Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Honda Accord
How the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord: The Ioniq 5 averages 264.8 complaints per year, with 983 electrical system complaints, while the Accord averages 443.8, with 985 engine complaints. The Ioniq 5's sudden power loss is a safety concern, but the Accord has more crash-related incidents (160 vs 26). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Honda Accord 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 all-electric crossover that, in ownership terms, offers a modern, tech-forward driving experience but has shown a troubling pattern of sudden power loss and electrical failures. Owners frequently report the car becoming inoperable without warning, often due to issues with the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) or the 12V battery, leading to towing and dealership visits. While the vehicle has a relatively low complaint count per year, the nature of these failures—occurring mid-drive—poses significant safety concerns for daily use.
Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a long-standing midsize sedan known for its practicality and efficiency, but the data reveals a mixed reliability picture. With a higher average of complaints per year, owners report a range of issues from engine problems and electrical glitches to false activations of forward collision avoidance systems. While many complaints are not catastrophic, the sheer volume and the presence of crash-related incidents and injuries indicate that some issues can escalate, making thorough pre-purchase inspection essential.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,324 Better | 4,438 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 21 Better | 38 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 26 Better | 160 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 264.8 Better | 443.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 9 Better | 144 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 3 |
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
The most common issue, with 983 complaints, involves sudden loss of power and complete failure of the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), often leaving the car inoperable and requiring a tow. Owners also report 12V battery failures that cause the car to stop unexpectedly, sometimes without working hazard lights.
With 272 complaints, this area overlaps with electrical issues, as owners describe sudden propulsion failure while driving, even at partial battery charge. The car may display warnings like 'Stop vehicle and check power supply' and lose all power, creating a dangerous situation on the road.
248 complaints highlight drivetrain problems, including stuttering or loss of power when accelerating, especially after fast DC charging in hot weather. Some owners report error messages related to the drivetrain electrical system, indicating potential overheating or software issues.
“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…”
Honda Accord
- 01ENGINE985
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM863
- 03FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE821
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER725
- 05SERVICE BRAKES592
With 985 complaints, engine issues are the most frequent. Owners report unusual noises, loss of power, and warning lights for brakes, ABS, and hill descent system, sometimes leading to reduced speed and potential stalling. These problems can occur even in relatively new vehicles.
863 complaints include issues like TPMS warnings that lead to tire failures, rodent damage to wiring harnesses, and other electrical glitches. Some problems affect critical systems, such as the camshaft position sensor, which can impact engine performance.
821 complaints describe the system activating unexpectedly, causing the car to brake suddenly without obstacles, or displaying intermittent warnings for adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. These false activations can be startling and potentially lead to rear-end collisions.
“I purchased this vehicle at 0 miles in July 2025 from Honda Accord in Pensacola Florida. I reported in July 2025 that there was a noise and I was unhappy with the vehicle and would like to exchange the vehicle within the 30 days months later, the noise got lo…”
“Vehicle drove normally in the morning commute. In the afternoon commute it started normally and as i approached highway speeds the alarms started showing up. the Brake, hill descent system, abs, critical failure. the vehicle started losing speed and could not…”
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…
Honda Accord — 38 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Honda Accord Hybrid vehicles. Due to a software error, the integrated control module (ICM) central processing unit (CPU) may reset while driving, causing a loss of drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will reprogram the ICM CPU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is TN2. Vehicle Identificati…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2026 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2025-2026 CR-V Fuel Cell EV vehicles. When using the tire repair kit, pressure may build within the sealant bottle, causing the bottle cap to detach.
The risk: A detached bottle cap can become a projectile and strike the user or others nearby, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the tire repair kit nozzle or sealant bottle, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an…
The risk: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Honda Accord: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Ioniq 5 has fewer complaints per year (264.8) compared to the Honda Accord (443.8), but the Ioniq 5's issues are more likely to cause sudden, dangerous loss of power. The Accord's higher complaint volume includes many non-critical electrical and sensor glitches, but also some serious engine and brake problems. In practice, the Ioniq 5 may require more frequent towing due to electrical failures, while the Accord may have more annoying but less immobilizing issues.
Key differences
- The Ioniq 5's most critical issue is sudden loss of power due to ICCU or 12V battery failures, which can happen while driving and leave you stranded.
- The Accord's most common complaints involve engine noises and false activations of forward collision avoidance, which can be unnerving but are less likely to leave you immobile.
- The Ioniq 5 has a higher proportion of electrical system complaints (74% of total) compared to the Accord (19%), indicating a more systemic electrical problem.
- The Accord has a higher number of crash-related complaints (160 vs 26) and injuries (144 vs 9), suggesting that some of its issues may lead to more severe outcomes.
- Check for any history of ICCU replacement or 12V battery issues; ask for service records and ensure recalls are performed.
- Test the car's ability to hold charge and look for any warning messages about 'check power supply' during a test drive.
- Inspect the engine for unusual noises and check for any pending recalls related to fuel pump or brake control unit.
- Test the forward collision avoidance system in a safe area to see if it activates without obstacles, and check for any warning lights on the dashboard.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and verify that all recalls have been addressed for the specific model year.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the electrical system for the Ioniq 5 and the engine and sensors for the Accord.
- During a test drive, simulate highway speeds and sudden stops to check for any loss of power or false braking.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for any repairs related to the ICCU or 12V battery on the Ioniq 5, and for engine or sensor issues on the Accord.
- Consider purchasing an extended warranty or roadside assistance plan to cover potential breakdowns.
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 | Honda Accord |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 23 | 5 |
| 2025 | 292 | 101 |
| 2024 | 222 | 214 |
| 2023 | 385 | 224 |
| 2022 | 402 | 238 |
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 Honda Accord in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Honda Accord
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 total complaints
- 1,324
- Honda Accord total complaints
- 4,438
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 total recalls
- 21
- Honda Accord total recalls
- 38
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 avg complaints/year
- 264.8
- Honda Accord avg complaints/year
- 443.8
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Honda Accord top complaint area
- ENGINE