Vehicle/Component: Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA) / Electrical / Hybrid Powertrain Associated Recall: the federal safety agency Campaign Number 18V‑260 (Hyundai Campaign 176) Complaint Description: My 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid is experiencing a dangerous failure of the Hydraulic Clutch Actuator (HCA), causing the "Check HEV" warning light to illuminate and severe drivability issues. This vehicle was previously included in the federal safety agency Campaign 18V‑260 (Hyundai Recall 176). However, the manufacturer's chosen remedy in 2018 was inadequate and failed to permanently cure the safety defect. According to Hyundai’s defect report, the root cause of the recall is internal manufacturing burrs on the HCA housing cylinder block that degrade the oil seal over time, allowing fluid to leak onto electrical components and create a fire hazard. During the 2018 service visit, the dealership only replaced the outer "phase cap" rather than replacing the defective housing block itself. The underlying manufacturing defect (the internal burrs) has now completely destroyed the internal seals, resulting in a live manifestation of the exact safety defect and fire risk described in the original recall. A Hyundai dealership has confirmed the HCA failure and quoted $3,800 for replacement. Hyundai Motor America Corporate is actively refusing to remedy this active safety hazard, claiming the recall is permanently "closed" because a temporary band-aid remedy was applied in 2018. An incomplete or failed safety recall remedy does not relieve the manufacturer of their federal statutory obligation to permanently eliminate a safety defect. I am filing this complaint because Hyundai is refusing to repair a known, active federal safety hazard on a vehicle that received an ineffective remedy.
2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid electrical problems
16 complaints (37% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 40,000.
- owner complaints
- 16
- of this car's complaints
- 37%
- typical mileage
- 40,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid electrical problems in other years
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
What 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
After the Dealership, Michigan City Hyundai (MCH), performed part of the needed repairs, I became aware of what could/would have been a fire hazard (as evidenced by brownish/black heat spots, on the metal cover of the hybrid battery, under the rear seat. To maintain its recall-denial, MCH blames the hybrid starter generator (HSG) for the damage to the hybrid battery. The noted heat-spots prove otherwise - the power relay assembly (the subject of one of the recalls related to my car), and its malfunction and consequent generation of excessive heat, is what caused severe damage to the hybrid battery. The other failed component (hybrid system generator - HSG) is directly related to the hybrid clutch actuator (HCA), which is the subject of the 2nd recall affecting my car. The malfunction of the HCA is what damaged the HSG. the federal safety agency database shows no open recall affecting my car VIN, is because dealer IL093 (who sold me the car around April 2025), logged both recall remedies as applied in Hyundai's internal database. The selling dealer (IL093), which claims to have completed the Power Relay Assembly and Hydraulic Clutch Actuator recalls on my vehicle, was under the ownership of Leader Automotive Group during the timeline of the alleged repairs and my April 2025 purchase. Leader Automotive Group was sued and penalized $20 million by the FTC and the State of Illinois for systematic consumer fraud, deceptive practices, and concealing voided manufacturer warranties. Because the physical components have now suffered the exact catastrophic failures these recalls were designed to prevent, there is a high probability that dealer IL093 fraudulently logged these recall remedies as completed without physically performing the work. I request that the federal safety agency Office of Defects Investigation immediately audit IL093's repair logs for this VIN in light of the FTC enforcement action.
I was driving my two young daughters (ages [XXX] and [XXX]) to school, in clear conditions, when we suddenly heard a static-like noise. Instantly, the car's check engine light and check EV battery light came on, and I realized I could no longer accelerate. I immediately pulled off to a safe shoulder and turned the car off and then back on. The car would not move. I exited the vehicle and THANKFULLY left my car door open. I walked around the vehicle and immediately called my husband for help. Within seconds, my [XXX] daughter, who was sitting directly behind me in the rear driver's seat, told me she saw smoke. I went to open her door and realized it was locked. My key fob and door lock would not unlock her door. I reached through my seat to open her door and instantly saw the smoke coming from a vent just to the left of her legs. I unbuckled her and pulled her out, and climbed through the vehicle to get my [XXX] unbuckled and safely out of the vehicle. I cannot stress enough how grateful I am that my car door was left open because I don't believe I would have been able to break the glass to get my daughters out. The could have easily died. Within a minute of the smoke starting from my daughter's vent, the flames began from the same vent. I got both daughters away from the vehicle asap. While trying to grab what I could from the vehicle, my fires on my right hand were caught in the fire. The vehicle became fully engulfed in fire and was a total loss. Two volunteer fire departments responded. I have both the fire incident report as well as the police incident report. The police report only mentioned one daughter but witnesses can attest that I had to get BOTH daughters out. Following the incident, I went to the doctor to receive care for my burns and received a chest x-ray due to smoke inhalation. My [XXX] daughter has been traumatized and keeps thinking something is wrong with her. She told me her bottom felt very warm just before I pulled her out. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMA
The vehicle has suffered a catastrophic failure of the hybrid drive motor rotor, transmission, and engine clutch, resulting in a $14,993 repair quote. This is a direct consequence of a failed remedy for the federal safety agency Recall 18V260 (Hyundai Campaign 176).In February 2020, a dealer performed an 'inspection/cap' remedy under Campaign 176. However, this did not permanently fix the manufacturing burrs on the hydraulic clutch actuator housing. Over time, the inner oil seals degraded exactly as warned in the original defect report. Hydraulic fluid leaked into the electric stepper motor, causing an electrical short circuit that destroyed the entire hybrid powertrain. The vehicle lost propulsion and threw a severe Hybrid Warning Light on the dashboard. This represents a complete failure of a mandated safety recall remedy, introducing an active electrical short circuit and a severe vehicle fire hazard.
