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2018 Hyundai Kona N
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
72 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 14, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (54% of complaints, typically reported near 92k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file for this model year, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2018 Hyundai Kona N, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Transmission & drivetrain (10) · Electrical system (8)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
54%39 complaints · typically near 92k mi · 24 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Kona. The contact stated that while driving it began to smoke, a noise was hear, put in neutral to coast down a hill and had to pull th…”
Transmission & drivetrain
14%10 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“The vehicle suddenly stalled while driving on the highway at normal speed without warning. The engine lost power completely, creating a dangerous situation and a risk …”
Electrical system
11%8 complaints
“I was sold a car with 1 unprepared safety recall and 22 technical service bulletins. In addition to was previously salvaged sue to collision, hail, flood and fire. The…”
Fuel system
6%4 complaints · 2 in the last 2 years
“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…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2018 Hyundai KONA N beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every Kona N model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Hyundai Kona N against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.