investigation into the oil drain pan as

        Recalls that include the 2020 Hyundai Kona

        Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

        21V-301Apr 28, 2021
        Engine

        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 and remedy
        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.
        Remedy: 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.
        20V-022Jan 17, 2020
        Equipment:Other:Labels

        Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Kona vehicles. The certification label may indicate incorrect Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 567, "Certification" and 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

        Risk and remedy
        Risk: An incorrect GAWR could result in the vehicle being overloaded, increasing the risk of a crash.
        Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install new label stickers displaying the correct GAWR over the affected areas of the certification label, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 187.

        All 2 recalls on the 2020 Hyundai Kona, with the owner complaints on each recalled system

        Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay

        Questions

        What is the most common problem on the 2020 Hyundai Kona?

        Stalling, with 56 of the 160 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 14,000 miles.

        At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Kona problems start?

        Of the 67 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 7,000 miles and half by about 12,000.

        Is the 2020 Hyundai Kona better or worse than the 2019 and 2021?

        Counted per year on the road, the 2020 has about as many complaints as the 2019 and more complaints than the 2021: 23 a year against 24 and 19.

        How many 2020 Hyundai Kona complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?

        11 of them (7%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.

        Is there a recall for stalling on the 2020 Hyundai Kona?

        Yes, NHTSA lists a recall on the same system: 21V-301. Its summary says which failure it covers, and that isn't always the one owners describe.

        Other model years