The contact owns a 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid. The contact stated while at a complete stop at a red traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle failed to restart and was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the power relay assembly (PRA) located underneath the rear seat had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the part was not available. The vehicle was not repaired, but the mechanic overrode the computer system. The mechanic related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 22V459000 (Hybrid Propulsion System). The contact stated that the VIN was previously included in the recall; however, the recall was marked as complete after the vehicle passed the inspection test. The contact stated while driving 20-25 MPH, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle could not be repaired under the recall. The vehicle was then towed to a second dealer, Keyes Hyundai of Mission Hills(10240 Sepulveda Blvd, Mission Hills, CA 91345), where it was diagnosed that the power relay assembly (PRA) located underneath the rear seat and the 12-Volt battery had failed and needed to be replaced; however, the part was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that a goodwill discount could be provided at the dealer's discretion. A case was filed. The contact stated that after the manufacturer contacted the dealer, the dealer doubled the cost of the repair and provided a goodwill discount. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.
I own a 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid VIN: [XXX] that is covered under Recall 232 (the federal safety agency 22V‑459) related to a defective Power Relay Assembly that poses a fire risk. I brought this issue to Hyundai 3 years ago and was told my vehicle was serviced. That turned out to be false. Recently, my car stalled on the road due to the exact electrical issue covered in Recall 232. I had it diagnosed by an independent mechanic, who confirmed it’s tied to the recall. I had the vehicle towed to a Hyundai dealership to have it repaired, but they: •Refused to prioritize the recall inspection •Attempted to charge me $230 for diagnostics •Told me it would take a week or more just to inspect the vehicle •Denied the urgency of the recall, despite the known fire hazard I informed the dealership service manager Tom Swire I was recording, and he still refused to put his denial in writing. I have the recording. Due to their refusal, I was forced to tow the vehicle to a second dealership at my own expense. Hyundai Corporate has opened a case file, but told me I must wait 2–3 days just to speak with a case manager despite this being a federally mandated safety recall tied to real-world safety fire risk. I am requesting the federal safety agency review this case and hold Hyundai and its dealership accountable for failing to honor Recall 232 within a reasonable and safe timeframe. I am also seeking reimbursement for towing and other out-of-pocket costs caused by their mishandling of this urgent safety issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I have had issues with the car losing speed and start to flutter. The last time it did this it locked up my steering wheel and engine cut off this has been an ongoing issue with this car only had it less than a year and the dealership cannot remedy the issue there is some kind of electrical issue because all lights come on car has less than 50k moles on it this is my 5 visit to the dealership with no resolution have contacted the manufacturer
I was driving on the freeway when my car started smoking. Pulled over immediately and 30 seconds later the entire front of the car was engulfed in flames. I hadn’t received a second recall notice, but I did take it in the first time when a fire risk was mentioned.
Electrical resistance main relay
Hello my vehicle VIN number is : [xxx] I import my car from USA to jordan and there are two items for recall . There's a fire smell in the vechicle and my car is broken at the current for the second reason of the recall . The agent refused to replace the parts because it's imported. Note that this recall is for manufacturers ?failure and for all vehicles around the world. Please help and give an opinion. With many thanks information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Questions about the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid electrical
Does the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid have electrical problems?
Owners have filed 16 complaints about the electrical of the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid, 37% of all its complaints, more than any other problem.
At what mileage do 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid electrical problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 40,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid electrical?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
Other 2017 Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid problems
Engine 13Fuel system 12Transmission 7Acceleration 3Brakes 3Driver assistance 2Steering 2Visibility 2Airbags 1Body 1Lights 1Seat belts 1
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