Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs FORD F 150
How the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs FORD F 150: The Ioniq 5 has 264.8 complaints per year versus the F-150's 1131.1, but Ioniq 5 owners report sudden power loss from ICCU failures, while F-150 owners face transmission harshness. Both have recalls, but the Ioniq 5's issues are more safety-critical. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 is an electric crossover that, in ownership terms, promises low running costs and modern tech, but the complaint data reveals a pattern of sudden, sometimes dangerous power losses. Owners report the car shutting down or losing propulsion while driving, often tied to the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) or 12V battery failures. These events can leave you stranded and require towing, which is a serious reliability concern for a daily driver.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup known for capability and utility, but the complaint data shows a high volume of issues, especially with the 10-speed automatic transmission. Owners describe hard shifts, jerking, and occasional loss of power, which can be alarming and potentially unsafe in traffic. Electrical glitches and lighting problems also appear frequently, adding to the ownership headaches.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,324 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 21 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 26 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 264.8 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM983
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM272
- 03POWER TRAIN248
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER118
- 05ENGINE115
Owners report sudden and complete failure of the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), which can render the car inoperable without warning. Also, 12V battery failures cause the car to stop completely, with no warning lights or tail lights, creating a dangerous situation.
Sudden propulsion failure while driving, even at moderate battery charge, leads to loss of power and the need for towing. This is often linked to the same ICCU issue or other electrical faults.
The infamous 'Stop vehicle and check power supply' warning appears, followed by the car becoming inoperable, requiring ICCU replacement. Some owners also report drivetrain issues after fast DC charging in hot weather, causing stuttering and power loss.
“On June 13, 2026, my 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 experienced a sudden and dangerous propulsion failure while in active motion. The vehicle had approximately 9,447 miles on it and was at 58% battery charge at the time of the incident. The vehicle was leased in Januar…”
“On [XXX], my 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 experienced a sudden and complete failure of the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU). The failure rendered the vehicle inoperable without warning, requiring it to be towed to a dealership. The vehicle is currently located…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard and delayed shifts, jerking, and clunking between gears. Some owners report sudden loss of power and vehicle shutdown, which can be dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck is started. These can be persistent and may affect safety features.
Headlight problems are common, with owners reporting failures that reduce visibility at night, increasing the risk of accidents.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 — 21 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022-2024 IONIQ 5, 2023-2024 IONIQ 6, Genesis GV60, Genesis GV70 "Electrified," and Genesis G80 "Electrified" vehicles. The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may become damaged and stop charging the 12-Volt battery, which can result in a lo…
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 24V-868. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed. Dealers will inspect and replace the ICCU and its fuse, as necessary. In addition, dealers will…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022-2024 IONIQ 5, 2023-2025 IONIQ 6, Genesis GV60, Genesis GV70 "Electrified," and Genesis G80 "Electrified" vehicles. The Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) may become damaged and stop charging the 12-volt battery, which can result in a lo…
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the ICCU and its fuse, as necessary. In addition, dealers will update the ICCU software. All repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 20, 2024. Owners may co…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Ioniq 5 vehicles. The high voltage battery cells may contain misaligned electrodes, which can lead to a fire while parked or driving.
The risk: A fire increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures and limit their charge to a maximum of 80% until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the high voltage battery system assembly, free of charge. Owner notification l…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel displa…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Ioniq 5 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has far fewer complaints per year (264.8) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Ioniq 5's problems are often severe, involving sudden power loss, which can be more dangerous than the F-150's transmission harshness. In practice, the Ioniq 5 may have fewer overall issues, but the nature of its failures demands attention.
Key differences
- The Ioniq 5's most critical failures involve the electrical system, specifically the ICCU and 12V battery, leading to sudden shutdowns. The F-150's top issue is the 10-speed transmission, causing hard shifts and occasional power loss.
- The Ioniq 5 has a much lower complaint rate per year (264.8) than the F-150 (1131.1), but the Ioniq 5's complaints are concentrated in a few areas, while the F-150's are spread across many components.
- The F-150 has more crash-related complaints (328) and injuries (287) compared to the Ioniq 5 (26 and 9), but that may reflect higher sales volume and different usage patterns.
- The Ioniq 5's recalls focus on battery and electrical issues, while the F-150's recalls cover a wider range including lighting, engine, and seats.
- Check for any open recalls related to the ICCU or 12V battery, and ask if the ICCU has been replaced or updated.
- Test the car's ability to hold charge and look for any warning messages about electrical system or power supply during a test drive.
- During a test drive, pay close attention to transmission shifts, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Check if the truck has any outstanding recalls for transmission or electrical issues, and ask about the transmission's service history.
Before you buy
- Obtain the vehicle's NHTSA recall history and ensure all recalls have been addressed.
- For the Ioniq 5, ask about the status of the ICCU and 12V battery; request service records for any replacements.
- For the F-150, test drive at various speeds and listen for transmission noises; check for any warning lights on the dash.
- Have a trusted mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the specific problem areas mentioned.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty that covers electrical and transmission components.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 23 | 24 |
| 2025 | 292 | 329 |
| 2024 | 222 | 617 |
| 2023 | 385 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 402 | 3432 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Hyundai Ioniq 5 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs FORD F 150
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 total complaints
- 1,324
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 total recalls
- 21
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 avg complaints/year
- 264.8
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN