AI Damage2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-IN Hybrid reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-IN Hybrid filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and visibility. The maker issued 41 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 41
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 25% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 25% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 25% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Visibility: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Structure: 1 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Tires | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Wheels | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Suspension | 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 upon inspection, it was discovered that both the passengerâs side front and rear carpets had become soaked with water and condensation from the operation of the air conditioning unit. The contact was also concerned that mold was present due to the failure.
Sunglass holder would randomly come down and block rear view mirror completely. Unable to see the back.
I have put around 31K miles in my car. Day before yesterday ( Nov-2 ) when I was driving back home from work, suddenly I heard a noise. I pulled over and stopped the car. when I got down and checked, I noticed exhaust system or something similar to that fell off and touching the road.
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 14,162 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 44% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Ioniq Plug-IN Hybrid has 5 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
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…
- 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…
- 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
- This Service Information bulletin provides information on how to update the Apple Carplay software from…
This Service Information bulletin provides information on how to update the Apple Carplay software from Hyundaiâs Navigation Updates page. The current version of Google Maps has 10 times the data transmission…
- Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships
It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped…
- Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for…
Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased…
- Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the…
Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement.
NHTSA lists 41 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 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-IN Hybrid?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, visibility, structure. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-IN Hybrid?
NHTSA lists 41 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 2018 Hyundai Ioniq Plug-IN 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 2018 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.