Hyundai Ioniq: common problems, best years and what to check
Efficient hybrid, plug-in and EV hatch. Covers 2017–2024 cars: every popular engine, its known faults with typical UK repair costs, and how each year has held up on Britain's roads.
Updated November 2026 · By the Carnod team · How we build this guide
Is the Hyundai Ioniq a good used buy?
Best buy
Hybrid or Electric 38kWh
Avoid
none notable
Who it suits: Drivers wanting the most efficient hatch in its class.
What's good
- Very efficient
- Five-year warranty
- Reliable
- Practical
What's not
- Small EV range (28kWh)
- Dull to drive
- Plain interior
- Discontinued
By the numbers
- #124 most common model on UK roads, with about 61k licensed (DfT).
- The biggest surviving year is 2021: 10.8k cars still licensed.
- 2017 cars survive 5% worse than comparable cars — check those harder.
- The most expensive common fault: DCT clutch judder (rare) (up to £1,500).
Hyundai Ioniq common problems by generation and engine
Hyundai Ioniq AE (2016–2022) · hatch; HEV/PHEV/EV
How to spot it: 16 plate to 22 plate. Smooth fastback hatch; EV has a closed grille.
1.6 GDi Hybrid / PHEV (Kappa + e, hybrid, 2016–2022)
Very frugal
- DCT clutch judder (rare)£0–£1,500any
Electric 28 / 38kWh (electric, electric, 2016–2022)
Very efficient
Costs are typical UK independent-garage prices including parts and labour. Main dealers usually charge more.
Best and worst Hyundai Ioniq years
How many Hyundai Ioniqs from each year are still licensed today (DfT), coloured by how well that year survives compared with similar cars of the same age.
No year clearly outlasts similar cars. Years that fall off the road faster: 2017 — check these harder.
Hyundai Ioniq MOT pass rate and common failures
First-time pass rate (2025)
Average UK car of the same age
MOT tests analysed (2017+ cars)
Hyundai Ioniqs pass their MOT first time 2 points more often than the average UK car of the same age (87% vs 85%). Older cars fail more, so we compare like with like.
| First registered | Pass rate | Average UK car that age | Median mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 84% | 78% | 81k miles |
| 2018 | 85% | 81% | 77k miles |
| 2019 | 86% | 84% | 63k miles |
| 2020 | 88% | 86% | 48k miles |
| 2021 | 89% | 87% | 40k miles |
| 2022 | 88% | 89% | 27k miles |
Pass rate by fuel
Hybrid
Electric
Fuels differ in age and mileage mix, so treat this as a pattern rather than a like-for-like comparison.
Most common MOT failures
- Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively2.48 per 100
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm2.39 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut1.67 per 100
- Headlamp aim: too high0.99 per 100
- Tyres: has ply or cords exposed0.93 per 100
- Registration plate lamp(s): inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps0.85 per 100
- Rbt (sp): efficiency below requirements0.71 per 100
- Headlamp aim: too low0.71 per 100
Most common advisories
- Tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm18.13 per 100
- Tyres: has a tear10.35 per 100
- Brake discs: in such a condition that it is seriously weakened6.67 per 100
- Tread depth: tread pattern not visible over the whole tread area when minimum depth required is 1.0mm2.91 per 100
- Brake pads: less than 1.5 mm thick2.15 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Child Seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt2.09 per 100
- Tyres: has a cut1.81 per 100
- Non-component advisories: Nail in tyre1.74 per 100
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT results for 2025 (normal car tests). First-time pass counts faults fixed during the test as fails. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Does the Hyundai Ioniq have a timing belt or chain?
| Engine | Type | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 GDi | chain | durable | £600–£1,100 |
Hyundai Ioniq running costs
Road tax (from April 2017)
Insurance groups
Real-world economy
Servicing (independent)
Tyres
Warranty when new
Is the Hyundai Ioniq ULEZ compliant?
- Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
- Electric: always compliant.
- Same standards apply in Birmingham and Bristol Clean Air Zones (which charge private cars) and Scotland's LEZs in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee (which fine them). Check the exact car on TfL's vehicle checker.
Safety and practicality
Euro NCAP
Boot
Seats
Electric / hybrid
Hyundai Ioniq vs rivals
| Model | On UK roads | Insurance | Boot | Best buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Ioniq | 61k | 11–26 | 443 l | Hybrid or Electric 38kWh |
| Toyota Prius | 72k | 15–20 | 457 l | 2016+ XW50 |
| Kia Niro | 121k | 13–33 | 451 l | 2019–2022 e-Niro 64kWh or HEV |
| Toyota Corolla | 102k | 13–23 | 361 l | 1.8 or 2.0 Hybrid |
| Nissan Leaf | 61k | 21–28 | 435 l | 2019+ Leaf e+ 62kWh |
| VW ID.3 | — | — | — | Guide coming soon |
What to check when buying a used Hyundai Ioniq
- Warranty transfers
Hyundai Ioniq FAQ
›Is the Hyundai Ioniq reliable?
Generally, if you pick the right version. Best buy: Hybrid or Electric 38kWh. Avoid: none notable.
›What is the Hyundai Ioniq MOT pass rate?
87% of Hyundai Ioniqs passed their MOT first time in 2025 (50,663 tests), better than the 85% average for cars of the same age. The most common failure: wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively.
›What are the most common Hyundai Ioniq problems?
The costliest known faults are DCT clutch judder. Each one is listed by engine with typical UK repair costs above.
›Does the Hyundai Ioniq have a timing belt or chain?
1.6 GDi: chain.
›What is the best year Hyundai Ioniq to buy?
By DfT survival data, 2019, 2021, 2022 cars have outlasted comparable cars best. Condition and history still matter more than the year.
›How much does a Hyundai Ioniq cost to run?
Real-world economy: 1.6 Hybrid 58–68 mpg; Electric 4.5–5.5 mi/kWh. Insurance groups 11–26. A minor service is about £140–£200 at an independent garage.
›How much is road tax on a Hyundai Ioniq?
Cars registered from April 2017 pay £200 a year (more if the list price was over £40k). Older cars pay by CO2 band, from £20 to £790.
›Is the Hyundai Ioniq ULEZ compliant?
Petrol and hybrid: compliant if Euro 4 — nearly all petrol cars from 2006, many from 2001.
How we build this guide
We combine official UK data with what independent garages see most often on this model.
- How many are still on the road: DfT vehicle licensing statistics, by year first used. The survival comparison is against cars of the same age.
- MOT pass rates, failures and mileage: DVSA anonymised MOT results — every normal car MOT in Great Britain for the year, compared with all cars of the same age.
- Road tax: GOV.UK rates from April 2026. ULEZ: TfL and Clean Air Zone emission standards.
- Faults and repair costs: known problems by engine code, priced at typical UK independent-garage rates including parts and labour.
- Insurance groups, mpg, servicing and tyres: typical ranges, not quotes. Your car's exact figures depend on the version and where you live.
This is a buying guide, not a mechanical inspection. A specific car's MOT history tells you far more than any model average — run a free check on it before you go and see it.
Sources: licensed counts and survival from DfT vehicle licensing statistics; road tax from GOV.UK (April 2026 rates). Faults, costs, mpg and insurance groups are typical ranges, not quotes. A guide, not a mechanical inspection.