1997 Hyundai Accent

Routine

Owners filed 55 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 2 times.

Not among the Hyundai Accent years to avoid. Which Hyundai Accent years to avoid →

Most common 1997 Hyundai Accent problems

12 of the 55 complaints (22%) are about the engine.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine8
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission · transmission5
000
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs3
000
Air Bags › On-off Switch Assembly · airbags3
000
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags3
302
Air Bags · airbags3
101
Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut2
000
Power Train › Clutch Assembly · transmission2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly · fuel system2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System · engine2
100

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
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.

All 2 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Jun 13, 2011107,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES ON ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE WERE DETACHING. THE DRIVER SIDE DOORS AND LATCHES WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Air Bags
Filed Dec 19, 200700

DEAR SIR I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE SURPRISING ISSUE IN FRONT OF YOU RELATED TO HYUNDAI ACCENT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW. I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE 401 EAST HIGHWAY, ONTARIO, CANADA ON 16TH DECEMBER 2007 AT 2.35 P.M. MY WIFE AND MY LITTLE ONE AND A HALF YEAR DAUGHTER WERE ALSO ACCOMPANYING ME. I WAS COMING FROM WINDSOR AND HEADING TOWARDS TORONTO. SUDDENLY THE AIR BAG OF THE DRIVER SEAT BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY COLLISION OF MY CAR WITH ANY THING. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE AND MANAGED TO BRING MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE. DUE TO ALMIGHTY'S GRACE NO CAR WAS FOLLOWING ME OTHERWISE THAT WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A DISASTER. I WAS AMAZED TO SEE THIS IN FRONT OF MY EYES THAT HOW COULD AIRBAG OF THE CAR BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY COLLISION. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE SURPRISED YOU TOO THAT HOW COULD YOU MANUFACTURE SUCH A DREADFUL VEHICLE IN WHICH THE PARTS ACTIVATE AT THE WRONG TIME AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS INSTEAD OF ACTIVATING FOR THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS. I AM THANKFUL TO 911 EMERGENCY THAT THEY CAME ON TIME AND TOOK US OUT OF THE SITUATION AND WE MANAGED TO REACH BACK HOME SAFELY. I IMPRESS UPON YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS SERIOUS ISSUE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I AM ALSO INTERESTED TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS AND LEGAL DEPARTMENTS WHICH HAVE AUTHORIZED YOU TO MANUFACTURE CARS WITHOUT TAKING THESE THINGS INTO CONSIDERATION AND THE PASSENGERS HAVE TO PUT THERE LIVES ON RISK DUE TO YOUR SHEER NEGLIGENCE. I WOULD LIKE YOU TO

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Aug 13, 200773,900 milesCT

RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE HITTING ROTOR CRACKING THE ROTOR REPLACED ALL AFFECTED PARTS AT OUR OWN EXPENSE REPLACED COIL SPRING,ROTOR,BRAKE PADS. HYUNDAI SAYS THIS VEHICLE NOT IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS REGISTERED IN THE EFFECTED AREA OF THE RECALL THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY LED TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF IT HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Dec 7, 2004135,000 milesNH

THE SMELL OF FUEL PROMPTED THE CONSUMER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER SINCE THERE WAS A FUEL TANK RECALL. CONSUMER LOCATED A CRACK ON THE FUEL TANK. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL 00V314000. *AK

SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 30, 200465,000 milesPA

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. ALSO, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GUIDING ARM WAS VERY WEAK. THIS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed Nov 19, 2003MD

CONSUMER STATED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP.*AK

Air Bags
Filed Sep 2, 200360,000 milesAZ

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OR NONE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *NLM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 3, 200354,000 milesNY

CAR WAS RETURNED TO HYUNDAI UNDER WARRANTY IN JANUARY 2002. REPORTED TO HAVE A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER AND STARTER. BOTH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LAST WEEK CAR WOULDNT START AGAIN. OUR MECHANIC DIAGNOSED SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT IF CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AS HAVING EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED AND NOT PATCHED UP. HYUNDAI IS NOW REFUSING TO ABSORB COST SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. TORQUE CONVERTERS AND STARTERS DONT GO BAD YEARLY!!! HELP!!

