2004 Hyundai Accent

Routine

Owners filed 33 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags6
515
Steering3
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission3
002
Air Bags › Frontal3
202
Tires2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
100
Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Unknown or Other1
100
Suspension › Rear1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 23, 201867,505 milesPA

SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AT REGULAR SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE OCTOBER 2017. THE LATEST INCIDENT ON 4/23/2018.

Suspension › Rear
Filed Aug 15, 201695,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A SEVERE VIBRATION WAS FELT FROM THE REAR WHEELS. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ *TR

Air BagsCrashFire
Filed Nov 30, 201579,000 milesPA

TAKATA RECALL ON 11/29/2015 DRIVING ON PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE GOING 60-65 MPH VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED. IMPACT TOTALED CAR. HOOD CRUMBLED UP, HEADLIGHT WITH COMPLETE HOUSING DESTROYED, RADIATOR SPILLED FLUID, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MY HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD. NO WEATHER ISSUES. ACCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 12:30 PM. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND CAR TOWED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

Steering
Filed Aug 7, 2015TX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE AN UNKNOWN PART WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 9, 201582,000 milesME

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHICH AIR BAG CAUSED THE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Oct 9, 201432,000 milesCO

WIFE, 64,WAS DRIVING OUR ONE-OWNER 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT GL ON PRIVATE ROAD APPROX 15 MPH WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OF ANY SORT TO VEHICLE. WIFE WAS BADLY BRUISED ON ARMS AND FACE AND WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED BY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER WHEN BAGS DEPLOYED. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT SHE WAS NOT ON BUSY STREET OR ON INTERSTATE AS THIS WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY RESULTED IN A WRECK WITH SEVERE BODILY INJURY OR POSSIBLE DEATH. LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP (PERKINS MOTORS, COLORADO SPRINGS) REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. HYUNDAI HQ CUSTOMER SERVICE COMMITTED TO "SENDING US A PACKET OF PAPERWORK TO BE FILLED OUT AND RETURNED TO THEM BY US AND THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US IN 6 TO 8 WEEKS ONCE IT WAS RECEIVED TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING." NO ONE FROM HYUNDAI HAS EXPRESSED ANY INTEREST IN SEEING THE VEHICLE OR RESPONDING TO A POTENTIALLY VERY HAZARDOUS VEHICLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LACK OF ANY SENSE OF OBLIGATION TO SEE WHAT WENT WRONG AND HOW IT MIGHT BE AVOIDED IN THE FUTURE. THEIR ATTITUDE IS THAT IT'S OUR PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE DOESN'T CONCERN THEM IN THE SLIGHTEST. *TR

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 28, 201430,000 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP THE DRIVER WAS DISTRACTED BY CHILDREN PLAYING IN STREET. THE DRIVER VEERED RIGHT STRIKING A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TOTAL. *JS

Steering
Filed Sep 25, 20122,466 milesCA

AT 2,466 MILES, CAR PULLS TO RIGHT, AND IS DIFFICULT TO HOLD STEADY WHEN TURNING AT HIGH SPEEDS. TAKEN TO BURLINGAME HYUNDAI DEALER FOR REPAIR. TIRES WERE ROTATED. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. AT 4,782 MILES CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AGAIN FOR STEERING DIFFICULTY, FEELS LIKE THERE IS A TIRE GOING FLAT. FOUND THAT LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS BENT. TIRES ROTATED AGAIN, BENT WHEEL ON LEFT REAR, REPLACEMENT PART ORDERED. (UNDER WARRANTY) AT 5,393 MILES, CAR SHAKES AT ANY SPEED. BENT WHEEL WILL NOT BALANCE. REPLACEMENT PART SUPPOSEDLY PUT ON CAR. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. AT 25,616 MILES CAR TAKEN TO SAN FRANCISCO HYUNDAI FOR MULTI-POINT INSPECTION. DEALER RECOMMENDED 2 NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. AT 25,797 MILES, CAR TAKEN TO ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER FOR ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES. CUSTOMER WAS TOLD THAT ALL 4 TIRES WERE ROTTED AND ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. CUSTOMER WAS TOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO ALIGN THE CAMBER OR CASTER ON THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR. LEFT FRONT CAMBER WAS OUT OF SPECIFIED RANGE. (-0.9`) RIGHT REAR CAMBER WAS ALSO OUT OF SPECIFIED RANGE (-1.5`). AT 28,060 MILES CUSTOMER RETURNED TO OTHER SERVICE CENTER FOR 2 ADDITIONAL TIRES AND INSTALLATION OF 4 CAMBER KITS. AT THIS TIME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES WOULDN'T BALANCE DUE TO WHEEL BEING BENT. SO THE BENT WHEEL WAS NEVER REPLACED BY THE DEALER! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Feb 4, 201185,000 milesOR

