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Four occupants are safer than five in the Kona right now
Hyundai has recalled almost 48,000 Kona subcompact crossovers due to a safety flaw. One of the seat belt buckles in these vehicles could fail to properly restrain a passenger in a crash, which could increase the risk of injury in a crash. It’s the third recall to affect the 2026 Hyundai Kona this year. The most recent recall before this was in February, which related to steering knuckles that could be faulty. The new seat belt recall was filed earlier in July—here’s everything owners need to know.
Related: Hyundai Recalls 2026 Kona SUVs Over Steering Failure Risk
Hyundai Kona Seat Belt Recall
The Kona’s seat belt buckle recall specifically affects the rear center seat belt. Fortunately, this is likely to be a seat that’s not occupied as frequently.
“The rear center seat belt buckle assemblies in the subject vehicles may have been manufactured outside of specification, which could adversely affect seat belt performance during a crash,” states the recall report posted on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.
It further explains that the supplier’s stamping die was not properly maintained, leading to wear from overuse. If the seat belt doesn’t operate as it should, the occupant in this seat may not be properly restrained in a crash.
The following models and model years are affected:
- 2026 Hyundai Kona (47,733 units)
- 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric (16 units)
Hyundai dealers will inspect the 47,749 vehicles and replace the seat belt buckle assembly if necessary at no charge to customers. Any owners who incurred out-of-pocket expenses to fix the faulty component will also be reimbursed.
Related: The Hyundai Kona Has Many Trims, But Only One You Should Buy
Next Steps For Kona Owners
Hyundai has advised owners not to seat anyone in the middle back seat until the recall remedy can be completed. Owner notification letters will be sent out on September 11, 2026, with the recall remedy to follow sometime after that date.
Using their vehicle identification numbers, owners of relevant Kona model years can now visit the NHTSA’s website to check if their vehicle is involved in this recall. They may also contact Hyundai’s customer care at 1-855-371-9460 for more information.
The current Kona was redesigned for the 2024 model year. It’s one of the most affordable Hyundais on sale, with a starting price of $25,500. The electric Kona EV is no longer on sale for the 2026 model year, but Hyundai plans to bring this derivative back for the 2027 model year.
Besides the seat belt buckle and steering knuckle recalls, the other 2026 Kona recall was for an instrument panel display failure. That recall affected several Hyundai models in January.
While concerning, the seat belt recall poses no risk to Kona drivers or passengers as long as nobody is seated in the middle rear seat. The Kona is otherwise a reliable a high-tech crossover and a solid buy in its segment.
Related: Hyundai’s Next Kona Could Be Its Boldest Redesign Yet
