Model year 2026 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2026 Hyundai Kona: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2026 Hyundai Kona at 26–31 mpg combined across 6 versions. NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 10 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
3
EPA combined mpg
26–31
NHTSA overall rating
4/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Hyundai dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2026 Hyundai Kona recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 3 safety recalls for the 2026 Hyundai Kona, newest first.
Seat belts: Rear/other: Buckle assembly
NHTSA 26V452000Reported Jul 14, 2026
Filed by
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 306)
Units affected
47,787 (estimate)
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
Risk
A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy
Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 306. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 15, 2026.
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 295)
Units affected
4,555 (estimate)
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Kona vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the front steering knuckles may crack and break, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
Risk
A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckles, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 5, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 295. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on February 7, 2026.
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 293)
Units affected
41,651 (estimate)
Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel display may fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 101, "Controls and Displays."
Risk
An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 293. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 28, 2026.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2026 Hyundai Kona fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2026 Hyundai Kona crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2026 Hyundai Kona NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2026 HYUNDAI KONA SUV N/A AWD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
15.9%
No
2026 HYUNDAI KONA SUV N/A FWD
4 stars
4 stars
5 stars
4 stars
15.1%
No
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2026 Hyundai Kona owner complaints
Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Hyundai Kona, most recently on Oct 5, 2026. 1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 2 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2026 Hyundai Kona complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Unknown or other
3
Electrical system
2
Service brakes
2
Vehicle speed control
2
Engine
1
Forward collision avoidance: Adaptive cruise control
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Power train
1
Seat belts
1
Structure: Body
1
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