THE HEATER FAN IN THE CAR WOULD ONLY WORK ON HIGH SPEED. IT WAS A CONTINUAL OCCURRENCE, THEREFORE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE INTERIOR HEAT AND DEFROSTER. IT WAS REPAIRED BY REPLACING THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME WHAT HAD FAILED ON THE SWITCH WERE TWO RECEPTACLES WHERE THE METAL WAS SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOLID BUT HAD GOTTEN SO HOT THAT IT HAD MELTED AND THERE WAS NO LONGER A CONNECTION. I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT THIS AS IT CONCERNED ME THAT IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 30, 201036,000 milesMD

I OWN A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD SIGNIFICANT ISSUES. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY SLAM INTO A LOWER GEAR OR WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR. THIS CAUSES SAFETY ISSUES DURING WINTER DRIVING BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AT TIMES WHEN SHIFTING. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ENTER INTO TRAFFIC, THE CAR WILL BE STUCK IN 3 GEAR WHICH ALMOST HAS CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES BY PULLING OUT TOO SLOW. I HAVE HAD IT IN TWICE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WITHOUT AN ENGINE CODE. THEY FLUSHED, FILLED AND PUT A NEW FILTER IN THE TRANSMISSION BUT THIS DID NOT HELP. SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL WORK FINE FOR MONTHS OR A YEAR AT A TIME. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND THERE SEEMS TO BE MANY OWNERS THAT HAVE VOICED SIMILAR CONCERNS. *TR

Equipment
Filed Feb 12, 2010FL

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THERE IS A SMALL HOOK THAT HAS BECOME DETACHED FROM UNDERNEATH THE FLOORMAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THERE IS A SMALL HOLE IN THE FLOORMAT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO KEEP THE FLOORMAT IN PLACE. BECAUSE THE SMALL HOOK HAS BECOME DETACHED THE SMALL HOLE IN THE FLOORMAT SLIDES OF THE HOOK THEREBY CAUSING THE FLOORMAT TO MOVE FORWARD. I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, BUT I THINK THIS COULD BECOME A PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM TOYOTA HAS EXPERIENCE IN SOME OF THEIR VEHICLES, BUT I THOUGHT IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION. *TR

Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Arm
Filed Dec 30, 200992,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT PURCHASED JANUARY 2006. WHILE DRIVING SHE HEARD A LOUD SCRAPING NOISE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENTIRE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED BECAUSE THE BOLTS THAT KEPT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SECURE BECAME LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT THEY REFUSED LIABILITY. REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,000.

Visibility › Windshield Wiper/Washer
Filed May 15, 20094,000 milesME

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS LOOSENED AND DISCONNECTED FROM THE ARM. THE DEALER TIGHTENED THE WIPER NUTS AND INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO NOT USE THE WIPERS DURING HEAVY RAIN OR SNOW BECAUSE THEY CANNOT MODIFY THE WIPERS EACH TIME THEY BECOME LOOSE. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE WIPERS ARE UNSAFE BECAUSE THEY CAN BECOME LOOSE AT ANY TIME AND CAUSE LIMITED VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000. 2/21/10 UPDATED 03/02/10

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System
Filed Jan 31, 200971,069 milesNC

I PURCHASED THE CAR BACK IN 2003 FROM A DEALERSHIP UP IN NEW YORK CITY. HYUNDAI OF MANHATTAN,I WAS EXPERIENCING PROBLEM. WITH THE CAR. THEN FIRST IN WAS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS.THAT AFFECT THE TRANSMISSION, AND THEN WITH THE CAR BLOWING OXYGEN SENSORS, AND THEN WITH THE MANIFOLD SYSTEMS THE PROBLEMS WARE TAKEN CARE OF THEN I HAVE MOVED TO RALEIGH,NORTH CAROLINA. FROM NYC BACK IN 9/2006, THEN I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WIRING HARNESS,AGAIN. AND THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BACK IN 11/2007. THAT PROBLEM WAS TAKEN CARE OF I HAVE BEEN GOING TO HYUNDAI OF SOUTHERN STATE IMPORTS OF RALEIGH. FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE AND THEY ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH MY CAR THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY BACK THEN. UNTIL I REACHED 71,226 MILES THE CARS WARRANTY 60,000 MILES TO 100,000 BUMPER TO BUMPER. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT THEY WAITED UNTIL MY WARRANTY EXPIRED TO TELL ME THAT MY CARE WOULD NEED A.1,WIRING ASSY ENGINE TOTAL PRICE OF 930.53, 2,COVER ASSYROCKER 299,72. THE POINT I AM TRYING TO GET AT IS THEY KNEW ALONG THAT THOSE COMPONENTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A LONG TIME AGO BUT THEY WAITED UNTIL MY WARRANTY WAS UP TO PASS THE BUCK ON TO THE CONSUMER. INSTEAD OF BEING RESPONSIBLE AND OF INTEGRITY HYUNDAI MOTORS OF AMERICA NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, CONCERNING THERE WARRANTY CONCERNING THERE CUSTOMERS I AM OUTRAGED CONCERNING THIS MATTER .HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF IT WAS YOU THE ECONOMY IS STALLED AND THIS COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED AT A MORE AWKWARD TIME