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 2002NE

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL HEAVILY JERK AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jun 24, 2002MO

THE PARTS THAT BROKE WERE ON THE SWAY BAR WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE CONTROL ARM. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 6, 2002CT

WHILE STOPPING, WAS REARENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND PUSHED FORWARD, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER INJURED AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SMASHED. *SLC

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 1, 2002CA

VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Nov 30, 2001DC

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND DIED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Sep 11, 2001MA

FRONT COIL SPRING HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE/MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMAITON.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 8, 2001NY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jun 21, 2001OH

ENGINE WILL TURN OVER BUT NOT START THIS HAPPENS SEV TIMES. *AK

Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
Filed May 3, 2001SC

WE WERE LEAVING FOR VACATION IN NEW JERSEY, DRIVING WESTBOUND ON I-26, AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT, JUST EAST OF THE ST. GEORGE EXIT. WHEN THE SOUND OF AIR RUSHING INTO THE CAR BECAME APPARENT. THE SUN ROOF PREVIOUSLY UNOPENED THAT DAY, STARTED SHAKING, AND FLIPPED BACKWARDS DENTING THE ROOF. THE REAR CATCH BROKE OFF AND THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY THEN FLEW OFF INTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WHICH NARROWLY AVOIDED THE ROOF ASSEMBLY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AS DID WE. THEY TOLD US THEY WERE ALRIGHT AND WE ALL THANKED GOD THEN THEY WERE ON THEIR WAY. IT WAS RATHER LATE IN THE EVENING BUT WE DECIDED TO GO TO THE DEALER ANYWAY. THE GENERAL MANAGER TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO AND TO COME BACK WHEN SERVICE WAS OPEN, THE NEXT MORNING. WE THEN WENT HOME AND CALLED LOCAL POLICE. THEY CALLED THE STATE POLICE, WHO INFORMED US THAT IT WAS A "FREAK-ACCIDENT" AND TO TALK TO THE DEALER AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. ON SATURDAY WE WENT TO THE DEALER AND THE ASSISTANT SERVICE MANAGER, JASON, TOLD US THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO UNTIL MONDAY, WHEN THEY WOULD CHECK FOR A DEFECT. IN THE MEANTIME, HE OBTAINED A RENTAL CAR FROM ENTERPRISE TO CONTINUE OUR TRIP, AND FILED THE CLAIM AS A WARRANTY PROBLEM. UPON TAKING THE CAR HOME WE FOUND THAT THE RENTAL CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO INOPERABLE SIDE MIRRORS, SO WE TOOK OUR OTHER CAR. WE CALLED FROM NEW JERSEY ON MONDAY, BUT JASON WAS NOT IN AND NO ONE ELSE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE HIM CALL. JASON CALLED THURSDAY TO IN

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed May 3, 2001NJ

FOR THE PC SYSTEM PROBLEM, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE PC VALVE WAS LEAKING OIL AROUND IT, SO I REPLACED THE COMPONENT ON MAY 12,2000. BY DECEMBER, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH A NOTED DROP IN PERFORMANCE AND FUEL ECONOMY. SO I DECIDED, BEFORE BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE, TO VISUALLY CHECK THE FLUIDS, AND WEAR COMPONENTS. I ENDED UP FINDING SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE, CREATED BY WATER IN THE OIL. WHEN DODGE/HYUNDAI OF PARAMUS CHECKED-OUT THE CAR THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A CLOGGED PC SYSTEM AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANY, SO I PAID FOR THE WORK. FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LEAKING, AND WHEN THE DEALER IN PARAMUS CHECKED-OUT THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE HAD OVER-TORQUED THE OIL PAN, BLOWING OUT THE GASKET. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE WARRANTEED BY ALTMAN IN N.CHARLESTON, SINCE THEY DID THE 30K CHECK-UP. WHEN I INFORMED ALTMAN, THEY TOLD ME THAT PARAMUS SHOULD HAVE DONE THE WORK AS WARRANTEED. SO, MIKE AT ALTMAN TOLD ME I WOULD RECEIVE A REFUND, BUT I NEVER DID, AND MIKE DOEN'T WORK THERE ANYMORE, AND NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ANYTHING. I TALKED TO HYUN. MOTOR AMER. CUST. SERVICE, AND I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A CALL BACK. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS IF EITHER OF THESE IS COVERED BY WARRANTY, AND IF SO WHAT THEN?

