2020 Hyundai Kona Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

99Engine complaints

65.1%Of all 152 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE99 · 65.1%

POWER TRAIN18 · 11.8%

Unspecified / other17 · 11.2%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8 · 5.3%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL7 · 4.6%

Share of the 152 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2020 Hyundai Kona overview page.

What owners report

“Car has extreme oil consumption and power stalls which are related to a recall in 2021 for bad poston rings which werent properly heat protected…”NHTSA complaint 11684798 — filed 09/03/2025

“Vehicle showed these warning lights while stalling out at stop signs: FCA, ESC, and DBC. She was able to turn off the car and restart…”NHTSA complaint 11683888 — filed 08/29/2025

“I am the original owner of a 2020 Hyundai Kona equipped with the 2.0L Nu MPI engine. This engine has been subject to known manufacturing…”NHTSA complaint 11677887 — filed 08/01/2025

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Hyundai Kona have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2020 Hyundai Kona: 99 of 152 complaints on file (65.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2020 Hyundai Kona have in total?

152 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 8 involved a crash, 3 involved a fire, 12 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.