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How to check a used Hyundai IONIQ Electric battery: size, recalls, warranty and health (UK)
Published · Last updated · based on 12 sourced IONIQ Electric data points and 12 sources
The original Hyundai IONIQ Electric hatchback (2016–2022, not the IONIQ 5) came with a 28 kWh or a 38.3 kWh battery. Single-car tests show low wear for its age, but there are three things to check on a used one: a June 2026 UK battery recall (R/2026/159) for cars built from December 2018, whether the 8-year battery warranty has already run out (it has for the earliest cars), and whether the car was used for private hire, which shortens Hyundai's cover. This guide covers each check.
All figures with method and date: used Hyundai IONIQ Electric battery data. Going to a viewing? Make a printable list of questions for the seller. Sister Hyundai guides: Kona Electric · IONIQ 5.
1. Battery size: 28 or 38.3 kWh
| Version | Usable battery | Nominal | Chemistry / cells | Sold in the UK (EV Database) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IONIQ Electric (original) | 28.0 kWh | 30.5 kWh | NMC622 (cell count not listed) | October 2016 – August 2019 | EV Database |
| IONIQ Electric (facelift) | 38.3 kWh | 40.4 kWh | NMC622, 176 cells (88s2p) | October 2019 – July 2022 | EV Database |
EV Database UK listings, checked 2026-11-07. The facelift is easy to spot by year: anything first registered from late 2019 should have the 38.3 kWh pack. Check the V5C and the advert.
- Compare a test result only with the same pack. Most of our test data is for the 28 kWh car.
- Don't mix it up with the IONIQ 5 (2021-on), a different car with much bigger batteries.
2. Check the battery recalls
DVSA's recall file (DVSA; IONIQ rows checked 2026-11-07 against the 31 October 2026 download) lists two high-voltage battery recalls for the IONIQ Electric:
| DVSA recall | Launched | Problem | Fix | Cars and build dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R/2026/159 (Hyundai ref 61D018) | 15/06/2026 | Internal cell voltage deviation in the high-voltage battery, with a risk of an electrical short circuit inside the battery. Until updated, Hyundai recommends parking in a well-ventilated area; the car can be used as normal. | Battery software update, or battery replacement if required | 8,299 cars built 06/12/2018 – 16/07/2022 (late 28 kWh and facelift cars) |
| R/2021/087 (Hyundai ref IONIQ 11D044) | 23/04/2021 | Potential electrical short in the lithium-ion battery | Charge limit first, then complete battery replacement | 1,214 cars (Kona Electric and IONIQ EV) built 01/06/2019 – 31/01/2020 |
- R/2021/087 is the same worldwide campaign as the Kona Electric battery recall: Hyundai said in February 2021 it would replace batteries in 5,716 IONIQ Electric cars as well as 75,680 Konas (BBC News). A car that had it done may have a newer battery – ask for the paperwork.
- Other IONIQ Electric recalls in the file are not about the battery: R/2022/004 (accelerator, 1,139 cars built 2016–2019) and R/2018/103 (coolant leak into the power control unit, 148 cars built 2016–2017).
- The recall file can lag behind new campaigns, so it isn't proof that a car is clear. Run the free GOV.UK recall check on the registration (GOV.UK) and ask a Hyundai dealer to check the VIN and show that R/2026/159 has been done.
3. Check the battery warranty – it may already have ended
Hyundai UK's warranty terms (July 2024, Hyundai Motor UK) say:
- 8 years or 125,000 miles from first registration for "existing production models first produced prior to 2020", and 8 years or 100,000 miles for newer models. The repair brings capacity back to at least 70%. EV Database also lists 8 years / 125,000 miles for the 38.3 kWh car (EV Database). Ask a Hyundai dealer to confirm which applies to the VIN.
- Taxi, private hire or driving school use: 5 years or 100,000 miles. The IONIQ Electric was popular for private hire, so ask the seller and check the history. Ask Hyundai whether earlier private-hire use changes the cover for that car.
