Hyundai Ioniq Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Hyundai Ioniq options? We analyzed 6 model years (2017–2022) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Hyundai Ioniq has 566 owner complaints and 13 safety recalls across model years 2017–2022. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2022 drew the most complaints; 2018 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Hyundai
- Model
- Ioniq
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2022 (6 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 566
- Safety recall campaigns
- 13
- Crash-related complaints
- 25
- Fire-related complaints
- 5
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2022 (433 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2018 (17 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Hyundai Ioniq: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe HYUNDAI IONIQ has 566 NHTSA complaints and 13 recalls on record. 25 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 566 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 13 federal recall campaigns
- 25 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Oct 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
13 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
PARKING BRAKE:ELECTRICAL:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:MODULE:ONBOARD (OBCM)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:MODULE:ONBOARD (OBCM)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2022. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 566 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
566 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Ioniq. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery had overheated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact stated that on the way home, there was an abnormal ticking sound was coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the electrical system on the vehicle had failed, and the doors and the trunk failed to open. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact was unsure if the vehicle was repaired. The vehicle remained at the dealer and had not been driven since the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,400.
Installing a car seat and the belt buckle failed. The plastic part split and no longer holds the belt together. This was under regular pressure with standard leverage that the car seat design calls for. Nothing was ever on top of the buckle and it is not damaged in any other way at all other than the failure. They refused to replace it via warranty.
Auto Hold/EPB lights come one while driving. Deactivates cruise control of on. Turns off auto hold. Ongoing issue with many reports but no recall or dealership knowledge. Ongoing issue since purchase.
The "Auto Hold" feature on my Hyundai Ioniq malfunctioned, displaying a dashboard warning: "AUTO HOLD conditions not met. Press brake pedal." This message randomly appears while driving or stopping, and it deactivates the Auto Hold and Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) functions. In some cases, the car rolls after stopping because the system fails to hold the vehicle. This issue compromises vehicle safety, especially on inclines or during stop-and-go traffic. It puts me, passengers, and other drivers at risk. The problem has occurred multiple times and is unpredictable. It appears to be linked to a faulty brake switch or sensor, as noted in Hyundai’s TSB 23-BR-001H. I discovered this issue is affecting many other Hyundai Ioniq owners, as seen in this discussion: [XXX] The dealer has not yet inspected the vehicle, but the symptoms match the TSB. No accident has occurred, but the safety risk is serious due to brake failure behavior. There were no visible warning lights before the issue started, just the "Auto Hold" message when the failure happens. I bought the car from a used car dealer when it had 39,000 miles. Now it has around 74,000 miles. I’m not sure if it’s still under warranty. I haven’t taken it to the dealer yet, but the symptoms match exactly what other people are reporting online. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal ratting sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with connecting rod bearing failure. The contact was then provided an estimate for an engine replacement. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 73,020.
Auto brake fault has been a constant issue with this 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. This causes lots of system functions to stop working (adaptive crusice control, lane keeping assistant, etc.) The dealer originally replaced the wiring harness, but it came back again and again with the same issue. They finally figured out that replacing the rear calipers seemed to make it stop. They have done that twice and this past weekend the fault warning appeared again. So, for the 4th time, we will be taking the car back in so this error goes away. For additional details, I will give you the most recent time, but note that the other 3 times all happened with in the first 1-3 years of ownership.
Read 14 more owner reports
On a recurring basis, the warning lights come on for”AUTO HOLD” and “EPB” or emergency parking brake. Car continually beeps and gives warning until car is reset. During this time, the cruise control will turn off, causing safety issues during travel. Also, the other safety features seem to stop working during the time this warning is activated. Emergency stop, et cetera. Only activated when vehicle is operating under highway mph. Typically local roads with stops/starts trigger this issue. Mechanics have no idea what is wrong with vehicle warning. I see online that this is a common issues with Hyundai Ioniq. A possible recall is needed to investigate/fix this issue as local dealerships arent aware of a solution.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at various highway speeds, the electronic parking brake and auto hold indicator lights erroneously activated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 16,000.
I’m driving with cruise control on the highway at 65 and all of a sudden it shuts off. The check cruise system light comes on along with a triangle with an exclamation point in the middle of it in the lower left side of dashboard and the letters EPB lights up on the lower right side of dashboard.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the electronic parking brake warning light, the auto-hold feature warning light, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure persisted. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the brake caliper had failed and needed to be replaced; however, parts were not available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
When driving down the highway the cruise control will turn off and it is during sunny days and has happened many times. The check lane following assist LFA system notice comes on, the smart cruise ctrl conditions not met notice come on, the check smart cruise control system notice comes on, auto hold, EPB and two triangles appear. Happened 4/2, 4/20, 6/9, 6/17. I have told service about it but they say there isn’t any problem.
The Apple car play system quits when you are using maps.
The backup mirror remained on while driving down the road.
