Tesla Dominates the Most Dangerous EV List in 2025

The Hyundai Ioniq is the most dangerous electric car, with the highest 5.3 crash rate and 52 recalls over the three years.
Tesla dominates the dangerous EV list with models S, Y, and 3, all ranking among the five least safe electric cars in the US market.
The Kia Nero EV is also named among the unsafe electric cars, recording 50 crashes from 188K vehicles sold.

While EV sales continue to grow, over 30% of Americans cite safety concerns as their primary hesitation about buying an electric car. A new study by the auto parts manufacturer Yijin Hardware examined different EV models to identify which electric vehicles are most dangerous to drive in 2025.

The research evaluated electric cars using three safety indicators, such as crash rates per 10K vehicles sold over a three-year period, recall history, and safety ratings from independent surveys. EVs were ranked on a 100-point scale, with lower scores indicating poorer overall safety.

Here’s a look at the 5 most dangerous electric vehicles in 2025:

Car Model	Total Crashes	Crashes per 10k cars	Number of Recalls
Hyundai Ioniq	30	5.3	52
Kia Niro EV	50	2.6	5
Tesla Model S	58	2.2	158
Tesla Model Y	110	1.4	255
Tesla Model 3	194	1.8	172

You can access the complete research findings here.

The Hyundai Ioniq ranks as the most dangerous electric vehicle on American roads. The Korean sedan registered 30 crashes among its relatively small fleet, resulting in 5.26 accidents per 10K, twice the rate of the second-placed EV. The Ioniq also had 52 recall cases over three years and reported below-average safety scores in surveys.

The Kia Niro EV is the second most dangerous model in the study. This compact crossover experienced 50 total crashes among its 188K sold units, which translates to an elevated 2.65 crash rate. The Niro EV’s safety rating from independent evaluators is also close to average.

Next on the list is the Tesla Model S. The luxury sedan was involved in 58 crashes (260K ownership base), which equals a 2.21 incident rate. The Model S also had 158 separate recalls in the past years, almost 2 times more than the study average.

Tesla Model Y holds fourth place among risky EVs. Tesla has sold over 800K of these models and recorded 110 crashes among them. Model Y has been recalled 255 times, more than any other electric vehicle.

Tesla Model 3 completes the list of five most dangerous electric vehicles in the US. This mass-market sedan has been sold over 1M times, registering 194 crashes, more than any other EV (1.83 incident rate). With 172 recalls issued since launch, the Model 3 had to undergo frequent fault corrections like other Tesla series.

“EVs are built with advanced features, yet the pressure to launch models quickly can mean problems show up after cars are already on the road,” says Gavin Yi, CEO of Yijin Hardware. “On top of that, the rapid pace of software updates means safety depends not only on physical parts but also on how quickly manufacturers fix digital issues. The good news is that most automakers are improving their processes and support, which should help drivers feel more confident as the EV market continues to grow.”

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