2018 Hyundai Kona Safety Report
2018 Hyundai Kona Safety and Reliability Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Hyundai Kona
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 Hyundai Kona. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (66) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 19 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2024 | Compare against the 2024 Hyundai Kona with 35 complaints and 3 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Hyundai Kona before buying across this generation. |
Hyundai Kona Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Hyundai Kona years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Hyundai Kona | 170 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Hyundai Kona | 140 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2021 Hyundai Kona | 102 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2022 Hyundai Kona | 88 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Hyundai Kona | 59 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2024 Hyundai Kona | 35 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2018 Hyundai Kona Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 Hyundai Kona, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
18 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Hyundai onlyUnknown Or Other
12 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Hyundai onlyUnknown Or Other,Engine
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Engine issues Hyundai onlyPower Train,Engine
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine issues Hyundai onlyPower Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System issues Hyundai onlyUnknown Or Other,Forward Collision Avoidance
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other,Forward Collision Avoidance issues Hyundai onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Hyundai Kona
Reliability Score
The 2018 Hyundai Kona receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
Known Issues for the 2018 Hyundai Kona
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Hyundai Kona:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Oil Consumption The engine is consuming excessive oil, leading to potential engine damage. This issue has been reported in multiple vehicles. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Engine Stall The car has been reported to stall at street lights and intersections, posing a safety hazard. Regular maintenance is crucial. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Hyundai Kona:
Engine issues are the most common problem, affecting nearly half of the vehicles.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Hyundai Kona
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Hyundai Kona with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 6 complaints involved crashes. 9 involved fires. 6 reported injuries or fatalities.
The car was burning through oil every 14 -21days. Car has been jerking and taking a while to accelerate. Went to machine to see what’s going he suggested I go to the dealership because there’s no leaks visible. But added more oil so I wouldn’t go without oil there was nothing available for me to come in right away and before my appointment my car started to speed up out of nowhere then completely ...
My vehicle started was burning oil having to add oil frequently. Then a knocking noise started coming from the engine (2.0 L MPI NU).It began to have trouble starting and was not accelerating properly and the check engine light came on . Within two days I brought my car to my mechanic and he stated that there was no sign of an oil leak and felt it was a deeper problem. I brought it to a Hyundai d...
Prior to 100,000 miles, I noted knocking in the engine, especially while going uphill. The knocking would appear and disappear, possibly with oil change intervals. No check engine light ever appeared. After 100,000 miles, the engine progressively began knocking, losing power, and eventually stalling on the road occasionally. I have had to put on my hazards and restart my car. One time, I was b...
I am having issues with my oil consumption and my car is going through a quart of oil every 1-1.5 weeks. There have been similar recalls on the 2019 Kona’s which have the same 1.6L 4-cylinder engine. My car is currently a little over 126,000 miles
The component that failed was the connecting engine rod bearing. The engine is currently in the vehicle located at a hyundai dealership. The connecting engine rod bearing failure came after 1 or 2 engine miss-fires. The vehicle suffered poor performance, I was unable to start the car and properly accelerate the vehicle. The vehicle has exhibited poor acceleration/ jerk acceleration since purchase....
I have gotten a oil change over a month ago and my car is still running low on oil. Sometimes my car would shut off while I’m driving on the road with cars behind me. I have gotten my car oil topped off three different times since getting my oil change. It also makes a fan like noise as well. There’s no leak at all. It’s very bizarre.
The DCT(Dual Clutch Transmission) has always been an issue since I purchased the vehicle. Anytime I would be going at a slow pace in a drive-thru or traffic on the freeway the car would jolt and shake. I brought my car to a Hyundai dealership in 2021 at 36,000 miles and was told this was normal with the transmissions provided by Hyundai and there was no need to worry. Now, at 72,000 miles I was dr...
The contact’s daughter owns a 2018 Hyundai Kona. While the contact’s daughter was driving approximately 65 - 70 MPH, the vehicle started decelerating and sputtering before the vehicle coasted to the side of the road and stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replac...
Piston ring failure. No oil in car and no leaks. P0301 code and knocking sound. Unable to drive.
The engine burns too much oil. I have to put it a quart every 2 weeks.
On May 5, 2025, my 2018 Hyundai Kona burst into flames in my garage and completely destroyed my Kona, Dodge Ram 1500 parked adjacent to it and my home along with its contents. Both vehicles and my home were deemed “a total loss” by the insurance company. The Kona engine compartment burst into flames after a short trip to the store. If the front door had not been locked, forcing my wife to go thr...
my Kona sputters when I put it in gear EVERY TIME. I have purchased gas at several stations so getting bad gas in the tank cannot be an issue. I’ve also had to replace the coil packs twice within 6 months. December 2024 and July 2025
Purchased in cash at Dan O'Brien KIA for 22,000. This dealership in Concord NH (Owner) was charged w/embezzlement soon thereafter & was found guilty & fined. My cash purchase was never given to Hyundai nor was the promised 10 year powertrain warranty which was told to me from the salesman on the day of purchase in 2019. My 2.0 engine is knocking (undriveable) w/74 ,000 miles. Because Hyundai rec...