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and FittingsCrashFire3 injured
Filed Oct 22, 200646,000 milesMD

AN ACCIDENT OCCURED (COLLISION) WITH MY 2004 HYUNDIA ACCENT. IMMEDIATELY A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE FIREWALL INTO THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR. THE GAS LINE SHUT OFF SHOULD HAVE PREVENTED THIS AND THE FIRE WALL SHOULD HAVE STOPPED IT. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS KILLED. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Oct 10, 200639,900 milesOH

THE INBOARD PAD OF THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE WORE OUT PREMATURELY. THIS CAUSED THE ROTOR TO BE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY INSTRUCTIONS (BRAKE INSPECTION EVERY 7500 MILE AND ADJUSTED IF NECESSARY) UPON VISUAL INSPECTION (MOST RECENT WAS 06-2006) THERE WAS NO EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE PADS OR BINDING OF CALIPER OR ROTOR. I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE GIVING RESISTANCE WHEN GOING FROM A STOP SO I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT -RICK CASE HYUNDAI_ IN EUCLID, OH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE "REBUILT" AND "LUBRICATED "EVERY 7500 MILES AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE DAMAGE UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I PROVIDED RECEIPTS SHOWING THAT THE REQUIRED WARRANTY INSPECTION/ADJUSTMENTS HAD BEEN MADE. I SHOULD ADD THAT MY FRIEND (SCOTT RUDGE) HAS A 2003 ACCENT WHICH HAD EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM AS MINE AT THE SAME MILEAGE (ABOUT 40,000). I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM WITH EITHER THE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE OF THE RIGHT FRONT CALIPER. *JB

Power Train › Automatic Transmission2 injured
Filed Aug 22, 2006MA

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GO INTO OVERDRIVE WHILE TRYING TO PASS, DECELERATED FROM 65 TO 35, WENT IN NEUTRAL, THEN INTO A NORMAL GEAR. *NM

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 23, 200616,000 milesCA

INVOLVED IN T-BONE TYPE COLLISION. I WAS STRUCK ON DRIVER'S SIDE ( T- BONE).WHILE PULLING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. SHE WAS GOING AT LEAST 30-35 MPH. FRONT AND SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. MY HEAD STRUCK WINDOW. COLLISION RESULTED IN MY CAR BEING TOTALED. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 16, 200647,000 milesVA

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A CRASH AND THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS WEARING A SEATBELT AND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE AND THE INSURANCE AGENCY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed Oct 7, 200512,000 milesMO

CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM REAR BRAKE DRUMS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING FORWARD. DEALERSHIP (RELIABLE IMPORTS, SPRINGFIELD, MO) UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO FIND OR DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM. ON PERSONAL INSPECTION BY MYSELF, FOUND THAT WHEN ROTATING THE REAR WHEELS BY HAND WITH BRAKES PARTIALLY APPLIED, THE WHEEL/BRAKE DRUM WOULD GRAB AND THEN RELEASE IN THE SAME PLACE AS IT WAS ROTATED WITH AXLE ELEVATED OFF OF GROUND. ONE SIDE (PASSENGER SIDE) SEEMS TO BE MORE AFFECTED THAN THE OTHER. HYPOTHESIZE THAT THE BRAKE DRUMS ARE OUT OF ROUND, EGG SHAPED EITHER FROM NORMAL USAGE OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ***NOTE: PROBLEM STARTED AND WAS REPORTED TO DEALERSHIP IN THE FIRST 12,000 MILES OF THE CARS LIFETIME, VEHICLE IS HAS NOW BEEN OWNED BY ORIGINAL OWNER FOR ONE YEAR. HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM 4 TIMES, STILL UNABLE/UNWILLING TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *NM

20 of 33 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
2004 — this page33020Routine
200337010Routine
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.