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2018 Hyundai IONIQ HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

13 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

2,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 13 complaints (23.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior538.5%
Electrical and battery issues323.1%
Transmission and shifting215.4%
Engine operation215.4%
Steering behavior17.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
3
Engine
3
Power Train
3
Unknown Or Other
3
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Air Bags
1
Service Brakes
1
Steering
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System3
Engine3
Power Train3
Unknown Or Other3
Vehicle Speed Control2
Air Bags1
Service Brakes1
Steering1

Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3; Power Train: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Air Bags: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Steering: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2018
4
2019
2
2020
1
2022
1
2023
1
2024
3
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20184
20192
20201
20221
20231
20243
20251

2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 3; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11065792 · 2018-01-30 (January 30, 2018)

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHILE DRIVING THIS MORNING (SMART CRUISE CONTROL DISABLED BY THE WEATHER), I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING OK. I CANCELLED DUE TO TRAFFIC AND REENGAGED WITHOUT ISSUE. WHEN I REQUESTED ADDITIONAL SPEED WITH THE INCREASE CONTROL, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKES AND CANCELLED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I EXPECT THIS FIXED AND WILL CONTACT THE NHTSA AND ALSO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. THIS IS DA…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11065792 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11102586 · 2018-06-19 (June 19, 2018)

WHILE DRIVING THIS MORNING (SMART CRUISE CONTROL DISABLED BY THE WEATHER), I SET THE CRUISE CONTROL AND EVERYTHING WAS WORKING OK. I CANCELLED DUE TO TRAFFIC AND REENGAGED WITHOUT ISSUE. WHEN I REQUESTED ADDITIONAL SPEED WITH THE INCREASE CONTROL, THE CAR ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND DID NOT STOP ACCELERATING UNTIL I HIT THE BRAKES AND CANCELLED THE CRUISE CONTROL. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE. I EXPECT THIS FIXED AND WILL CONTACT THE NHTSA AND ALSO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND IT IS ONLY DUE TO MY ABILITY TO QUI…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11102586 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11141250 · 2018-10-18 (October 18, 2018)

CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. SOMETIMES THE CLICKING NOISE WILL CONTINUE AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED AND LOCKED. THE FIRST TIME THE CLICKING STARTED, I PARKED MY CAR AND A WARNING "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" APPEARED BRIEFLY IN MY DASHBOARD DISPLAY BUT THE CLICKING PERSISTED. THE PEDAL FELT SLUGGISH WITH NOT MUCH RESISTANCE.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11141250 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11153450 · 2018-11-24 (November 24, 2018)

MANY ISSUES: 1. GETS STUCK IN PARK. 2. BACK UP CAMERA FUZZY EVEN AFTER CLEANED. 3. APPLE CAR PLAY DROPS OUT. AND OR SWITCHES FROM TO CURRENT PHONE CALL. 4. TIRE PRESSURE SYSTEM IS MESSED UP. THE TIRES SYSTEM DOESN'T TELL YOU WHEN THE TIRES ARE BELOW 30LBS. THESE ARE JUST A FEW ISSUES.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11153450 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11166040 · 2019-01-09 (January 9, 2019)

IT BEGAN SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEB 2018 WITH THE A/C WORKING ONLY INTERMITTENTLY AND THE SETTINGS ON THE CLUSTER HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THIS ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ESCALATED INTO A SAFETY ISSUE WHEN ON DEC 6 THE RKE FAILED (BATTERY ON FOB STRONG) AND A RE-START ON CAR DID NOT WORK, UNTIL THE SPARE KEY WAS TRIED. SINCE DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH EITHER KEY, THE SAFETY ISSUE REMAINS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR THE SENIOR CITIZEN OWNER WHO MIGHT GET CAUGHT AGAIN WITHOUT ACCESS TO THE CAR AND WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING ENGINE. THE ELECTRICAL…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11166040 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11208212 · 2019-05-17 (May 17, 2019)

THE CAR SHIFTS FROM DRIVE MODE INTO SPORT MODE BY ITSELF WITHOUT THE DRIVER MANUALLY MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO SPORT. THIS HAPPENS RANDOMLY, BUT ALWAYS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION AND ALWAYS IN A LOW GEAR( USUALLY FIRST GEAR ). IT HAS HAPPENED BOTH WHEN MAKING A TURN AND GOING STRAIGHT AHEAD , USUALLY WHEN THE CAR STARTS TO MOVE AFTER BEING STOPPED LIKE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I CAN GET THE CAR TO GO BACK INTO DRIVE MODE BY PHYSICALLY MOVING THE GEARSHIFT INTO SPORT MODE AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE MODE AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, THE MOST RECENT E…

Owner-reported narrative. 18,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208212 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11385093 · 2020-12-27 (December 27, 2020)

VEHICLE BATTERY IS DEPLETED AND NEEDS SERVICING OR REPLACEMENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 30 miles reported. Look up ODI 11385093 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11449635 · 2022-01-31 (January 31, 2022)

There is a defect with the transmission control module (TCM) and dual-clutch transmission (DCT). This defect prevents the car from properly accelerating from a stop. The defect manifests in the following ways when pressing the accelerator: unresponsive or sluggish acceleration, jerking, shuddering, failure to shift, stalling and complete loss of power. Typically, the TCM defect manifests in two ways: shuddering/delayed brake release, which has happened over 20 times and loss of power/engine revving out of gear which has occured three times. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11449635 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

18V704000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Reported: 2018-10-05 (October 5, 2018)

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.

Consequence: The increased electrical resistance can overheat the rear seat which is above the PRA, increasing the risk of a fire.

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
22V459000 · Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter

Reported: 2022-06-28 (June 28, 2022)

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.

Consequence: An overheated PRA increases the risk of a fire.

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