1996 Hyundai Accent

Routine

Owners filed 101 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal18
15213
Power Train › Automatic Transmission12
000
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm9
000
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs5
100
Structure › Body › Door5
000
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch5
000
Visibility › Windshield3
000
Suspension › Front3
000
Air Bags3
000
Unknown or Other2
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm02V341000
Filed Dec 20, 200246,828 vehiclesHyundai Motor Company

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DURING WINTER MONTHS, LARGE QUANTITIES OF SALT ARE USED TO DE-ICE ROADS. THIS ROAD SALT COULD RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS.

Risk. SEVERE CORROSION COULD RESULT IN PERFORATION AND POTENTIAL FRACTURE OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM. IF THIS FRACTURE OCCURS, THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY REMAINS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS THROUGH THE FORWARD LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT POINT AND THROUGH THE STRUT ATTACHMENT TO THE UPPER WHEELHOUSE. REDUCED CONTROL OF THE FRONT WHEEL LOCATION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON JUNE 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs98V245000
Filed Oct 6, 199864,967 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. DURING WINTER MONTHS, THE ROAD SALT USED TO DE-ICE ROADS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION THAT CAUSES PITS TO FORM ON THE LOWER COIL OF THE FRONT SPRINGS ALLOWING CRACKS TO DEVELOP. THIS CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE LOWER SPRING COIL.

Risk. IF THE FRONT COIL SPRING BREAKS, IT CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROM ITS SEATED POSITION, AND CAN CONTACT A TIRE. TIRE DAMAGE CAN RESULT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING GUIDE TO PREVENT A BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING AND DAMAGING A TIRE.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer › Motor97V026000
Filed Feb 26, 199774,965 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

Defect. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Risk. THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm96V113000
Filed Jul 1, 199623,070 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

Defect. THROUGH CONTACT WITH ROAD HAZARDS AND CURBS, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION.

Risk. THE SHIFTED LOCATION CAN RESULT IN IMPROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MEMBER ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT TO THE UNDERBODY.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension › Front
Filed May 2, 2011120,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED, THE TIRE TURNED SIDEWAYS INTO THE FENDER AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REFERENCED RECALL 02V341000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Sep 26, 2007109,477 milesKY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE SUSPENSION SPLIT IN HALF DUE TO CORROSION AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM COLLAPSED. HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND DROVE BACK INTO HIS DRIVEWAY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V341000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD REPLACE SOME OF THE PARTS AND WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,477. UPDATED 03/06/08. *LJ

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Aug 8, 200673,000 milesMA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL # 02V341000 FOR THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN AUGUST OF 2003. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS REPLACED IN 2005 AND THE LEFT SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST 8, 2006, AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS NO RECALL IN THE COMPANY DATABASE. THE CONTACT SHOWED THE SERVICE DEALER A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER.

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Feb 28, 200698,000 milesMN

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED FOR OTHER RECALLS, UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS AND UPPER MOUNTING BRACKETS WERE CRACKED. THERE IS NHTSA RECALL # 98V245000, REGARDING THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN 1999 HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm
Filed Jan 31, 2006IL

THERE WAS A RECALL ON A 96 HYUNDAI ACCENT, RECEIVED LETTER IN MAIL ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO, TOOK CAR TO REPAIR CENTER AT THAT TIME TECH SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. ON JAN 30,2006 WAS DRIVING CAR AND FRONT CONTROL ARM SNAPPED PERTAINING TO THE RECALL THAT WAS DONE. CALLED HYUNDAI CORP WAS JUST TOLD TO WAIT FOR PAPER WORK AND INVESTIGATION EVEN THOUGH IF I WERE GOING AT A HIGH SPEED THE POLICE OFFICER SAID THE CAR COULD HAVE FLIPPED AND CAUSED MORE DAMAGE. I HOLD HYUNDAI CORP LIABLE FOR NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM WHEN THEY DID THE RECALL, IT SEEM TO ME LIKE THEY WERE MORE WORRIED AT OFFERING ME MORE SERVICES AT FEE THEN ACTUALLY FIXING THE PROBLEM AT THE TIME I WAS A THE SHOP. IF THEY DON'T ACT WITHIN A TIMELY MANNER TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM I BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD INTERVENE. *NM

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Feb 27, 200574,500 milesCA

MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, 4TH GEAR, OR REVERSE. (INTO ANY OF THE DOWN SHIFTING POSITIONS) THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PATTERN TO PREDICT WHEN THIS PROBLEM WILL APPEAR. I'VE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON SURFACE STREETS, FREEWAYS, AND WHEN JUST STARTING THE CAR OR MID TRIP. *JB

Steering
Filed Jan 15, 200426,000 milesNY

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE PASSENGER SIDE COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL. THIS WAS PROBABLY CAUSED BY THE SALT USED ON ROADS DURING WINTER.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 23, 2003MI

WAS IN A CAR CRASH WHERE THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVERS SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WAS TRAVLING AT APROXIMATELY 35MPH. NO AIRBAG DEPLOY. FILED A CLAIM WITH HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY. THEN SOLD THE CAR TO A FRIEND OF MINE. SHE THEN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND APROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS AGO, SHE WAS T-BONED IN THE SAME VEHICLE. THE JAWS OF LIFE WERE NEEDED TO GET HER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOY. *LA

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Nov 19, 2003MA

WHILE DRIVING, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. *AK RECALL#02V341000 *SCC *JB

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Oct 29, 2003190,300 milesIL

DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL 02V341000 REPAIRS FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THEY INDICATED THAT THE PART DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WITHIN 2500 MILES OF THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTION THE RECALL DEFECT OCCURRED. BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE BALL JOINT RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE OTHER HAD DEVELOPED A FRACTURE.*AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Oct 7, 2003NY

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V245000 CONCERNING FRONT COIL SPRING. THE DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE COULD NOT FIX IT DUE TO THE STRUTS BEING CORRODED.*AK

Unknown or Other
Filed Sep 11, 2003CA

I HAVE THREE DOORS ON MY CAR THAT THE HANDLES HAVE BROKEN. I HAVE FIXED ONE BUT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE AND AFTER I FIXED IT THE INSIDE OF IT BROKE.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Upper Ball Joint
Filed Jul 25, 2003OH

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE. *AK

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Jul 18, 2003109,263 milesNY

THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED WHEN THE DRIVER TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. *NLM *TS *JB

Structure › Body › Door › Hinge and Attachments
Filed Jul 18, 200358,000 milesMD

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN VEHICLE'S DOOR BY LIFTING THE HANDLE, A SPRING POPPED OUT. THIS RESULTED IN DOOR HANDLE NOT OPERATING. THIS WAS THE THIRD HANDLE THAT BROKE. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Jun 26, 2003FL

THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE BROKE OFF. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED, THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME. *AK

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Jun 10, 2003103,000 milesOH

MY CAR WITH VIN: [XXX] HAS THE PROBLEMS SPECIFIED IN RECALL #02V341000 LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM HAS BROKEN WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I CHECKED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AT 1 800 633 5151 AND THEY SAID THAT THE RECALL DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS VEHICLE. HOWEVER, THE CAR MEETS ALL THE CONDITIONS AS DESCRIBED ON THE RECALL DESCRIPTION:THE CAR WAS MADE IN THE PERIOD STATED IN RECALL AND IS OWNED IN THE APPLICABLE REGIONS.*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Steering › Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
Filed Jun 4, 2003MN

WHILE TRAVELING 30MPH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING STEERING WHEEL BROKE OFF. *AK

Latches/Locks/Linkages › Doors › Latch
Filed Apr 30, 2003LA

I HAVE A 1996 HYUNDIA ACCENT ,I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HANDLE 3 TIMES. THE FIRST TIME THE DEALER SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO ORDER ONE ,BUT THIS LAST TIME HE HAD PLENTY IN STOCK ,HE SAID HE KEEPS A GOOD STOCK BECAUSE SO MANY BREAK.THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU WERE IN A WRECK AND COULD NOT GET OUT. IN LOUISIANA YOU CAN NOT GET AN INSPECTION STICKER WITH OUT THIS HANDLE IN WORKING ORDER.

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Mar 28, 200358,000 milesNY

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #02V341000 LOWER CONTROL ARM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *JB THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL #02V341000 LOWER CONTROL ARM, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CONSUMER INCLUDED RECEIPT FROM PREVIOUS REPAIRS. *MR

20 of 101 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2012
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202216210Routine
202116410Routine
202012410Routine
201930110Routine
201819140Routine
201768030Routine
2016100030Routine
2015692100Routine
201479190Routine
2013141190Routine
2012153281Fatalities reported
201138100Routine
201087100Routine
2009101210Routine
2008101110Routine
200788310Routine
200643301Fatalities reported
200549130Routine
200433020Routine
200337010Routine
2002134125Fatalities reported
2001112240Routine
200092420Routine
199961131Fatalities reported
199847100Routine
199755210Routine
1996 — this page101420Routine
1995142510Routine
19931000Routine
19912000Routine

Compare every Accent year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Dec 20, 2002. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.