Owner of 2021 Hyundai Hybrid Ioniq. Auto hold and EPB (electronic parking brake) malfunction lights come on randomly. After inspection at dealership electronic brake control module needs replacing, not communicating with car Module is currently on backorder and may take six weeks for part to come in. Dealership's service dept. fully understood what repair is needed and is taking care of the problem. We were strongly advised NOT TO DRIVE the car until repaired. Vehicle could possibly auto stop going at high speeds. Dealership provided a rental car until the repair is made. This is a great dealership , one that has concern for the consumer's safety over their bottom line. We'll know in about six weeks if replacing the module fixes the problem.
During a highway trip that was bumper to bumper traffic at approximately 15mph, the car suddenly would not accelerate while operating on gasoline (not electric). The engine revs would increase to maximum without movement from the car (as if the car was in neutral). After checking the gear lever to make sure it was still in D, tried to accelerate again and engine rev high without movement. Eventually car came to stop with brakes, and the car could move on electric power (in hybrid mode), pulled over and turned off the car to visually inspect. After not identifying anything, turned on car and operation resumed to normal and would accelerate on gas power.
Two different scenarios with this cruise control are problems with this vehicle. When it is raining the system with the cruise control does not work and the shop told me it happens with other vehicles. A warning light appears when this happens. This last time it was not raining and the cruise control quit working and the warning light came on as well as another system warning light. I showed the picture to the guy at the shop and he said after I showed him the picture he knew what to do, he had to reset the system. Yes, it’s available for inspection. When you’re driving in traffic on the highway going 65 and the car slows down for no apparent reason, that is a problem. The vehicle has not been inspected.
The contact leased a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Electric The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, he attempted to open the driver’s side door using the key fob; however, the door would not open. The contact contacted Hyundai roadside assistance who assisted him in jumpstarting and recharging the batteries. The contact was still able to drive the vehicle. The contact stated that a couple of days later, the vehicle failed to start after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the mechanic switch that applied the emergency brake was not completely closed and kept the electrical circuit for the emergency brake activated causing the two batteries to drain. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they would reimburse him for the vehicle rental expenses under the condition that he surrendered his rights to pursue reimbursement for the vehicle repair expenses. The failure mileage was approximately 3,400.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the auto-hold warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. The contact had taken the vehicle to a dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that he had to pay a diagnostic fee to service the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred him to another dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.
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 day. 09/21/21 - they were called to let me know that the car had been fixed and it was ready to pick up. So I went to pick up around 3.00p.m. after checked my car and about to leave the dealership, the auto hold engine light was show up again. So I had to take my car back to fix it. After have been waiting my car to fix about 2 months. I haven’t received any updates from them. 10/21/21 - the GM called me. So I went to the talk with him. He said the cost to fix my car about $5,000. I have to pay for in order to fix it because my warranty not cover for the break. I wondered why I have to pay even though it wasn’t my false. I brought this car and used it not over 3 months. Hyundai should take responsibility for the fixing cost not me. So I denied to pay. Then he left and brought me my car key and said my car was outside. Then I went out from the showroom and found out that the car he brought wasn’t mine. The car he brought is white color but mine is grey. So I checked on the white car and found out that the car was show the auto hold engine light with the same as my problem. So I guess I’m not the only one that had this problem even though I asked them earlier that has anyone had the same problem as mine and they said no and insisted that my car was the only one that have this problem. 5 minutes later, the GM came back with my actual car. And I end up the day by got my car back with the auto hold engine light still on. The GM didn’t care about this issue. He didn’t care about customer’s life and seem to care about the circulation more than fixing problem after sale service. Now I still wondering why the factory keep producing the car model even though i found a lot of consumer complaint about it.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. The contact stated that upon depressing the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal ratting sound coming from the vehicle, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact stated that the check engine and oil warning lights were illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with connecting rod bearing failure. The contact was then provided an estimate for an engine replacement. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle remained in the possession of the dealer and was not yet repaired. The failure mileage was 73,020.
Showing 20 of 566 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
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Before you buy, check the exact Hyundai Ioniq
These pages show model-year patterns across 6 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Hyundai Ioniq, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Hyundai Ioniq has 566 complaints on record across 6 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Hyundai Ioniq has 13 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 25 of the Hyundai Ioniq's 566 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Hyundai Ioniq vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Hyundai Ioniq vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Hyundai Ioniq has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Hyundai Ioniq reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Hyundai Ioniq reliable?
Poor. The Hyundai Ioniq has 566 NHTSA owner complaints and 13 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Hyundai Ioniq years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2022 (433 complaints), 2017 (50 complaints), 2021 (33 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Hyundai Ioniq problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (369 complaints); POWER TRAIN (102 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (100 complaints).
Does the Hyundai Ioniq have recalls?
Yes — 13 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Hyundai Ioniq. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.