AI Damage2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid: common problems
Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and forward collision avoidance. The maker issued 26 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 26
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 54% of all complaints
- 2 Forward collision avoidance 23% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 23% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 15% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 6 Backover prevention 8% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 7 complaints (54% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 10.
- Forward collision avoidance: 3 complaints (23% of all).
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (23% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (15% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Backover prevention | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Parking brake | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
On a recurring basis, the warning lights come on forâAUTO HOLDâ and âEPBâ 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.
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 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 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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,846 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Ioniq Hybrid has 21 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 13, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Forward collision avoidance. Radar and camera: calibration after bumper or windshield replacement.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this…
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the…
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of…
- This bulletin provides information related to the changes introduced in the 2025 1st Navigation Map and…
This bulletin provides information related to the changes introduced in the 2025 1st Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system as described in this…
- This bulletin provides information related to the changes introduced in the 2024 2nd Navigation Map and…
This bulletin provides information related to the changes introduced in the 2024 2nd Navigation Map and Software Update. The changes may vary depending on vehicle type, model, and navigation system. Refer to the 2024…
- Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service…
Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service functions. This may be due to an irregular disconnection on Verizon’s communication network. Follow the…
- Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service…
Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service functions. This may be due to an irregular disconnection on Verizon's communication network. If you are…
- This bulletin provides the procedure to update the ECU software on certain 2021-2022MY IONIQ Plug-in…
This bulletin provides the procedure to update the ECU software on certain 2021-2022MY IONIQ Plug-in Hybrid (AE PHEV) vehicles that may exhibit a warning light with DTC U1341 due to communication issues with the…
- This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover…
This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert…
- This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services
NHTSA lists 26 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, forward collision avoidance, service brakes. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (54%), rollaway, parking brake (31%), driver assists: adaptive cruise, lane keeping (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid?
NHTSA lists 26 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2021 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2021 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.