- Count the years from the V5C first-registration date. A car first registered before November 2018 is now more than 8 years old, so its battery cover has ended. Facelift 38.3 kWh cars (from October 2019) stay inside the 8 years until at least late 2027, mileage permitting.
- A replaced battery is only covered for what's left of the original warranty, and changes to battery performance caused by Hyundai software updates aren't covered (Hyundai Motor UK).
- Our battery warranty checker works out the time and mileage left from the registration date.
4. Get a battery reading you can trust
- Don't rely on the car's own figure. On the one IONIQ Electric AVILOO report we found that prints both, the car's own battery management system said 100% while the independent test gave 94.8% (SOHteszt.hu).
- An independent test (AVILOO GmbH) or a measured capacity reading gives a figure you can compare with the table below. UK options and prices: UK battery test comparison. To read the result: certificate guide.
5. Compare the result with other IONIQ Electrics
- No large study or AVILOO median is published for the IONIQ Electric. Every figure below is a single car (n=1).
- 28 kWh, 8 measured-capacity tests by Bjørn Nyland (Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results) and 2 logged discharge tests by fDrive.cz (fDrive.cz): 94.2%–98.5% below 150,000 km, 82.7%–96.6% from 150,000 km up. The highest-mileage car, at 321,000 km (≈199,460 miles), measured 82.7%.
- One 28 kWh car was tested twice: 96.9% at 92,000 km, then 86.5% at 207,000 km, about seven years later. Wear can speed up at high mileage, so an old, high-mileage car should be tested rather than assumed fine.
- 38.3 kWh: 2 Hungarian AVILOO rows (94.0%–94.8%). Both show 87,287 km, so they are probably the same car reported twice, once by the test company and once in a pre-purchase dataset.
- As a rule of thumb for all EVs, ADAC expects at least 92% at 50,000 km, 88% at 100,000 km, 84% at 150,000 km, 80% at 200,000 km (ADAC).
- Compare the IONIQ Electric with other older small EVs on the battery degradation chart, or get a quick estimate with the battery health estimator.
Every IONIQ Electric single-car result we have (n=1 each)
| Car | Mileage | SoH | Sample | Measured by | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Ioniq 28 kWh | 50,000 km ≈ 31,069 mi | 94.2% | n=1 | Measured usable capacity (drive/discharge test) | Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results (rows dated 2019-01-15 to 2026-10-14 (each row has its own test date)) Single car (n=1), Bjørn Nyland test 2022-08-25: 24.5 kWh usable vs 26 kWh new. |
| Ioniq Electric 28 kWh (2018, car A) | 78,000 km ≈ 48,467 mi | 95.5% | n=1 | Logged discharge test | fDrive.cz (2022-04-09) 26.7 kWh measured vs 28 kWh nominal (4.5% loss). About 50/50 AC/DC charging. |
| 2018 Ioniq 28 kWh | 85,000 km ≈ 52,817 mi | 95.8% | n=1 | Measured usable capacity (drive/discharge test) | Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results (rows dated 2019-01-15 to 2026-10-14 (each row has its own test date)) Single car (n=1), Bjørn Nyland test 2023-11-27: 24.9 kWh usable vs 26 kWh new. |
| Ioniq Electric 38.3 kWh | 87,287 km ≈ 54,238 mi | 94.0% | n=1 | AVILOO FLASH Test (independent SoH) | EVX / Flooratto Kft. (2026-10-01) Single car, n=1. Hungary, tested 2026 (pre-purchase inspection). Likely the same Hungarian car as dp0770 (same mileage 87,287 km; values 94 vs 94.8 via two sources). |
| Ioniq Electric 38.3 kWh, Hungarian car (sheet ST-202609-004) | 87,287 km ≈ 54,238 mi | 94.8% | n=1 | AVILOO FLASH Test (independent SoH) | SOHteszt.hu (2026-09 (measurement month; exact day withheld by the publisher)) Single car (n=1), Hungary, measured September 2026. Car's own BMS SoH on the same report: 100%. Likely the same Hungarian car as dp0294 (same mileage 87,287 km; values 94.8 vs 94 via two sources). |
