Electric cars · model years 2022 to 2026
Tesla Model 3 vs Hyundai Ioniq 5: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Ioniq 5 looks better on 5 and the Model 3 on 0, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2022 to 2026 | Model 3 | Ioniq 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 12% | 2.0% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 5.6% | 0.5% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 8,000 | 11,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 5.4 | 3.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 16 | 3 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Model 3 owners complain about most is collision avoidance; for the Ioniq 5 it is electrical. Complaints citing collision avoidance make up 51% of all Model 3 complaints, against 6.0% on the Ioniq 5. The Ioniq 5 leans the other way on electrical: 74% of its complaints, against 11% for the Model 3.
Tesla Model 3Hyundai Ioniq 5
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Model 3 is driver assist problems (30% of its complaints). On the Ioniq 5 it is dead battery (28% of its complaints), against 1.3% on the Model 3.
| Problem | Model 3 | Ioniq 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive cruise or lane keeping misbehaves | 30% 460most in 2022 · 2k mi | 2.6% 35 |
| Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking) | 30% 458most in 2022 · 4k mi | 0.6% 8 |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 1.3% 20 | 28% 373most in 2022 · 10k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 6.2% 96most in 2022 · 10k mi | 13% 176most in 2022 · 10k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 15% 235most in 2022 · 6k mi | 4.1% 55 |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 1.4% 22 | 17% 220most in 2023 · 9k mi |
| Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out | 8.8% 136most in 2022 · 3k mi | 1.2% 16 |
| Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power | 1.3% 20 | 8.4% 112most in 2022 · 13k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Model 3 owners report problems earlier. Half the Model 3 complaints that give a mileage come before 8,000 miles; for the Ioniq 5 the halfway point is 11,000. 91% of Model 3 reports and 93% of Ioniq 5 reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Tesla Model 3Hyundai Ioniq 5
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 160 for the Model 3 and 157 for the Ioniq 5.
Worst and best years
The 2022 Model 3 draws 1.7 times the complaints of a typical Model 3 year for its age. No Ioniq 5 model year stands out from the rest.
Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Years to avoid: none stands out
- Best years: none since 2016 is clearly better
Tesla Model 3Hyundai Ioniq 5
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Model 3 draws more recalls: 5.4 campaigns per model year against 3.0 for the Ioniq 5. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Tesla Model 3
27 recall campaigns and 16 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (10), backup camera (3) and seat belts (2).
- 24V-935 (tires) covers 4 model years
- 24V-554 (latches/locks/linkages) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE26006: Lower lateral link detachment (open)
- EA26002: Fsd collisions in reduced roadway visibility conditions (open)
- DP25002: Emergency egress controls are not readily accessible and clearly identifiable. (closed)
Hyundai Ioniq 5
15 recall campaigns and 3 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (7), service brakes, hydraulic (2) and suspension (2).
- 24V-204 (electrical) covers 3 model years
- 24V-868 (electrical) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE24028: Electrical arcing and thermal events, potentially leading to fires, while utilizing enel x way usa, llc's juicebox residential charger. (closed)
- PE23011: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
- DP22005: Pedestrian alert sounds (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Model 3 complaints report a crash: 12%, against 2.0% for the Ioniq 5. Fires are rare on both. Complaints on file report 2 deaths in the Model 3 and 0 in the Ioniq 5 for these model years.
Tesla Model 3Hyundai Ioniq 5
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Tesla Model 3 or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Ioniq 5 looks better on 5 and the Model 3 on 0, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Model 3 has 1,548 complaints and the Ioniq 5 1,333 for model years 2022 to 2026, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Model 3 or the Ioniq 5?
The Model 3 has 27 recall campaigns and the Ioniq 5 15 across model years 2022 to 2026. The Model 3 draws more recalls: 5.4 campaigns per model year against 3.0 for the Ioniq 5.
What are the most common problems on the Model 3 and the Ioniq 5?
The most reported problem on the Model 3 is driver assist problems (30% of its complaints). On the Ioniq 5 it is dead battery (28% of its complaints), against 1.3% on the Model 3.
More comparisons
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- Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Kia EV62022 to 2023
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Ford Mustang Mach-E2022 to 2023
- Volkswagen ID.4 vs Hyundai Ioniq 52022 to 2023