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Mar 29, 2001MA

WATER PUMP AND HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 28, 2001NE

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Mar 28, 2001NE

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF WHILE CONSUMER HAS OWNED VEHICLE. THIS OCCURS MORE FREQUENTLY WHEN GAS TANK IS FILLED TO HALFWAY MARK. DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS OF VEHICLE, AND STILL HAS NOT RESOLVED PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Feb 9, 2001CA

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A CITY STREET AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOAD. ALSO, THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 2, 2001IA

WHEN TRYING TO START VEHICLE SOMETIMES IT MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE OR IT WILL NOT START AT ALL. CONSUMER HAS HAD 2 STARTERS PUT IN. FIRST ONE WAS WITH IN FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OWNING CAR. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 30, 2001NY

CAR STALLS, RUNS ROUGH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER ON 9/17/99 FOR $8,068.96 INCLUDING FINANCE CHARGES. IT HAD 45,490 MILES. NOW IT HAS 68,841 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $1,600 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT TRADING IT IN, THEY TOLD ME THE VALUE OF THE CAR IS ONLY $2,000. HOW DID IT DEPRECIATE SO MUCH IN ONE YEAR? IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS CAR? IS THE DEALER REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION UP TO 100,000 MILES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY?*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust SystemCrash
Filed Sep 21, 2000VA

ON OR ABOUT MARCH 4, 2000, THE SUBJECT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTO ACCIDENT, AT WHICH TIME THE DRIVER REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30-35 MPH. BOTH THE PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SOON THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE LIGHT BECAME ILLUMINATED. AFTER TAKING TO FARRISH IN MANASSAS, VIRGINIA, IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT I THE ENGINE WAS OUT OF TIME. THE TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED AND DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. I WAS THEN TOLD I NEEDED A TUNE-UP, WHICH WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DONE AND DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM, WHICH LEADS TO MY BELIEF THAT THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM. THE CAR NOW HEATS AND GETS HOT TO THE TOUCH AT THE FLOOR BOARD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND HAS FAILED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. I PLAN TOMORROW TO REVOKE MY ACCEPTANCE OF THE VEHICLE.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 25, 2000NC

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S SIDE IMPACT. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FIRST. DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED BURNING BOTH ARMS OF MY DAUGHTER. NO FRONTAL CONTACT AT ALL.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 5, 2000PA

ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASSIONS UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO, ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN ONTO THE DOORS. WINDOWS HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jun 20, 2000NY

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH APPLIED BRAKES, AND THEY FELT VERY MUSHY. CONSUMER'S HUSBAND TOOK OVER & DROVE VEHICLE HOME, AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS GOING ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER WAS CONTACTED & BRAKES WERE REPAIRED. THE CYLINDERS ON BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES WERE LEAKING. THE CYLINDERS WERE CHANGED. MECHANIC SAID THE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE. *AK *ML

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed May 9, 2000VA

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 20 MPH, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed Apr 7, 2000IN

CAR LOT HAS ALREADY REPLACED O2 SENSOR TWICE, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL COMES ON. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 7, 2000MD

TRANSMISSION GEAR GETS STUCK IN PARK AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO DRVE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Structure › Body › Hatchback/Liftgate
Filed Nov 22, 1999DE

THE TWO LONG ARMS ON EACH SIDE OF THE HATCHBACK WINDOWS, LIKE TWO STRUTS, HAVE A BLACK OILY SUBSTANCE COMING OUT OF THE TWO POLES. CONSUMER HAS TO PROP HATCH BACK UP WITH A STICK, CONSUMER FEELS THAT IF DOOR FALLS ON SOMEONE'S HEAD IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS HARM. DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD FIX IT. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Switch
Filed Sep 30, 1999ME

WHEN TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION ENGINE DOES NOT TURN OVER. DEALER HAS REPLACED STARTER/ COMPUTER AN D CRANKSHAFT, BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Jul 27, 1999NY

WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN NOV 1997. THERE WAS A HESITATION PRETTY MUCH FROM THE START...REALLY APPARENT AT 7581. WE BOUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER IN MARCH 1998...THEY ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR IT. IT CONTINUED TO BE A NUISANCE...WE CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN. WE BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO BE REPAIRED ON JUNE 23, 1999. SINCE THEN THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE FAILED 4 TIMES (EACH TIME FAILURE WAS ON PLUG #1 AND #3). IT IS NOW JULY 27, 1999. THE IGNITION WIRES WERE REPLACED JULY 02... ONE OF THE WIRES REPLACED ON JULY 02 WAS REPLACED AGAIN JULY 07. WE HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL FILTER, HAD A THROTTLE BODY SERVICE AND A FUEL INJECTION SERVICE ...ALL TO NO AVAIL....THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THAN EVER. THE HESITATION OCCURS MOST OFTEN WHEN THE WEATHER IS AT HIGH TEMPERATURES , BUT CAN ALSO HAPPEN AT OTHER TIMES. I NOTICED THE ELANTRA DOHC ENGINE HAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WIRING...DOHC SPARK PLUG WIRE ROUTING PROBLEMS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. I WONDER IF THAT'S OUR PROBLEM ...OUR ACCENT GT IS ALSO A DOHC ENGINE !

