HyundaiKona2021Overview/hyundai/kona/2021/base/

2021 Hyundai Kona

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Kona.

The 2021 Hyundai Kona is defined in part by an engine that draws the lion's share of owner attention, with 112 total complaints filed across the model year and the engine itself as the dominant trouble area alongside a single recall on record. Mechanically, that engine is serviced by 4.7 quarts of oil and accepts 5W-30, 5W-40, or 10W-30 viscosities, while the broader model lineage shows a clear reliability arc across the 2018-2026 window. This particular year sits well below the 2019 high of 184 complaints and well above the 2026 low of just 6, marking it as a transitional point where Hyundai's early issues were easing but had not yet reached the refinement evident in later production runs.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.7 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque80.0-94.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage. battery, OE oil filter 2630035505. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI Refer to the appropriate service information for options and battery usage.OEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLOWOEM · verified
Tire size235/45R18/XL 98VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter2630035505
Battery37110F9620
Front wiper blades99H09AKA26H alt 00F09AU016HY

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length164.2 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height59.1 in
Wheelbase102.4 in
Curb weight3084 lb
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)56/44

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Kona of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.8–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.80 sec — 2022 N
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2020Ultimate 1.6T 1.6L Turbo I-46.40 sec15.10 sec175 hpFWD
2022N 2.0L Turbo I-44.80 sec13.40 sec276 hpFWD
2022N 2.0L Turbo I-45.30 sec13.90 sec276 hpFWD
2022N 2.0L Turbo I-45.30 sec13.70 sec276 hpFWD
2022Electric Limited Elec 150-kW 64-kWh6.20 sec14.70 sec201 hpFWD
2022N Line 1.6L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.70 sec195 hpAWD
2022N Line 1.6L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.70 sec195 hpAWD
2019Ultimate 1.6T 1.6L Turbo I-46.00 sec14.70 sec175 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.7 qt of 5W-30 / 5W-40 / 10W-30 engine oil, GL-5 · 75W-90 in the differential, DOT 4 · DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80.0-94.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidGL-4 · SAE 70W
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.1 qt
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity7.0 qt
Brake FluidDOT 4 · DOT 4
Brake FluidDOT 4 · DOT 4
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 75W-90
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 75W-90

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts145.0-152.0 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new bolts only.
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new bolts only.
Engine Flywheel Bolts53.0-56.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14.0-17.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts26.0-30.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14.0-17.0 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts25.0-29.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill PlugFinal Drive: 29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFinal Drive: 36.0-51.0 ft-lbs
Differential Fill PlugFinal Drive: 29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain PlugFinal Drive: 36.0-51.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts80.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugUse a new gasket: 29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain PlugUse a new gasket: 29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill PlugUse a new gasket: 29.0-43.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)630 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)680 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)640 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (Secondary Under Load)680 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity.93-1.04 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type30
Oil Capacity3.89-4.57 oz

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)49.0-53.0 psi
RPM49.0-53.0 @ Idle rpm
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)70.0-75.0 psi
RPM70.0-75.0 @ Idle rpm

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque16.0-23.0 ft-lbs / 0.080
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 58.0-; Rear: 47.0-
ABS Sensor Torque6.2
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 15; Rear: .315
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0002; Rear: .0003
Maximum Rotor Runout.0016"
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 15; Rear: .331
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: .0002; Rear: .0003

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°, Step 3: 90°22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
124.0-27.0 ft. lbs., Step 2:90-95°, Step 3: 90-95°24–27 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 42,000 mi; coolant every 24,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 24,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 6,000 miAir Conditioning System (inspect) · Air Intake System (inspect) · Battery (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect)
Every 12,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Filter (inspect)
Every 24,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 42,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2021 Kona sits near the middle of a clear downward trend in consumer complaints, dropping from a peak of 184 complaints in 2019 to just 112 in 2021 and continuing to fall to 6 complaints by 2026. Recall activity also eases overall, with only one recall in 2021 compared with two in 2020 and three in 2024 and 2026, while investigations remain low (one in 2021 versus two‑plus in earlier years). The primary complaint categories for 2021 are engine‑related (54 reports) and a smaller number of power‑train issues, but the data does not specify the root causes of these problems. Crash‑related complaints are minimal (2) and fire‑related complaints are also low (3), indicating no emerging safety pattern for that model year. **Takeaway:** 2021 shows a marked improvement in both complaints and recalls relative to earlier years, making it a comparatively solid choice within the generation.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
64
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
112
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 112 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine54
Unknown Or Other11
Power Train7
Power Train,Engine4
Unknown Or Other,Engine4
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System2
Forward Collision Avoidance2
Wheels2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V301000EngineReported 28/04/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Elantra, 2019-2021 Kona and Veloster vehicles equipped with 2.0L Nu MPI engines. The piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which could… Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine, free of charge. In addition, Hyundai will deploy Piston Ring Noise Sensing System (PNSS) software. Owner notification…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 64 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
Z07 OL2026-05-15Unknown Or OtherCertain 2021-2023 model year Kona, 2021-2023 model year Kona Electric, and 2022-2023…
26-EE-003H TSB2026-04-17Electrical SystemSome vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the…
26-BE-010H DN2026-04-17Unknown Or OtherSome vehicles may have an inoperable horn that may be caused by foreign substances…
26-BE-010H TSB2026-04-17Unknown Or OtherSome vehicles may have an inoperable horn that may be caused by foreign substances…
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Kona. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2021 Kona take?

4.7 qt of 5W-30 is preferred. 5W-40 may be used if 5W-30 is unavailable. Temperatures above 0°F: 10W-30; Temperatures above 14°F: 15W-40; Temperatures above 23°F: 20W-50, per the factory manual.

Does the 2021 Kona have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.