Before you buy a used Hyundai Kona (I).

2017–2023 · Petrol / Hybrid / Diesel / Electric · 4 engines

Taken only from Testigo's sourced sheets. Use it to question the seller and on the test drive: it does not confirm that any particular car is affected.

M 93 · CC BY-SA 3.0 DE · Wikimedia Commons · Photo source

The essentials.

4 documented, sourced faults across its 4 engines.
They all depend on the equipment or the production date: ask what this car has.
6 official recalls on record: ask for the chassis number (VIN) and confirm they have been done.
According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.6 Hybrid (Hybrid).

Typical faults by engine

The period and mileage are those mentioned by each sheet's sources. They are not a maintenance interval and do not predict that any particular car will fail.

All versions

Sheets the catalogue links to all 4 of its engines.

1.6 T-GDI chain, electronic brake on hybrids and EVs, and campaigns on the KonaKnown weak points
Period mentioned
2017–2023
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Weak points of this model from inspections, breakdown statistics and recalls; anything specific to one engine is stated in the sheet.

1.0 / 1.6 T-GDi

Petrol

Shift shock between 1st and 2nd in the 7-speed DCT caused by an input shaft snap ringAutomatic gearbox
Period mentioned
2021–2022
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Only the 1.6 T-GDi with the 7-speed DCT from 2021–2022 (US bulletin).
Judder on the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (7DCT)Automatic gearbox
Period mentioned
Approx. 2015–2021
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Only with the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic (7DCT). Confirm the gearbox type.

1.6 Hybrid

Hybrid

We have no faults specific to this engine, only those common to every version.

1.6 CRDi

Diesel

These also apply, described above: Judder on the 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (7DCT)

Kona Electric

Electric

Battery fire risk on the Kona Electric: battery replacementHigh-voltage battery
Period mentioned
2018–2020
Mileage mentioned
The sheet does not mention a mileage.
Applies if: Built from 2018 to 2020.

Which engine has the fewest documented faults?

Documented faults and recalls by engine for the Hyundai Kona (I)
Engine	Documented faults	Recalls
1.0 / 1.6 T-GDiPetrol	33 with conditions	5
1.6 HybridHybridFewest documented	11 with conditions	5
1.6 CRDiDiesel	22 with conditions	5
Kona ElectricElectric	22 with conditions	6

According to the data we have, the engine with the fewest documented faults is the 1.6 Hybrid (Hybrid).

By fuel type, the one with the fewest documented faults is: Hybrid.

We only count the sourced sheets we have. An engine with fewer is not guaranteed to be more reliable: it may have been studied less or sold in smaller numbers.

Official recalls: ask before you pay

A recall existing does not mean this car is affected or that it is still outstanding: it depends on the chassis number, the market and the production date.

Ask the seller for the chassis number (VIN): it has 17 characters, appears in the car's documents and can usually also be seen at the base of the windscreen.
Ask an official Hyundai dealer, or the brand's official website if it lets you check by chassis number, whether each recall has been done or is still outstanding for that VIN.
Manufacturer recalls are normally carried out free of charge by the official service network. If one is outstanding, ask for it to be done before you close the sale.

Hyundai airbag and seat-belt recalls (2003–2026)Airbags and seat belts