Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Ioniq 9 vs FORD F 150
How the Hyundai Ioniq 9 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 9 vs FORD F 150: The Ioniq 9 has 33 complaints per year, focusing on electrical and propulsion failures, while the F-150 has 1,131 per year, with transmission issues dominating. The Ioniq 9 has 2 recalls, the F-150 has 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Ioniq 9 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Ioniq 9
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is a new electric SUV, and its complaint history is short but concentrated. Owners report serious electrical and propulsion issues, including failures of the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) and sudden loss of power while driving. These are not minor annoyances; they affect the vehicle's ability to operate reliably and safely. With only 33 complaints in its first year, the pattern is still emerging, but the nature of the problems is concerning for early adopters.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a long-running, high-volume pickup with a decade of complaints. The dominant issues are transmission problems, particularly hard shifting and jerking, and electrical glitches that disable safety features. With over 11,000 complaints and 145 recalls, the F-150 has a well-documented history of reliability challenges, but its widespread use means many owners also have trouble-free experiences. The sheer volume of reports indicates systemic issues that buyers should investigate.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Ioniq 9 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 33 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 33.0 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 4 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 9
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM20
- 02FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM9
- 03POWER TRAIN6
- 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE5
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
Owners report the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failing, leading to 'Check Electrical System' warnings and, in some cases, a complete loss of propulsion while driving. This is a critical safety concern as it can leave you stranded or without power on the highway.
There are reports of sudden, unintended emergency braking and loss of propulsion at highway speeds. This is extremely dangerous and suggests a potential software or sensor malfunction that could cause rear-end collisions or other accidents.
The ICCU failure also manifests as a powertrain issue, with the car losing drive power. Additionally, drivers have noted that driver-assist features like Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keep Assist deactivate without warning, which can be disconcerting and reduce safety.
The Automatic Emergency Braking system has both false activations (braking for no reason) and failures to activate when needed. Owners report the system either slams on the brakes unexpectedly or fails to detect obstacles, undermining trust in the vehicle's safety systems.
“My 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 (Performance Calligraphy AWD), leased new in late April 2026 from Team Hyundai of Bend, OR, suffered an Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) failure at approximately 1500 miles in late June 2026, roughly two months into ownership. T…”
“On 8/3/26 my Ioniq 9 had a warning message to Check the Electrical System, but provided no additional information. I was able to drive the car home, anticipating that I be able to take it in to the Hyundai dealer where i purchased the vehicle. It should be no…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The most common issue is with the 10-speed automatic transmission (10R80), which owners describe as shifting hard, jerking, or clunking, especially between certain gears. Some have experienced a complete loss of power and the vehicle shutting off, which is a serious safety hazard.
Many owners report persistent warning messages like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre-Collision Assist Not Available' that appear every time they start the truck. These issues disable safety features and may require repeated dealer visits without a permanent fix.
Headlight problems are frequent, with recalls addressing issues that could reduce visibility. Owners have reported headlights that flicker, go out, or are misaligned, which can compromise nighttime driving safety.
Engine-related complaints include stalling, rough idling, and in some cases, catastrophic failures. While less frequent than transmission issues, engine problems can be costly and dangerous, especially if they occur at highway speeds.
“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 9 — 2 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 IONIQ 5 and 2026 IONIQ 9 vehicles. The high voltage battery system may contain an improperly tightened bus bar, which can cause a short-circuit.
The risk: An electrical short in the high voltage battery system increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the bus bar retention bolts and replace the battery system assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Ioniq 5 and 2026 Ioniq 9 vehicles. The fasteners for the rear suspension may loosen and detach, which can result in a loss of vehicle control.
The risk: A loss of vehicle control increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rear suspension fasteners and perform a rear vehicle alignment, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer serv…
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 9 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Ioniq 9 has far fewer complaints per year (33 vs. 1,131) and fewer recalls (2 vs. 145), but its issues are more severe in nature, involving sudden loss of power and braking. The Ford F-150's problems are more numerous but often relate to transmission harshness and electrical glitches that may not be immediately dangerous. In practice, the Ioniq 9's low volume means less data, but the reported failures are alarming for a new model.
Key differences
- The Ioniq 9 has a much lower complaint rate (33/yr) compared to the F-150 (1,131/yr), but its complaints are concentrated on safety-critical systems like propulsion and braking.
- The F-150's top issue is transmission harshness and failures, while the Ioniq 9's top issue is electrical system failures that can cause a loss of power.
- The Ioniq 9 has had 2 recalls in its first year, while the F-150 has had 145 recalls over 10 years, indicating a longer history of safety campaigns.
- The Ioniq 9's complaints include unintended emergency braking and failure of the AEB system, while the F-150's complaints include camera malfunctions that disable pre-collision assist.
- Check for any 'Check Electrical System' warnings or history of ICCU replacement; ask for service records.
- Test the Automatic Emergency Braking in a safe area to ensure it doesn't activate falsely or fail to respond.
- Test drive at various speeds to feel for hard shifts or jerks, especially between 4th-5th and 7th-8th gears.
- Look for any warning lights related to the front camera or pre-collision assist; these may indicate recurring electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the Ioniq 9: ask if the ICCU has been updated or replaced; check for open recalls.
- For the F-150: check the transmission fluid condition and service history; look for any TSBs or recalls related to the 10R80.
- For both: get a pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic who can scan for trouble codes.
- For the Ioniq 9: verify that all software updates are current, especially for driver-assist systems.
- For the F-150: test all safety features, including forward collision warning and lane keeping, to ensure they work.
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 9 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 33 | 24 |
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 9 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 vs FORD F 150
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 total complaints
- 33
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 total recalls
- 2
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 avg complaints/year
- 33.0
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Ioniq 9
- Hyundai Ioniq 9 top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN