Most common 2020 Hyundai Kona problems
Share of the 161 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Kona complaints by model year
Best Kona years: 2025. Years to avoid: 2020. Compare all years →
2020 Hyundai Kona recalls (2)
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.
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.
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."
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 2 possible defects involving the 2020 Hyundai Kona:
Pedestrian alert sounds
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.
Loss of Motive Power
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.
What 2020 Hyundai Kona owners say
Engine & cooling all 112 →
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle stalled. The driver was unable to restart the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to an independent mechanic. The contact stated that the mechanic had not diagnosed the vehicle; however, an oil change was performed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the check engine warning light remained constantly illuminated. The contact that the vehicle was taken to a local dealer and two software updates were performed as per the manufacturer recalls on the vehicle, but the contact was informed that the recall repair for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V301000 (Engine) could not be performed. The contact stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated, and the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. …
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that on several occasion while driving at various speeds or coming to a stop, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The vehicle failed to restart. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be serviced under TSB 22-01-043H (Engine Monitoring Logic) and the mechanic was made aware of the failure; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The contact stated that the failure was recurring and that the Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated without any vehicles nearby. The contact stated that the vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the camshaft sensor and exhaust sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to a second independent mechanic, who confirmed the diagnosis. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 20 →
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated while driving the vehicle stalled. The gear shifter was stuck in reverse and drive. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who informed the contact the vehicle was working as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but, the failure recurred. The vehicle failed to turn on and there was an abnormal odor of fire. Additionally, The vehicle failed to start. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 13,000. The contact mentioned a complaint was filed with the BBB.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that during a regular maintenance visit, the contact was informed that there was a leak coming from the front axle transfer case, which was initially unrepaired. The vehicle was subsequently taken to a dealer in Colorado, where the seal was replaced. However, while an oil change service was being performed later, it was discovered that the failure recurred because the previous repair was performed incorrectly. The first failure was for an inoperable seal, and the second failure was due to an improper repair. The third inspection confirmed that the seal had not been installed correctly during the prior service. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 146,000.
Electrical system
In May 2023 after washing and vacuuming my car, it would not start. The battery appeared dead. I waited and tried periodically, and after about three tries, It started. This happened a couple more times, but always restarted and appeared to recharge. I did not drive the car from June - October, and asked my son to start it periodically while I was away. He tried in Mid June and battery was dead and had to be jumped. The same thing happened in Aug and Sept. Unfortunately, by the time I returned and could get in into Hyundai, it had been 38 months since my purchase. in October the battery seemed to be okay, but the horn did not work. Also, the windshield washer only trickled out and then nothing came out. I made appointment as I had also had a recall on the safety/theft issues. …
Since the October 2020 recall requirements, I have been told not to park in my garage (thereby exposing my car exterior paint and plastic to the elements) and I have not been able to use my battery at 100% (forced to change limit to 80%). I would not have bought this car if I was going to be limited to 80% of the estimated mileage and gone with a Tesla instead. I live in a desert climate so exposing my car each day to sand and sun is aggravating when I normally park in my garage to protect my car's plastic elements and paint. It has been 16 months without a resolution to the issue and no reasonable compensation for loss of use of vehicle and increased damage to exterior of car since October 2020. Hyundai sold 2020 Kona EV owners a defective car. Had I known I would have been limited to about 200 miles, I would have chosen a different car.
2020 Hyundai Kona engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | Single-speed | FWD | 132 / 108 / 120 MPGe | 258 mi |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | FWD | 28 / 32 / 30 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 27 / 33 / 30 | — |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | AWD | 26 / 30 / 28 | — |
| 1.6L 4-cyl turbo | 7-speed dual-clutch | AWD | 26 / 29 / 27 | — |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Hyundai Kona a good car?
Based on 161 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Kona rates use caution: 1.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the Kona at the same age. It is one of the Kona years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Hyundai Kona?
The engine & cooling — 112 complaints, 70% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › oil/lubrication. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (20) and electrical system (11).
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Kona have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2020 Hyundai Kona, the most recent from April 28, 2021 (engine). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Kona?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2020. See the full Hyundai Kona years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Kona problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 12,000 miles; 77% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.