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2023 Hyundai Kona

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

61 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 11, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Why caution?

Has a "park it / park outside" recall, the most serious kind. Verify the fix was done before buying.

Electrical system problems dominate (39% of complaints, typically reported near 8k miles).

Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)85
Severity (30%)77
Recall load (20%)90
Trend (10%)65

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20222026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2023 Hyundai Kona, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miElectrical system~8k mi · 24 reportsSpeed control~8k mi · 7 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Driver assistance (12) · Transmission & drivetrain (10) · Engine (6)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Electrical system

39%

24 complaints · typically near 8k mi · 9 in the last 2 years

Rear latch unlocks while vehicle is running or not running up to 30 times at once. Rear latch unlocks without key being in vehicle. This has been reported to Hyundai M…

Driver assistance

20%

12 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years

Theres more than three issues going on. The car has shut off while driving at least 50 mph on the highway. Currently there's no safety features working on the car.

Transmission & drivetrain

16%

10 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years

My car intermittently loses power when I’m driving and I almost got hit yesterday.

Speed control

11%

7 complaints · typically near 8k mi · 1 in the last 2 years

This has happened 3 times and I’ve only owned the car since Sept 2023, the first time was Feb 4 2024, then Feb 28th and March 11, 2024, when I am trying to accelerate …

Recalls (1)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Park itPower Train · 23V526000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.

Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 246.

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 2023 Hyundai KONA beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2023? See how every Kona model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2023 Hyundai Kona 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.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2023 Hyundai Kona as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.