| 2016 Ioniq 28 kWh | 90,000 km ≈ 55,923 mi | 98.5% | n=1 | Measured usable capacity (drive/discharge test) | Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results (rows dated 2019-01-15 to 2026-10-14 (each row has its own test date)) Single car (n=1), Bjørn Nyland test 2024-07-30: 25.6 kWh usable vs 26 kWh new. |
| 2016 Ioniq 28 kWh (car EK38998) | 92,000 km ≈ 57,166 mi | 96.9% | n=1 | Measured usable capacity (drive/discharge test) | Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results (rows dated 2019-01-15 to 2026-10-14 (each row has its own test date)) Single car (n=1), Bjørn Nyland test 2019-09-01: 25.2 kWh usable vs 26 kWh new. Same car re-tested in 2026 (next row). |
| 2018 Ioniq 28 kWh | 162,000 km ≈ 100,662 mi | 93.1% | n=1 | Measured usable capacity (drive/discharge test) | Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results (rows dated 2019-01-15 to 2026-10-14 (each row has its own test date)) Single car (n=1), Bjørn Nyland test 2024-04-10: 24.2 kWh usable vs 26 kWh new. |
| 2016 Ioniq 28 kWh (car EK38998) | 207,000 km ≈ 128,624 mi | 86.5% | n=1 | Measured usable capacity (drive/discharge test) | Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results (rows dated 2019-01-15 to 2026-10-14 (each row has its own test date)) Single car (n=1), Bjørn Nyland test 2026-02-18: 22.5 kWh usable vs 26 kWh new. Same car as the 2019 test. |
| 2017 Ioniq 28 kWh | 217,000 km ≈ 134,838 mi | 88.8% | n=1 | Measured usable capacity (drive/discharge test) | Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results (rows dated 2019-01-15 to 2026-10-14 (each row has its own test date)) Single car (n=1), Bjørn Nyland test 2025-04-07: 23.1 kWh usable vs 26 kWh new. |
| Ioniq Electric 28 kWh (2018, car B) | 224,000 km ≈ 139,187 mi | 96.6% | n=1 | Logged discharge test | fDrive.cz (2022-04-09) 27.04 kWh measured vs 28 kWh nominal (3.4% loss). ~80% DC rapid charging. |
| 2016 Ioniq 28 kWh | 321,000 km ≈ 199,460 mi | 82.7% | n=1 | Measured usable capacity (drive/discharge test) | Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results (rows dated 2019-01-15 to 2026-10-14 (each row has its own test date)) Single car (n=1), Bjørn Nyland test 2026-03-04: 21.5 kWh usable vs 26 kWh new. Very high mileage. |
8 Norwegian measured-capacity tests, 2 Czech logged discharge tests and 2 Hungarian AVILOO rows (probably one car). None are UK cars; single cars show the spread, not an average. Every row is also on the IONIQ Electric data page. Tested a UK IONIQ Electric? Add your result.
6. Battery replacement cost (UK)
We have not found a verifiable, dated UK price for a new IONIQ Electric battery from Hyundai, so we don't quote one. Inside the warranty, a battery below 70% capacity is Hyundai's to repair or replace (Hyundai Motor UK). Many 28 kWh cars are now outside the 8 years, so for those get a written quote from a Hyundai dealer or an EV battery specialist before you buy. General UK figures are in our EV battery replacement cost guide.
Also see: Hyundai Kona Electric battery check and recalls · battery data at 100,000 miles and beyond · general used-EV battery checklist · battery problem after buying: your rights (UK) · all models compared.
Sources used on this page
12 sources · 12 data points: 10 from non-AVILOO methods, 2 measured with AVILOO tests.
- Single-car tests (4 sources, 12 data points): Bjørn Nyland / TB Test Results, fDrive.cz, EVX / Flooratto Kft., SOHteszt.hu
- Manufacturer (1 source): Hyundai Motor UK
- Other (specs, guides, news, surveys) (7 sources): EV Database, [2], DVSA, GOV.UK, BBC News, AVILOO GmbH, ADAC
Owner-reported and listing values are single cars (n=1) read from the car, an app or an OBD tool – useful examples, not averages. Range-retention figures (Recurrent) measure range, not capacity. Full details: methodology & all sources.
