Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 more reliable than the Mazda CX-50?

No. The CX-50 comes out well ahead. Ioniq 5 owners file 63.4 complaints per 10,000 sold, while CX-50 owners file 27.4. The Ioniq 5's main weakness is a failing ICCU that can leave the car in limp mode or stopped, and the CX-50 has no comparable pattern.

Which has more recalls, the Ioniq 5 or the CX-50?

The Ioniq 5 has far more. Federal recall records list 18 recalls across its five model years, while the CX-50 has 6 across four model years. Owners also report Ioniq 5 failures returning after recall work, so a completed recall does not guarantee the problem is fixed.

What is the biggest problem with the Ioniq 5?

The ICCU is the biggest one. Owners describe a pop, a "check electrical system" warning, and a 12V battery that stops charging. The car then drops into a power-limited mode and sometimes dies, even at highway speed. Reports put it around 22,000 to 25,000 miles, and replacement parts have been back ordered.

What goes wrong on the Mazda CX-50?

Complaints are few and varied. The most common is false automatic emergency braking, where the car brakes hard with nothing ahead. Other reports include repeated dead batteries and front ball joint or control arm failures. In the worst suspension cases, a front wheel nearly separated from the car.

Which model years should I avoid on each car?

Avoid the 2022 and 2023 Ioniq 5, its weakest years. On the CX-50, be cautious with 2023 and 2025. The 2024 model is among the stronger years for both cars. Newer 2026 cars show fewer complaints mostly because they have had less time on the road.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-50: Reliability Compared

Hyundai Ioniq 5

Mixed

More Reliable

Mazda CX-50

Good

Of these two, the Mazda CX-50 is clearly more reliable than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, whose ICCU failures cut drive power, sometimes at highway speed. Owner complaints and recall counts both run far higher for the Ioniq 5, so the CX-50 is the safer used buy.

How Do the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Mazda CX-50 Generations Compare?

Each car is still in its first generation, and each has already had a mid-cycle update. The Ioniq 5 (NE) covers US model years 2022 to 2024 and was facelifted in 2024. Its 2022 and 2023 cars are the weakest years, so a 2024 or later gets you the updated car. The CX-50 (VA) launched for 2023 and 2024, and Mazda followed with the CX-50 Update for 2025. Its weakest years are 2023 and 2025. Its stronger years are 2024 and 2026, though 2026 has had the least time to collect complaints.

Verdict

The Mazda CX-50 is more reliable than the Hyundai Ioniq 5, scoring 70/100 vs 54/100.

Reliability clearly favors the CX-50, and the gap is large. Ioniq 5 owners file complaints at 63.4 per 10,000 sold, against 27.4 for the CX-50. Most Ioniq 5 complaints trace to one failure, the ICCU, which sends the car into a power-limited mode and can stop it at highway speed. Federal recall records also show far more recalls for the Ioniq 5. The CX-50's problems are scattered and smaller in number, though its brake and suspension reports deserve a check.

Key Differences

1Mazda CX-50 has 36.0 fewer complaints per 10k sold
2Mazda CX-50 scores 16 points higher in reliability
3Mazda CX-50 has 12 fewer total recalls

Category Scoreboard

0Hyundai Ioniq 5

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3Mazda CX-50

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-50: Which Is More Reliable?

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-50 at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Hyundai Ioniq 5	Mazda CX-50
Reliability Score	54/100	70/100
Years Tracked	5	4
Total Recalls	18	6
Complaints per 10k Sold	63.4	27.4
Year Wins	0	4

What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Mazda CX-50?

