HyundaiKona2018Overview/hyundai/kona/2018/base/

2018 Hyundai Kona

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2018 Kona.

Body SUV

The 2018 Hyundai Kona is a subcompact SUV built on Hyundai’s modern platform and powered by a gasoline engine that, while offering the expected versatility of the segment, also emerged as the primary source of owner feedback in its inaugural year. Across the 2018‑2026 model span the Kona recorded a total of 73 owner complaints for this year, with no manufacturer recalls, positioning it as a relatively trouble‑free introduction compared with the peak of 185 complaints seen in 2019 and the low of just six in 2026. This complaint trajectory indicates that the 2018 model sits near the lower‑end of the Kona’s reliability spectrum, suggesting that early‑year issues were modest and have been progressively resolved in subsequent iterations.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192018

Quick specs

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

Lug nut torque79-94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses 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.

Tail / brake / turnLOWOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/60R16OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6.5; Optional: 7.0, 7.5 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 weight3256 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.

6.6–9.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 2018 Ultimate 1.6T
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2018Ultimate 1.6T 1.6L Turbo I-46.60 sec15.20 sec175 hpAWD
2018Ultimate 1.6T 1.6L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.50 sec175 hpAWD
2018Ultimate 1.6T 1.6L Turbo I-47.50 sec15.90 sec175 hpAWD
2018SE 2.0L I-48.30 sec16.30 sec147 hpFWD
2018SEL 2.0L I-49.20 sec17.00 sec147 hpAWD
2019Ultimate 1.6T 1.6L Turbo I-46.00 sec14.70 sec175 hpFWD
2019Electric Ultimate Elec 150-kW 64-kWh6.40 sec15.00 sec201 hpFWD
2019Electric Ultimate Elec 150-kW 64-kWh6.40 sec15.00 sec201 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Torque lug nuts to 79-94 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Engine torques

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts145.0-152.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts145-152 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new bolts only, do not reuse old bolts.
Engine Flywheel Bolts53.0-56.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts87.0-94.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts14-17 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts79-94 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)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (Secondary Under Load)100 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerHyundai
Spark Plug Gap.028-.031 in
Spark Plug Torque11-18 ft-lbs

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)70
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)49.0-53.0 psi

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs.13–16 ft. lbs
290.0
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs.13–16 ft. lbs
288.0-92.0
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep New cylinder head bolts must be installed.

124.0-27.0 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
290 degrees-95 degrees90 degrees
390 degrees-95 degrees; Apply liquid gasket on the edge of the cylinder block and cylinder head gasket. Loctite 5900H or equivalent.90 degrees
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
124-27 ft. lbs.24–27 ft. lbs
2Turn 90-95 degrees90–95 degrees
3Turn 90-95
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
113.0-16.0 ft. lbs.13–16 ft. lbs
290.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
220.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
3120.0-125.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 3 stages
111.0 ft. lbs.11 ft. lbs
220.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
3120.0-125.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
2120.0-125.0
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 2 stages
120.0-23.0 ft. lbs.20–23 ft. lbs
2120.0-125.0

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 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 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 Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 12,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Driveshaft (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Canister Filter (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 24,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Transfer Case Assembly (inspect fluid level) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
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 2018 Hyundai Kona, as the launch year, recorded 73 complaints—significantly fewer than the 2019 peak of 185 but higher than every subsequent year through 2026, indicating that early issues were concentrated in the first two model years before a steady decline. It had zero recalls, yet the 94 technical service bulletins (the highest in the dataset) and one investigation suggest that many problems were being identified and addressed through dealer-level fixes rather than formal safety campaigns. Engine-related complaints dominate at 21, and the 10 fire complaints are a notable concern, though the data does not specify a root cause. While the absence of recalls might seem positive, the high TSB count and the spike in complaints the following year imply that 2018 models may have unresolved teething issues that later years rectified through recalls and refinements. Consequently, a used 2018 Kona is a riskier choice compared to later model years with lower complaint volumes and more mature corrective actions.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
94
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
73
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 10 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 73 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine21
Unknown Or Other12
Power Train,Engine4
Unknown Or Other,Engine4
Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Unknown Or Other,Forward Collision Avoidance2
Air Bags2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 94 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
26-EE-003H TSB2026-04-17Electrical SystemSome vehicles may exhibit difficulty starting in cold weather. This bulletin provides the…
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
P33 OL2025-12-19Electrical SystemIn response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social…
TRW Settlement DCS2025-12-18Air BagsA Class Action settlement regarding the TRW Airbag was recently decided. Based on the…

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

Does the 2018 Kona have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.