We are not paid by the battery-test providers mentioned on this page. Links marked "paid link" in the "Useful products and services" box are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
Get this specific car tested
We are not paid by these test providers. How we make money.
Model averages can't tell you about the car in front of you. An independent battery test (typically a short OBD plug-in test, some remote) gives an SoH figure and often a certificate you can use when negotiating.
- AVILOO – Independent OBD-based battery test (FLASH / Premium) with certificate; available via partners in the UK and EU.
- Generational – UK OBD plug-in test with certificate (SoH, range, remaining warranty, cell balance); sold through dealers and independent mobile testers.
- Moba – Postal OBD kit: you run the test yourself and post the box back for a digital battery certificate (Europe – check vehicle support and delivery country).
Prices change – check the provider's site. Provider names are used for identification only. Compare all UK options and prices: EV battery health check UK.
Useful products and services
- Charging cable: check that the car comes with its charging cable(s) at the viewing. If one is missing, replacements are sold separately: Ioniq Electric charging cables at EV King paid link.
- Tyres: check tread depth and wear at the viewing. To price replacements, search by the size printed on the tyre wall: car tyres at Tyres UK paid link.
- Leasing instead of buying used (UK): if you'd rather not take on an older battery, you can compare electric car lease deals: EV lease deals at Leasing.com paid link.
- Parts and tools: wiper blades, bulbs, 12V batteries and tools for the car you buy: GSF Car Parts paid link (UK).
Some links are paid links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This never changes the battery data we show (disclosure).
FAQ
What size battery does a Hyundai IONIQ Electric have?
Two sizes. Cars sold in the UK from October 2016 to August 2019 have about 28.0 kWh usable (30.5 kWh nominal). The facelifted car sold from October 2019 to July 2022 has 38.3 kWh usable (40.4 kWh nominal, 176 cells). Both are NMC lithium-ion packs, according to EV Database. The IONIQ Electric is a different car from the IONIQ 5.
What is the IONIQ Electric battery warranty in the UK?
Hyundai UK's warranty terms (July 2024) cover the high-voltage battery for 8 years or 125,000 miles from first registration for models first produced before 2020, and 8 years or 100,000 miles for newer models, with repairs to bring capacity back to at least 70%. Cars used as a taxi, for private hire or by a driving school get 5 years or 100,000 miles. Count the 8 years from the V5C first-registration date and ask a Hyundai dealer to confirm the cover for the VIN.
Is there an IONIQ Electric battery recall in the UK?
Yes. DVSA lists R/2026/159 (launched 15 June 2026): some IONIQ Electric cars built between 6 December 2018 and 16 July 2022 may have internal cell voltage deviation in the high-voltage battery, with a risk of a short circuit. The fix is a battery software update, or a replacement if required; until then Hyundai recommends parking in a well-ventilated area. An earlier battery recall, R/2021/087, covered cars built June 2019 to January 2020. Run the GOV.UK recall check and ask Hyundai for proof the work was done.
How much does an IONIQ Electric battery degrade?
There is no large study for this model. The 10 single-car capacity tests we found for the 28 kWh car read 94.2%–98.5% below 150,000 km and 82.7%–96.6% above it, down to 82.7% at 321,000 km. The 38.3 kWh car has one independent Hungarian result (94.8% at 87,287 km). These are single cars, not an average.
Can I trust the IONIQ Electric's own battery figure?
Not on its own. On the one IONIQ Electric AVILOO report we found that also prints the car's own figure, the car said 100.0% while the independent test gave 94.8%. Get an independent test or a measured capacity reading.
How much does an IONIQ Electric battery replacement cost in the UK?
We have not found a verifiable, dated UK price for a new IONIQ Electric battery from Hyundai, so we do not quote one. Inside the warranty, a battery below 70% capacity is Hyundai's responsibility. For an older car, get a written quote from a Hyundai dealer before you buy.
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