Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Palisade vs Hyundai Ioniq
How the Hyundai Palisade and Hyundai Ioniq compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Hyundai Palisade vs Hyundai Ioniq: The Palisade averages 320 complaints per year with brake pedal sinking and engine stalling, while the Ioniq averages 92 complaints per year with electrical and transmission issues. The Palisade has 32 recalls; the Ioniq has 13. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Palisade or Hyundai Ioniq more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade is a large SUV that, based on NHTSA data, has a high complaint rate averaging 320 per year. Owners report serious brake failures where the pedal sinks to the floor, engine stalling at highway speeds, and seat belt/seat assembly issues that have prompted multiple recalls. Living with a Palisade may involve frequent dealer visits for safety-related defects.
Hyundai Ioniq
The Hyundai Ioniq is a compact hybrid/electric car with a lower complaint rate of about 92 per year. The main issues center on electrical system glitches, transmission hesitation or unintended mode changes, and engine problems causing rattling and loss of acceleration. While less problematic than the Palisade, owners still face powertrain and electronic reliability concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Palisade | Hyundai Ioniq |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,241 | 550 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 32 | 13 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 51 | 25 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 320.1 | 91.7 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 64 | 14 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
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 Palisade
- 01SERVICE BRAKES421
- 02SEAT BELTS377
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER352
- 04ENGINE265
- 05VISIBILITY/WIPER262
Owners report the brake pedal sinking to the floor while driving, causing delayed stopping. This is a critical safety issue that can lead to crashes.
Recalls for second- and third-row power seats lacking anti-pinch protection and seat belt buckle wiring issues. Owners complain the recall remedy is inadequate, leaving a safety hazard unresolved.
Sudden power loss, engine stalling at highway speeds, and violent shaking. Some owners report complete engine stalls while in motion, a dangerous failure pattern.
Reports of the accelerator pedal going to the floor without acceleration, and unresolved rear-seat safety hazards despite recall closure.
“2026 Hyundai Palisade SEL 8P AWD. Brake pedal sinks to floor when depressed while vehicle is in motion, causing vehicle to glide before stopping. Defect first noticed June 1, 2026 and confirmed June 2, 2026 at approximately 530 miles during a 34-mile round tr…”
Hyundai Ioniq
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM359
- 02POWER TRAIN100
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM97
- 04ENGINE55
- 05SERVICE BRAKES53
Frequent check engine lights related to auto hold and electronic parking brake malfunctions. Recalls cover traction battery, inverter, and onboard charger issues.
Transmission control module defects cause sluggish acceleration from a stop or unintended shifting from Drive to Sport mode while in motion.
Abnormal rattling sounds and failure to accelerate when pressing the pedal, often accompanied by a check engine light.
Recalls for hybrid propulsion system inverter and charging module problems, which can affect drivability and charging reliability.
“06/08/21 first day I brought my new car Hyundai Ioniq 2021 model at Hyundai Lincolnwood. After use the car about 2 months, the engine light has been showing up that something wrong about the auto hold and EPB. So I made an appointment for inspect in the next…”
“06/08/21 first day I brought my new car Hyundai Ioniq 2021 model at Hyundai Lincolnwood. After use the car about 2 months, the engine light has been showing up that something wrong about the auto hold and EPB. So I made an appointment for inspect in the next…”
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 Palisade — 32 recalls
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…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Palisade and 2026 Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with a Limited or Calligraphy trim package. The second and third row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat fun…
The risk: A person, especially a child, may become trapped by a rear powered seat, increasing the risk of injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised to exercise caution when operating the second and third row power seat functions until the repair is performed. Children are advised to not be in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operatio…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Hyundai Palisade and 2026 Hyundai Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with "Limited" and "Calligraphy" trim packages. The internal wiring within the third-row driver-side seat belt buckle may become damaged and result in a permanent display of…
The risk: A faulty seat belt status indicator may fail to alert occupants to an unfastened seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will install a wiring harness extension and replace the seat belt assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed beginning May 8, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Palisade vehicles. The instrument cluster assembly may have been manufactured with excessive adhesive, which can disable the instrument cluster display screen.
The risk: A disabled display screen will not show critical information, such as the meters, gauges, and warning lights, which can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the instrument cluster assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 230.
Hyundai Ioniq — 13 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Kona Electric and 2020 Ioniq Electric vehicles. The lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery may short-circuit.
The risk: An electrical short in the Li-ion battery increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the interim action is complete. Hyundai will notify owners, and as an interim action, owners have the option to follow provided instructions to perform a batt…
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 2022 Ioniq 5 vehicles. A software error in the Shifter Control Unit (SCU) may disengage the parking mechanism, which can allow the vehicle to rollaway.
The risk: Vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Drivers are recommended to use the Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) when parking their vehicles until the remedy has been performed. Dealers will update the Shifter Control Unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were maile…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Palisade or Hyundai Ioniq: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Ioniq has far fewer complaints per year (92 vs 320) and fewer recalls (13 vs 32). In practice, the Palisade presents more frequent and severe safety-related failures, while the Ioniq's issues are more electrical and powertrain-related but less likely to cause immediate danger.
Key differences
- Palisade has 3.5x more complaints per year than Ioniq (320 vs 92).
- Palisade brake pedal sinking to floor is a critical safety issue not reported on Ioniq.
- Ioniq electrical system issues (auto hold, EPB, battery) are less severe than Palisade's engine stalling.
- Palisade has 32 recalls vs Ioniq's 13, including unresolved seat belt/seat assembly recalls.
- Test the brake pedal for any sinking or softness during a test drive.
- Check for open recalls on the second- and third-row power seats and seat belt buckles.
- During test drive, check for hesitation or jerky acceleration from a stop (DCT issue).
- Verify that the auto hold and electronic parking brake functions work without warning lights.
Before you buy
- Check NHTSA.gov for open recalls on the specific VIN.
- Test drive at highway speeds to feel for engine hesitation or stalling.
- Inspect brake pedal feel and listen for unusual engine noises.
- For Ioniq, test transmission behavior in stop-and-go traffic.
- Ask for service records showing any previous complaint-related repairs.
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 Palisade | Hyundai Ioniq |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 284 | 421 |
| 2021 | 406 | 32 |
| 2020 | 506 | 1 |
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 Palisade or Hyundai Ioniq in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Palisade vs Hyundai Ioniq
- Hyundai Palisade total complaints
- 2,241
- Hyundai Ioniq total complaints
- 550
- Hyundai Palisade total recalls
- 32
- Hyundai Ioniq total recalls
- 13
- Hyundai Palisade avg complaints/year
- 320.1
- Hyundai Ioniq avg complaints/year
- 91.7
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Ioniq
- Hyundai Palisade top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- Hyundai Ioniq top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM