The Hyundai Kona N spans 2022–2026 with 3 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2022, 2023, 2026 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2024, 2025, 2026. It delivers up to 23 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Hyundai Kona N is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2022 to 2026 across multiple generations.
How to read a Hyundai Kona N VIN — every digit explained
Every Hyundai Kona N carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Hyundai and the country it was built in (real Hyundai codes below).
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Kona N.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
- South KoreaKM8 · KMF · KMH · KMT · KMU · KPH
- USA5NM · 5NP · 5NT · U5Y
- SingaporePFD
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your Kona N, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Hyundai Kona N have?
The Hyundai Kona N has 3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2022–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2023 Hyundai Kona N recalls 1
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump:control/drive Module
What's wrong. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk. A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning September 9, 2024. Some interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 262 and 023G.
2022 Hyundai Kona N recalls 2
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump:control/drive Module
What's wrong. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2022 Veloster N, 2019-2023 Genesis G70, 2022-2023 Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk. A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will update engine control module software. In addition, dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump assembly, as necessary. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning September 9, 2024. Some interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 262 and 023G.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
What's wrong. Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, Veloster N, 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N vehicles. The vehicle's "fail-safe" limited-mobility drive mode may be impaired, when prompted by a transmission oil pump malfunction, which can result in a complete loss of drive power.
Risk. Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix. Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission, as necessary. Dealers will also update the transmission control unit software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 10, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 236.
Best and worst years for the Hyundai Kona N
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 5 tracked years, the worst years are 2022, 2023, 2026 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2024, 2025, 2026.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Kona N | Electrical System | Avoid | |
| 2023 Kona N | Engine | Avoid | |
| 2024 Kona N | — | Best | |
| 2025 Kona N | — | Best | |
| 2026 Kona N | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Hyundai Kona N problems?
The most-reported Hyundai Kona N problems are Engine (6 reports), Wheels (1 reports) and Gasoline (1 reports) — out of 11 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Hyundai Kona N specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Hyundai Kona N. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Hyundai Kona N window sticker.
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Hyundai Kona N cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Kona N holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 99 cu ft of passenger volume and 14 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Hyundai Kona N tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Hyundai Kona N get?
The Hyundai Kona N returns up to 23 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $3,350/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2023 Hyundai Kona N (2L 4-cyl) gets 23 mpg combined and costs about $3,350/yr to fuel, emitting 396 g/mi CO₂ (GHG 5/10, smog 3/10) — about $5,750 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Kona N | 20 | 27 | $3,350 | 396 | 3/10 | 2L 4-cyl | |
| 2022 Kona N | 20 | 27 | $3,350 | 396 | 3/10 | 2L 4-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Kona N stacks up against the most fuel-efficient SUVs, or calculate this Kona N's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Hyundai Kona N have? Power & range
The Hyundai Kona N is offered with 1 powertrain — 2L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4-cyl | 2.0L · 4-cyl | Automatic (AM-S8) | FWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Hyundai Kona N cost to own?
A used Hyundai Kona N sells for a median of about $21,095 for a 2023 — most listed between $21,095 and $21,095, from 10 real US listings we track. That real market price is what depreciation eats into, so it's the true anchor of the cost to own:
| Year | Typical price | Market range | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Kona N | $21,095–$21,095 | 10 |
For every model year mileage-adjusted, trade-in vs private-party vs dealer pricing and a good-deal check, see what a Kona N is worth today, or browse used-market prices for SUVs.
A Hyundai Kona N depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Kona N loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $16,750 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Kona N ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
How much is a Hyundai Kona N to insure?
A Hyundai Kona N costs about $1,810 a year to insure for a typical driver on full coverage — roughly 26% above the average car. That's from its real HLDI insurance-loss index (126, where 100 = average car); your own rate moves with state, age, record and coverage.
Estimate = US-average premium × the Kona N's HLDI loss index. See Hyundai insurance cost by model, cost by state, or compare any car.
Is the Hyundai Kona N safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Kona N yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Hyundai Kona N last?
A well-maintained Hyundai Kona N typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Hyundai Kona N’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Kona N’s VIN free →All Hyundai Kona N model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Hyundai Kona N — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Kona N | 0 | — | |
| 2025 Kona N | 0 | — | |
| 2024 Kona N | 0 | — | |
| 2023 Kona N | 1 recall | — | |
| 2022 Kona N | 2 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Kona N?
By owner-complaint volume, 2022, 2023, 2026 drew the most reports. 2024, 2025, 2026 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Kona N have?
3 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2022–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Hyundai recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Kona N get?
Up to 23 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Kona N last?
A well-maintained Kona N typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Kona N reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Kona N is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Hyundai Kona N warranty?
New Hyundai models carry a 5 years / 60,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 10 years / 100,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Hyundai dealer.
Where is the Hyundai Kona N made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Kona N's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Hyundai may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the Kona N have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.