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Hyundai · NHTSA safety record

2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 41 safety complaints about the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 3 mention a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 3 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the hybrid propulsion system.

The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 14 complaints, 34% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 14,000 miles, the median across the 22 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers July 2017 to August 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

41 complaints on file

41

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

3

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14 · 34%
ENGINE 11 · 27%
HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM 7 · 17%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 7 · 17%
POWER TRAIN 6 · 15%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 5 · 12%
SERVICE BRAKES 3 · 7%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 · 7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 2 · 5%
STEERING 2 · 5%
AIR BAGS 1 · 2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1 · 2%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 41.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 10.

12 9 6 3
17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2017 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

3 on file

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

22V459000 · June 28, 2022

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 remedy
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 is 232. This recall replaces NHTSA recall number 18V-704. Vehicles already repaired under the previous recall will need to have the new remedy completed.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 10,575 vehicles across all model years covered

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM: INVERTER

18V704000 · October 5, 2018

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 remedy
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 charge. The recall began February 28, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 178.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 10,575 vehicles across all model years covered

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

18V260000 · April 24, 2018

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid vehicles. The Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) inner oil seal may leak, allowing oil to accumulate in the cap area, possibly resulting in an electrical short.
The risk
An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the HCA caps for leaked oil and replace the HCA assembly if needed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 20, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 176.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 10,156 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Pedestrian alert sounds

DP22005

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured · fire

I was driving my two young daughters (ages [XXX] and [XXX]) to school, in clear conditions, when we suddenly heard a static-like noise. Instantly, the car's check engine light and check EV battery light came on, and I realized I could no longer accelerate. I immediately pulled off to a safe shoulder and turned the car off and then back on. The car would not move. I exited the vehicle and THANKFULLY left my car door open. I walked around the vehicle and immediately called my husband for help. Within seconds, my [XXX] daughter, who was sitting directly behind me in the rear driver's seat, told me she saw smoke. I went to open her door and realized it was locked. My key fob and door lock would

NHTSA complaint 11760846, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 42,000 miles

HAD REQUIRED RECALL (#178) FOR A PRA TO BE REPLACED PERFORMED 4/6/19, UPON DRIVING IT NOTICED ELECTRONIC, ACID SMELL THAT WENT AWAY. TODAY (4/7/19), UPON DRIVING IT, THE CAR'S CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE THAT WAS COMING FROM THE REAR SEAT. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER, SHUT THE CAR OFF, REMOVED AS MUCH ITEMS FROM THE CAR AS POSSIBLE AND CALLED MY WIFE, 2 MILES DOWN THE ROAD AT HOME TO BRING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. UPON HER ARRIVING ROUGHLY 5 MINS LATER, FLAMES BEGAN EMERGING FROM THE BACKSEAT, WHICH I QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED AND PROCEEDED TO CALL 9-1-1. UPON THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVING, FLAMES WERE STILL EMERGING AND STILL SMOKING UNTIL THEY WERE ABLE TO DOUSE IT WITH WATER, FLAME RETARDANT,

NHTSA complaint 11194461, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire

I was driving on the freeway when my car started smoking. Pulled over immediately and 30 seconds later the entire front of the car was engulfed in flames. I hadn’t received a second recall notice, but I did take it in the first time when a fire risk was mentioned.

NHTSA complaint 11498124. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

crash · towed · 13,000 miles

IN A PARKING LOT. WAS SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE AT A FULL STOP WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE. WHEN I SHIFTED VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED AND CAR ACCELERATED, MOVING FORWARD AT HIGH SPEED, UNABLE TO BE CONTROLLED OR STOPPED. COLLISION INTO BRICK BUILDING OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint 11044829. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The vehicle has suffered a catastrophic failure of the hybrid drive motor rotor, transmission, and engine clutch, resulting in a $14,993 repair quote. This is a direct consequence of a failed remedy for NHTSA Recall 18V260 (Hyundai Campaign 176).In February 2020, a dealer performed an 'inspection/cap' remedy under Campaign 176. However, this did not permanently fix the manufacturing burrs on the hydraulic clutch actuator housing. Over time, the inner oil seals degraded exactly as warned in the original defect report. Hydraulic fluid leaked into the electric stepper motor, causing an electrical short circuit that destroyed the entire hybrid powertrain. The vehicle lost propulsion and threw a

NHTSA complaint 11751771, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

towed · 135,262 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start with several unknown warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the message "Starting Engine to Avoid Battery Discharge" was displayed. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the 12-volt lithium battery had melted and expanded and needed to be replaced, along with the power relay assembly and fuse. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted. The contacted stated that the vehicle was previously serviced and inspected under NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V459000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) and 18V704000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM). The contact stated that the

NHTSA complaint 11746265, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
January 2022. The car was brought to dealership because the transmission was slipping in 3rd gear. Service light was on. On my way the problem fixed itself. I explained that it happened only in the extreme cold here in michigan. They documented for warranty. Said it may be due to clutch overheating on slippery roads. IT WAS NOT. The cars was not used for 2 winters as we were in Florida. Dec. 2025 it happened again and expressed my concerns that if this happened in traffic it could be dangerous. Both the dealership and Hyundai washed there hands of it even though I was assured that it would be covered and addressed it it happened again. The service light came on but the problem fixed itself

NHTSA complaint 11707063, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Engine failure occurred on interstate. Car was jerking and smoke coming from the hood and exhaust while engine was giving out. Hyundai dealership confirmed something blew up within the engine and blew a hole out the side of it. Check engine light came on about 2 weeks prior notified Hyundai dealership as soon as this happened and they stated I had to wait 2 weeks to have the vehicle checked out.

NHTSA complaint 11685440. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

towed · 153,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. The contact stated while at a complete stop at a red traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power relay assembly (PRA) located underneath the rear seat had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired, but the mechanic overrode the computer system. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V459000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The contact stated that the VIN was previously included in the recall; however, the recall was marked as complete after the vehicle passed the

NHTSA complaint 11672051, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2021 13 0 —
2020 17 0 —
2019 16 1 —
2018 13 2 —

Other 2017 Hyundai models

Tucson 1,088 Santa FE 968 Elantra 767 Sonata 764 Santa FE Sport 351 Sonata Hybrid 80 Accent 68 Veloster 50

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Hyundai on this site — 205 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst