Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Ioniq vs Toyota Camry
How the Hyundai Ioniq and Toyota Camry 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 vs Toyota Camry: The Ioniq averages 14.7 complaints per year, far fewer than the Camry's 208.1. However, Ioniq owners report dangerous unintended acceleration and brake failures, while Camry issues include key jams and moonroof shattering. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Ioniq or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Ioniq
The Hyundai Ioniq has a low complaint rate of 14.7 per year, but owners report serious issues with unintended acceleration and braking failures. Electrical system problems, often tied to dealer service, and powertrain glitches that cause loss of power are recurring themes. While not high-volume, the failures reported are safety-critical.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry has a much higher complaint rate of 208.1 per year, with widespread powertrain issues like keys stuck in ignition and rollaway risks. Engine noise, brake grinding, and spontaneous moonroof shattering are also common. The sheer volume suggests a less reliable ownership experience overall.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Ioniq | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 88 Better | 2,081 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 3 Better | 28 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 Better | 177 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 14.7 Better | 208.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 10 Better | 161 |
| 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
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM34
- 02SERVICE BRAKES21
- 03VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL15
- 04POWER TRAIN12
- 05FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE12
Owners report the 12V battery hold-down bracket left unsecured after replacement, causing loose terminals and potential electrical failures. This reflects poor dealer service quality.
The car continues to move or accelerate even when the brake pedal is depressed, leading to loss of control. This is a dangerous unintended acceleration issue.
The vehicle independently accelerates in reverse without driver input, causing crashes. This is a critical safety defect.
Dashboard warning lights come on, the car rumbles, and it fails to switch between EV and hybrid modes, resulting in loss of power on the highway.
“Following a 12V auxiliary battery replacement at Dick's Hillsboro Hyundai [XXX] , April 3, 2026), the battery hold-down bracket was left completely unsecured. The retaining bolts were absent, (later found loose in the cargo tray area). The battery terminal co…”
“Supplemental to my complaint filed April 18, 2026 regarding Dick's Hillsboro Hyundai (dealer code OR035). The dealership's Service Manager (Robin Farr) provided me with an HMA training report from Hyundai's internal system. Every staff member is listed at "Ce…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN384
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER332
- 03ENGINE309
- 04SERVICE BRAKES288
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM233
The engine can be turned off and key removed while still in Drive, allowing the car to roll away. Also, the ignition key gets stuck and can only be removed by disconnecting the battery.
The moonroof spontaneously shatters while driving, sounding like a gunshot, with no external cause. This is a sudden glass failure hazard.
Excessive engine noise and a musty smell in the trunk, along with rust spots, indicate potential water intrusion or corrosion issues.
Brakes grind and thump, and the braking system erroneously activates, causing unintended deceleration. This can lead to rear-end collisions.
“The vehicle allows the engine to be turned off, key removed, while the vehicle is still in drive with no warning lights or sounds. I have tested and the vehicle can roll away. Complained to the toyota dealership and they said the service tech consulted with t…”
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
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 — 3 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid and 2018 Ioniq Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. The Main Relay within the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) may have inadequate connections between its contacts, causing increased electrical resistance.
The risk: The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the Power Relay Assembly (PRA) for damage. If no damage is found, the main relay will be replaced. If damage is found, the PRA will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of c…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ioniq HEV and Ionic PHV vehicles previously recalled under recall number 18V-704. The Power Relay Assembly (PRA) located underneath the rear seat may overheat.
The risk: An overheated PRA increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the main relay or PRA, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 23, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall i…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Ioniq electric vehicles. An unstable electrical ground may cause the vehicle to enter a fail-safe mode with reduced acceleration and power. In certain conditions while in fail-safe mode, the vehicle may accelerate after the gas pedal is…
The risk: Unexpected acceleration following gas pedal release can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the EPCU (Electric Power Control Unit) software and repair the ground wiring, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 9, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyund…
Toyota Camry — 28 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Ioniq or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Ioniq has far fewer complaints per year (14.7 vs 208.1), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Ioniq's problems are more safety-critical, involving unintended acceleration and braking failures. The Camry's higher volume suggests more frequent but less severe issues overall.
Key differences
- Ioniq has 14.7 complaints per year vs Camry's 208.1, a 14x difference.
- Ioniq's top issues are unintended acceleration and brake failure; Camry's are key/ignition problems and moonroof shattering.
- Ioniq has 3 recalls; Camry has 28 recalls, indicating more widespread manufacturing issues.
- Camry has 1 death reported; Ioniq has 0 deaths.
- Check for proper battery hold-down bracket installation and secure terminals.
- Test brake pedal response and ensure no unintended acceleration when shifting into reverse.
- Verify the ignition key can be removed only when in Park and that the shift interlock works.
- Inspect the moonroof for cracks or signs of stress, and listen for brake grinding noises.
Before you buy
- Test drive both vehicles, focusing on brake feel and acceleration response.
- Check NHTSA recall status for each VIN and ensure all recalls are performed.
- Inspect the Ioniq's battery hold-down and the Camry's moonroof for damage.
- Ask for service records, especially for brake and powertrain repairs.
- Read owner forums for real-world experiences with these specific model years.
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 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 21 | 57 |
| 2021 | 15 | 154 |
| 2020 | 0 | 264 |
| 2019 | 26 | 387 |
| 2018 | 17 | 728 |
| 2017 | 9 | 148 |
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 or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Ioniq vs Toyota Camry
- Hyundai Ioniq total complaints
- 88
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,081
- Hyundai Ioniq total recalls
- 3
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 28
- Hyundai Ioniq avg complaints/year
- 14.7
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 208.1
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Hyundai Ioniq top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN