2003 Hyundai Accent

Routine

Owners filed 37 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal8
808
Air Bags6
305
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
000
Power Train3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline2
000
Suspension › Rear › Axle › Spindle1
000
Suspension1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Steering1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed May 7, 201855,000 milesTX

WHEN I START MY CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF

Air Bags
Filed Apr 11, 201612,000 milesVA

THE PASSENGER SEATBELT AIRBAG SENSOR WIRE WAS CAUGHT AND CUT IN NORMAL USE OF THE CAR, WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND SO WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A 3RD PARTY MECHANIC TO FIX IT. WHEN HE ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT PART THROUGH HYUNDAI, THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS ALTERATIONS WHICH FIX THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE. SO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T FIX IT. WHEN IT IS BROKEN THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR AND SO THE AIRBAG WOULD NEVER GO OFF.

Power Train
Filed Dec 10, 201561,870 milesFL

I WAS GETTING ON INTERSTATE 95 & THE CAR JERKED BACK THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED SHIFT IN INTO GEARS & HAS NO REVERSE.

Suspension
Filed Sep 16, 201580,000 milesMA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED ALSO, DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ *CN

Air Bags
Filed Mar 17, 2014167,763 milesLA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,763.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 29, 201160,000 milesCA

MY CAR WAS DRIVEN UNDER 70,000 MILES WHEN MY TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING OUT. I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD NIECE AT THE TIME LEAVING TO GO HOME. MY CAR STARTED VIOLENTLY THRUSTING FORWARD WITH ALL OF US IN THE CAR AND WAS JERKING VIOLENTLY. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CHILD IN THE CAR IN MARCH 2006. AS WE PULLED ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR DID THE SAME THING FOR THE FIRST 10 MILES AND WE WERE SURE WE WERE GOING TO DIE. BUT I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND LET IT COOL DOWN. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT MY PARENTS WE SERVICED THE VEHICLE WHICH I THINK HAD TO BE TOWED AND I WAS GIVEN A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION IN MARCH 2006. DURING THE FALL OF 2007 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE GEARS WERE ACTING UP AS THEY WERE BEFORE AND THE CAR WAS VIOLENTLY THRUSTING FORWARD AND JERKING. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHILE GOING TO WORK WITH MY STUDENTS. I REPORTED IT TO HYUNDAI MOTOR OF AMERICA AND TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS IN SEPTEMBER 2007. THEY INSTALLED A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION AND TOOK CARE OF ANOTHER POWERTRAIN ISSUE AND INSTALLED A NEW ALTERNATOR. HOWEVER IN THE FALL OF 2008 THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET IT FIXED ALTHOUGH THE ALTERNATOR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER I TOOK MY HYUNDAI TO THE DEALER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE IN THE FALL OF 2010 I NOTICED THAT IT WAS ACTING STRANGE. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP AGAIN AND I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH 3 OTHER CARS DUE TO IT'S VIOLENT THRUSTING AND STALLING IN N

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jan 20, 2011SC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT GL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL SHOT BACK OUT. SHE HAD TO CONSTANTLY STOP AND RESTART PUMPING GAS TO AVOID THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE BEGAN DECEMBER 2010 AND OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FUELED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,937.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 24, 201018,250 milesNY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL SPILLED OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IT TOOK 51 CLICKS TO FILL HIS TANK AND IT WAS NOT ECO-FRIENDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,250.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jun 15, 2010CA

FRONT CRASH ..NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SIDE IMPACT CRASH ... NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TWO SEPARATE CRASHES WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO VEHICLE BUT NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT . *TR

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Feb 28, 201075,000 milesNV

2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. RIGHT HEADLIGHT DOESN'T WORK. I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT TWO OR THREE TIMES, HOWEVER IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. WIRING HARNESS IS IN A POSITION THAT THE WIRE IS TOO TIGHT AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED OR REPAIRED. NOT SUFFICIENT SLACK IN WIRING HARNESS. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Feb 15, 200928,000 milesNV

NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS AFTER RUNNUNG INTO FREEWAY CONCRETE EMBANKMENT. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 1, 200883,000 milesWI

2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT, 85K MILES OIL PAN LEAKS, RUSTED THROUGH HOLE (DEALER CONFIRMED), LOST 3 QT OIL WITHIN 2500 MILES. PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. *TR

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Oct 14, 2007NJ

HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~ALTAIR1972M/SCREW_HYUNDAI.MHT. 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. ORIGINAL POSTING WAS 3395 CHARACTERS. MUST CUT TO 2000. DID NOT GET THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE TO THE GALLON. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IF YOU FLOORED IT, AND NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT, TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT. I REPORTED PROBLEMS. THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX TRANSMISSION SLIP SIMPLE DIAGNOSTIC. COMPUTER PROBLEM. ACCELERATOR STICKING COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED AND THEY HAD TO GIVE ME BACK THE CAR IN DEATH TRAP CONDITION. MY BRO IN LAW'S 16 YO BRO CHECKED IT OUT. FOUND MAT WAS CATCHING THE ACCEL. 2 FREEHOLD HYUNDAI TECHS COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT A 16 YEAR OLD COULD. FYI, NHTSA COMPLAINTS LIST HAS BOTH COMPLAINTS FROM SOMEONE ELSE. OVER TIME NOTICED THAT AT WAY MARK, CAR IS SHOWING LESS AND LESS MILEAGE @ SAME AMOUNT OF GAS. WAS 190 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. TODAY AROUND 160. FLASH FORWARD A FEW YEARS. HAD SOME TROUBLE WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP DOWN TO 0 AND THEN NOT MOVE. I WOULD SMACK THE DASHBOARD, HARD, AND IT WOULD CATCH AND BEGIN TO MOVE, BUT CALIBRATED TO NEW SPEED I WAS GOING WHEN I HIT IT AND IT TOOK. AT STOP I'D HEAR CLICK, CLICK AS IT RECALIBRATED ITSELF TO CORRECT SPEED WHEN IT TRIED TO GO PAST 0. TOOK IT IN NEAR IT'S 57K MARK FOR THE PRE 60K INSPECTION. FH DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND NOTHING. A FEW DAYS LATER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE TACH WAS DOING THE SAME THING. TOOK PICS. CALLED FH AND ASKED IF THIS SPEED AT RPM WAS EVER POSSIBLE IN THIS CAR. IT WAS NOT. DEMANDED REPLACEMEN

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 15, 200762,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PULLED AND PUSHED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Nov 28, 2006PA

I WAS TAKING MY KIDS OUT OF TOWN FOR THE HOLIDAY, WE STOPPED AT A REST AREA IN INDIANA, LEFT REST STOP PROCEEDED TO PROPER SPEED HIT A DEER AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR IS A WRECK AND BEYOND REPAIR, SEEKING A LAWYER TO SEE WHAT POSSIBLE ACTIONS CAN BE TAKEN. COULD'VE LOST MY KIDS BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. *JB

Steering
Filed Nov 22, 2006GA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ROADS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Oct 11, 2006IL

IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT APPROX. 35 MPH OUR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN OUR 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT 2DR HATCHBACK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AFTERWARDS WITH SEVERE BRUISING AND SWELLING. WE STILL HAVE BACK PAINS AND STOMACH PAINS FROM THE IMPACT. THE INSURANCE CO. IS STILL INVESTIGATING THE FAULT, BUT DON'T SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAG FAILURE. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA AND THEY'VE SENT ME A PACKAGE SO THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT AND INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 21, 2006MD

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A LARGE COMMERCIAL TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH VEHICLE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VOLKWAGEN SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control
Filed Nov 22, 200529,161 milesTX

MY 2003 HYUNDIA ACCENT ALREADY HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE EMIISION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE SECOND FAILURE ONLY SHOWED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN SHOWED ALL SYSTEMS NORMAL AGIAN. EACH FAILURE WAS FOUND BY DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP BUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE COMPUTER KEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT BUT THE SECOND TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS, ALMOST LIKE THE CAR WAS PRGRAMMED TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. *NM

Seat Belts › Front › WebbingCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 20, 20052,500 milesPA

MY SON WAS DRIVING A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH WITH A FULL SIZE PICK-UP TRUCK. DURING THE CRASH THE SEAT BELT BROKE AND HE WAS THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR RESULTING IN INJURY. HYUNDAI'S INVESTIGATOR CHECK THE CAR AND SAID THE SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN CUT BY EMS. WE CHECKED WITH EMS AND THEY SAID IT IS THEIR POLICY NOT TO CUT SEAT BELTS. THEY ALSO SAID NOBODY CUT OUR SEAT BELT. THIS WAS A NEW CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 2,500 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. *NM

20 of 37 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
2003 — this page37010Routine
2002134125Fatalities reported
2001112240Routine
200092420Routine
199961131Fatalities reported
199847100Routine
199755210Routine
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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.