Recalls (2)
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2020 Hyundai Kona. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Improperly Heat-Treated Piston Oil Rings
- Summary
- 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.
- Consequence
- 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.
Incorrect GAWR on Certification Label
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (160)
160 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The engine is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 160 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 107 | 66.9% |
| Power train | 20 | 12.5% |
| Unknown or other | 17 | 10.6% |
| Electrical system | 11 | 6.9% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 7 | 4.4% |
| Steering | 7 | 4.4% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 4.4% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 2.5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 2.5% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 1.9% |
How 2020 compares with other Kona years
Best and worst Kona years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 75 | 0 |
| 2019 | 193 | 1 |
| 2020 | 160 | 2 |
| 2021 | 118 | 1 |
| 2022 | 100 | 0 |
| 2023 | 66 | 1 |
| 2024 | 52 | 4 |
| 2025 | 28 | 1 |
| 2026 | 9 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Hyundai Kona suv fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 30 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,250
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 303 g/mi
- EPA class
- Small Sport Utility Vehicle
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 30 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · Automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 / 32 / 30 | $2,250 | 303 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 / 33 / 30 | $2,250 | 300 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 30 / 28 | $2,400 | 324 |
| 1.6 L 4-cyl · Automatic | All-Wheel Drive | 26 / 29 / 27 | $2,500 | 324 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 Kona for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2020 Hyundai Kona FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Kona have?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns: 21V301000 (engine), 20V022000 (equipment). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Hyundai Kona problems?
Owners filed 160 complaints with NHTSA. Engine (107), Power train (20), Unknown or other (17) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Hyundai Kona get?
EPA rates the 1.6 L 4-cyl · Automatic version at 28 city, 32 highway and 30 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
What safety rating did the 2020 Hyundai Kona get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Hyundai Kona suv fwd 5 stars overall, with 5 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (14.1% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Kona compare with other years?
Among the 2018–2021 Hyundai Kona model years at least five years old, the 2018 drew the fewest complaints (75) and the 2019 the most (193). The 2020 drew 160. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.