Suspension › Front › Macpherson Strut
Filed Jul 14, 1999NJ

STRUTS FAILED. MJS

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 6, 1999MD

AUTOMATIC FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING LOCKED. ALSO, CLUTCH FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. ENGINE LIFTERS ALSO WENT OUT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jun 30, 1999MA

VEHICLE HESITATES WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED, DEALER HAS REPLACED VACUUM LINES, COIL PACK, HOSES, CRANK SENSOR BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST, DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED NO ABNORMALITIES. *ET

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed May 10, 1999VA

GREASE FROM FITTINGS FOR MASTER CYLINDER FOR CLUTCH GETS IN FLUID CAUSING THE INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. MJS

Air Bags › On-off Switch Assembly
Filed Mar 3, 1999WI

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON A AIRBAG ON/OFF SWITCH

Air Bags › On-off Switch Assembly
Filed Mar 3, 1999WI

THIS IS A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFO FOR ON/OFF SWITCH FOR AIRBAGS

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm
Filed Feb 10, 1999OH

I JUST WANTED TO ADD THAT THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR WHILE NOT FATAL AT THE PRESENT TIME COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN SOMETHING FATAL IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE NEAREST HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP, AND I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PRETTY MUCH MY PROBLEM. THE CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND TAKEN CARE OF. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR WITH LESS THAT 37000 MILES ON IT. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE CAR, BUT I DO NOT HAE THE MONEY TO FIX IT. THAT IS THE REASON WHY I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW CAR. IF SOMEONE COULD HELP ME ON THIS IT WOULD BE GREAT. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Feb 1, 1999CA

SHIFT LEVER FAILED CAUSING GEAR TO STICK WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. *TT

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Dec 30, 1998MI

DEALER IS NOT HONORING MFR. RECALL NOTICE REGARDING CORROSION OF FRONT COIL SPRINGS. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Dec 23, 1998OH

WHEN PUTTING GAS INTO THE TANK THERE IS A GRIDING SOUND COMING FROM THE VEHICLE, AND THE ONLY THING THAT IS MOVING IS THE GAUGE. VEHICLE ISN'T MOVING. VEHICLE WILL KICK IN AND THEN TAKE OFF. SOMETIMES WHEN THE CONSUMER IS COMING TO A STOP SIGN, HE WILL PUT THE VEHICLE INTO PARK JUST SO THE VEHICLE WON'T CUT OFF. THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP ABOUT SIX TIMES OR MORE, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Dec 8, 1998FL

BESIDES THE CLUTCH I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES, SUN VISOR,THE TRUNK LIGHT AND WITH THE CAR STARTING. *MJS

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 7, 1998NY

NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Nov 23, 1998MA

VEHICLE TOOK OFF BACKWARDS WHEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS TURNED ON, AND HIT ANOTHER CAR. INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN, AND DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. REPAIR WORK WAS DONE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 6, 1998MO

CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN HE REAR ENDED A PONTIAC. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SLOWLY INFLATED. THE BLOCK DID NOT MOVE PROPERLY, IT WAS STUCK ON THE LEFT SIDE, ALLOWING THE AIR BAG TO INFLATE TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER WAS THROWN INTO THE WINDSHIELD, THE PASSENGER SIDE BAG DID DEPLOY PROPERLY. ALSO, DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

Air Bags › On-off Switch Assembly
Filed Aug 19, 1998NJ

OWNER DENIED AN AIRBAG CUTOFF SWITCH BY MANUFACTURER. REQUEST WAS MADE TO ALLOW A TODDLER TO RIDE IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 27, 1998IA

WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED OR SLOWS DOWN IT STALLS. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE 4 TIMES. *AK

Complaints 1-50 of 55, newest first, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2012
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
202217210Routine
202116410Routine
202012410Routine
201931110Routine
201819140Routine
201768030Routine
2016103040Routine
2015702110Routine
201479190Routine
2013142190Routine
2012153281Fatalities reported
201138100Routine
201087100Routine
2009101210Routine
2008101110Routine
200788310Routine
200643301Fatalities reported
200549130Routine
200433020Routine
200337010Routine
2002134125Fatalities reported
2001112240Routine
200092420Routine
199961131Fatalities reported
199847100Routine
1997 — this page55210Routine
1996101420Routine
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: Oct 6, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.