My engine started shuddering and stalling out on me. This was very dangerous as the car would stall out at street lights and intersections. The check engine light only came on after the car stalled out and has not stayed on during the times that it stalls out. When I went to get a mechanic to check it out they said that they had seen many Hyundai and Kia cars that had the same issues. The issue wa...
My car started making a noise back in Dec/2024. I scheduled an appointment with Quirk Hyundai in Braintree, Ma on Dec 11, 2024, and paid for a diagnostic the service center came back that it was the oil pan leaking so on this date I had that repaired that same day total cost was $254.76. Please note that my car was under warranty at this time. On [XXX], I brought my car back to Quirk Hyundai in Br...
My 2018 Hyundai Kona has been dealership serviced since buying it and it had about 115,000 miles on it when these issues began. Vehicle started to burn oil twice as fast as every time i would bring it into the dealership for the routine oil change, they would ALWAYS tell me that I had no oil in it. Therefore, I started to carry a quart of oil in the trunk and fill it up every 3 weeks or so. This w...
Motor started burning oil at the rate of .5 quarts per week and a few months later vehicle failed to accelerate, had major vibrations and hesitation. Piston rings had failed. Verified by dealer. No other symptoms. Numerous problems with same motor reported by others and repair services. Has been recalled in Australia for same issues.
Felt a large shudder/vibration go through the whole car while on the highway and lost some power. The check engine light came on immediately after so we took it to a mechanic. Diagnostics came back as Hall sensor and cam shaft timing errors. It was found that the timing chain had slipped a tooth. Additionally, one of the pistons was found to have significantly lower PSI than the rest (105 vs 140) ...
with no known contact with anything, shark fin antenna cover of hyundai kona blew off at highway speed. this was unknown at the time, but upon further consideration, concern that the detachment could have damaged another car or caused to swerve. dealer, warranty refuse to replace. multiple reports of similar occurrences exist in hyundai forums.
Vehicle was traveling down the highway with cruise control on and suddenly proceeded to not maintain speed and lost the ability to accelerate and shake in the middle of the interstate. Check engine light came on after this and we were able to limp it off the highway onto the ramp. No warning lights, no over heating, or any signs were given prior to this incident to give the impression this vehicle...
Showing 20 of 66 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2018 Hyundai Kona
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Engine
Opened 2022-09-12 · Closed 2023-12-12
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. The Petitioners cited examples of complaints indicating that the subject vehicles were experiencing rapid loss of engine oil due to oil drain plug...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Hyundai Kona
Has the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA been recalled?
No, the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA have?
The 2018 HYUNDAI KONA has 66 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 9 involved crashes. 12 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
The 2018 HYUNDAI KONA does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA involve engine (18 complaints), unknown or other (12 complaints), unknown or other,engine (4 complaints). Other affected components include power train,engine, power train,engine,fuel/propulsion system, unknown or other,forward collision avoidance.
How many crash reports does the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA have?
There are 9 crash reports associated with the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA out of 66 total complaints (13.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA have?
There are 10 fire reports for the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA out of 66 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
12 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 66 complaints, 0 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA are: 1. ENGINE (18 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (12 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE (4 complaints), 4. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE (3 complaints), 5. POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (3 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 18 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
Be cautious of engine oil consumption and stalling issues. Regular maintenance is essential to ensure safety and reliability. The 2018 HYUNDAI KONA has 66 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
The 2018 HYUNDAI KONA receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 66 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 19 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Oil Consumption and Engine Stall.
What are the known issues with the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA?
Known issues with the 2018 HYUNDAI KONA include: Engine Oil Consumption, Engine Stall. These are based on patterns found across 66 NHTSA complaints.
What are the common engine issues with the 2018 Hyundai Kona?
Excessive oil consumption and engine stalling are the most common issues.
How often should I check my oil level?
Check your oil level regularly, especially if you notice it dropping quickly.
What should I do if my car starts stalling?
Have the car checked by a professional to identify and address the cause.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine oil consumption and stalling issues. Regular maintenance is essential to ensure safety and reliability.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Hyundai Kona
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Hyundai Kona. The data includes 66 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 9 reported crashes, 10 fire incidents, 12 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16