Electrical failure drives the Ioniq 5's record. A loud pop and a "check electrical system" warning come first, then the 12V battery stops charging and drive power drops to a crawl. Failures return after recall work, and back-ordered parts stretch repairs. Speed surging and driver-assistance faults add more. Crash-linked reports appear in four areas, including two crashes from sudden acceleration while parking. The CX-50 spreads thinner: false automatic emergency braking, dead batteries, and front ball joint and control arm failures. Its power train reports describe no loss of drive power, and its crash-linked reports are limited to brakes, electrical, and suspension.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-50 common problem areas comparison
Component	Hyundai Ioniq 5	Mazda CX-50
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	36.8High	2.3Low
POWER TRAIN	12.1Above Avg	2.9Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2.9Low	1.4Low
SERVICE BRAKES	1.2Low	3.1Average
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	1.4Low	1.7Low
STRUCTURE	—None	2.9Low
STEERING	0.7Very Low	2Low
SUSPENSION	—None	2Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	1.5Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	1.3Low	—None
LANE DEPARTURE	0.7Very Low	0.6Very Low
SEATS	—None	1.1Low
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	0.9Very Low	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	0.3Very Low	0.6Very Low
AIR BAGS	—None	0.6Very Low
WHEELS	—None	0.6Very Low
TIRES	0.4Very Low	—None
ENGINE	0.3Very Low	—None
PARKING BRAKE	0.1Very Low	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-50 Reliability Compare by Year?

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-50 year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Hyundai Ioniq 5	Mazda CX-50	Edge
2026	63/1002R / 3C	76/1000R / 0C	Mazda CX-50
2025	53/1008R / 158C	66/1003R / 21C	Mazda CX-50
2024	58/1002R / 134C	71/1001R / 26C	Mazda CX-50
2023	50/1003R / 311C	65/1002R / 49C	Mazda CX-50

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 scored 58/100 and the 2024 Mazda CX-50 scored 71/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs the Mazda CX-50?

Choose the CX-50 if you want the lower-risk used buy and plan to keep the car for years. Its complaint load is light, and its power train reports do not describe sudden loss of drive. Target 2024, which is among its stronger years, and be cautious with 2023 and 2025, its weakest. Before buying, check the front suspension for clunks, and ask whether the automatic emergency braking has ever braked hard for no reason. Choose the Ioniq 5 only if you specifically want an electric SUV and can accept the ICCU risk. Reports put failures around 22,000 to 25,000 miles, and some cars failed again after repair. Avoid 2022 and 2023, its weakest years. A 2024 is the safer pick, since it is a stronger year and the facelift year. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so do not read a clean record as proof. Ask for ICCU service records, and confirm the 12V battery history.

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs Mazda CX-50: Common Questions

Is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 more reliable than the Mazda CX-50?: No. The CX-50 comes out well ahead. Ioniq 5 owners file 63.4 complaints per 10,000 sold, while CX-50 owners file 27.4. The Ioniq 5's main weakness is a failing ICCU that can leave the car in limp mode or stopped, and the CX-50 has no comparable pattern.
Which has more recalls, the Ioniq 5 or the CX-50?: The Ioniq 5 has far more. Federal recall records list 18 recalls across its five model years, while the CX-50 has 6 across four model years. Owners also report Ioniq 5 failures returning after recall work, so a completed recall does not guarantee the problem is fixed.
What is the biggest problem with the Ioniq 5?: The ICCU is the biggest one. Owners describe a pop, a "check electrical system" warning, and a 12V battery that stops charging. The car then drops into a power-limited mode and sometimes dies, even at highway speed. Reports put it around 22,000 to 25,000 miles, and replacement parts have been back ordered.
What goes wrong on the Mazda CX-50?: Complaints are few and varied. The most common is false automatic emergency braking, where the car brakes hard with nothing ahead. Other reports include repeated dead batteries and front ball joint or control arm failures. In the worst suspension cases, a front wheel nearly separated from the car.
Which model years should I avoid on each car?: Avoid the 2022 and 2023 Ioniq 5, its weakest years. On the CX-50, be cautious with 2023 and 2025. The 2024 model is among the stronger years for both cars. Newer 2026 cars show fewer complaints mostly because they have had less time on the road.

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How we score the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Mazda CX-50

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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