Which has more recalls, the Model S or the Ioniq 6?

The Model S has far more. Federal recall records show 227 recalls across its 8 model years, compared with 13 across the 4 model years of the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 is newer, but the difference is still large.

What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Ioniq 6?

It is failure of the integrated charging control unit. A warning appears, the car drops into a limp mode near 22 mph, and some cars shut down in traffic. The 12-volt battery often dies too, so a tow is common. Parts can take weeks, and failures can recur after replacement.

Does the Tesla Model S have a phantom braking problem?

Yes, owners report it often. The car brakes hard at highway speed with nothing ahead, on Autopilot and on adaptive cruise control. Some drivers describe it about once every 100 miles, and others count 20 or more events on a long trip. Some forward collision reports also involve crashes.

Which Model S and Ioniq 6 years should I avoid?

For the Model S, the weakest years are 2021 and 2023. For the Ioniq 6, they are 2023 and 2024. Years rated strongest, such as the 2025 Model S or 2026 Ioniq 6, are also the newest, so they have had less time to collect complaints.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model S: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Hyundai Ioniq 6

Good

Tesla Model S

Mixed

On reliability, the Hyundai Ioniq 6 beats the Tesla Model S by a large margin. Owners filed 117 complaints against 4606 for the Model S. The Model S also has crash-linked reports in every one of its top problem areas.

How Do the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model S Generations Compare?

Neither car has had a full redesign within the years a shopper would consider. The Model S first generation ran in the US from the 2013 model year through 2026, with major facelifts for 2017 and 2021. The 2018 to 2025 years in the data therefore span both facelifts, and the weakest years, 2021 and 2023, fall in the second facelift era. The Ioniq 6 launched with the 2023 model year and received a facelift for 2025. Shoppers choose between pre-facelift 2023 and 2024 cars, which are the weakest years, and facelifted cars, which have had less time on the road to collect complaints.

Verdict

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is more reliable than the Tesla Model S, scoring 77/100 vs 41/100.

The more reliable car is the Ioniq 6, and the gap is large. Its complaint rate is a small fraction of the Model S rate, and federal recall records show far fewer recalls. Severity decides it. Model S owners report phantom braking, unintended acceleration, and steering lockups, with crashes tied to each. The Ioniq 6 has one dominant fault, charging control unit failure, which is serious but far less common. Its record is shorter because it is newer, but the difference is too wide for age alone to explain.

Key Differences

1Hyundai Ioniq 6 has 214 fewer total recalls
2Hyundai Ioniq 6 has 159.1 fewer complaints per 10k sold
3Hyundai Ioniq 6 scores 36 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

3Hyundai Ioniq 6

—

0Tesla Model S

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint Rate

Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model S: Which Is More Reliable?

Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model S at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Hyundai Ioniq 6	Tesla Model S
Reliability Score	77/100	41/100
Years Tracked	4	8
Total Recalls	13	227
Complaints per 10k Sold	0.9	160
Year Wins	3	0

What Are the Common Problems With the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model S?

Driving control is where the Model S struggles. Owners describe hard braking on the highway with nothing ahead, surges at parking speed while the brakes fail to stop the car, and a steering wheel that stiffens or locks. Crash-linked reports appear in all five top areas. Ioniq 6 complaints center on the integrated charging control unit. A warning appears, the car drops into a limp mode near 22 mph, and some shut down in traffic. Only one complaint in its top areas is crash-linked. A frozen charge door and cracked windshields are minor by comparison.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model S common problem areas comparison
Component	Hyundai Ioniq 6	Tesla Model S
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	34High
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.1Very Low	19.8High
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	18.1High
STEERING	—None	17.8High
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.5Very Low	17.1High
SERVICE BRAKES	—None	11.1Above Avg
SUSPENSION	—None	9.1Above Avg
AIR BAGS	—None	3.4Average
POWER TRAIN	0.1Very Low	2.6Low
STRUCTURE	—None	2.5Low
LANE DEPARTURE	—None	1.9Low
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	1.1Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.3Very Low
SEATS	—None	0.3Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	—None	—None

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

How Does Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model S Reliability Compare by Year?

Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model S year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Hyundai Ioniq 6	Tesla Model S	Edge
2025	79/1003R / 30C	50/1007R / 94C	Hyundai Ioniq 6
2024	77/1005R / 33C	42/10019R / 316C	Hyundai Ioniq 6
2023	69/1005R / 54C	32/10043R / 1307C	Hyundai Ioniq 6

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 6 scored 77/100 and the 2024 Tesla Model S scored 42/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs the Tesla Model S?

Pick the Ioniq 6 if you want the lower risk of a serious fault. Its main weakness is the charging control unit, so ask whether the car has had that part replaced or shown power warnings. Target 2025 or 2026, which stand strongest, while remembering that newer years have had less time to collect complaints. Treat 2023 and 2024, the weakest years, with more caution. Pick the Model S only if you accept a much heavier complaint record in exchange for what the car offers. Among the years in the data, 2019 stands among the strongest, while 2021 and 2023 are the weakest and are best avoided. The 2025 year also rates well, though it is new and has had less time to collect complaints. Before buying any Model S, ask how the car behaves under Autopilot and cruise control, and budget for out-of-warranty bills. One owner was quoted $2,500 for a steering rack and another $3,000 per heat pump repair.

Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs Tesla Model S: Common Questions

Is the Tesla Model S more reliable than the Hyundai Ioniq 6?: No. The Ioniq 6 is clearly more reliable, by a large gap. It has 117 owner complaints against 4606 for the Model S. The Model S also has crash-linked reports in each of its five main problem areas, including steering, speed control, and braking.
Which has more recalls, the Model S or the Ioniq 6?: The Model S has far more. Federal recall records show 227 recalls across its 8 model years, compared with 13 across the 4 model years of the Ioniq 6. The Ioniq 6 is newer, but the difference is still large.
What is the biggest problem with the Hyundai Ioniq 6?: It is failure of the integrated charging control unit. A warning appears, the car drops into a limp mode near 22 mph, and some cars shut down in traffic. The 12-volt battery often dies too, so a tow is common. Parts can take weeks, and failures can recur after replacement.
Does the Tesla Model S have a phantom braking problem?: Yes, owners report it often. The car brakes hard at highway speed with nothing ahead, on Autopilot and on adaptive cruise control. Some drivers describe it about once every 100 miles, and others count 20 or more events on a long trip. Some forward collision reports also involve crashes.
Which Model S and Ioniq 6 years should I avoid?: For the Model S, the weakest years are 2021 and 2023. For the Ioniq 6, they are 2023 and 2024. Years rated strongest, such as the 2025 Model S or 2026 Ioniq 6, are also the newest, so they have had less time to collect complaints.

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How we score the Hyundai Ioniq 6 and Tesla Model S

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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