2009 Hyundai Accent

Routine

Owners filed 101 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

86 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 75,00090,000 miles; the median is 71,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags27
400
Visibility/Wiper13
100
Service Brakes10
000
Visibility5
000
Unknown or Other5
000
Engine5
000
Power Train4
000
Electrical System4
000
Vehicle Speed Control3
200
Suspension3
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch15V566000
Filed Sep 8, 201599,500 vehiclesHyundai Motor America

Defect. Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Hyundai Accent vehicles manufactured March 1, 2009, to February 11, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning brake light switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning brake light switch may also prevent the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position.

Risk. Failure to illuminate the brake lights during braking or the inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 1-855-671-3059 or by visiting www.HyundaiUSA.com/Campaign131. Hyundai's number for this recall is 131. This recall is an expansion of 13V-113.

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch13V113000
Filed Apr 1, 20131,712,336 vehiclesHyundai Motor Company

Defect. Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Risk. Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Oct 10, 2025FL

Brake Light Switch broke ,Brake light won't turn off

Engine
Filed May 24, 202393,000 milesCO

The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact’s girlfriend then coasted the vehicle to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000

Service Brakes
Filed May 16, 2023FL

ABS module leaking fluid

Air Bags
Filed Jan 9, 2022TX

Air bag light on at 146018 miles

Unknown or Other
Filed Dec 3, 2021FL

The rear windshield shattered for no reason. Because of the tint we had installed it stayed intact but you can't see through it. The car is in my driveway if you want to see it, but I have an appointment for Safelite to repair it on Monday, Dec 6, 2021. No, it has not been inspected by the police or anyone else. Safelite will be able to tell what happened when they come out. My husband was at work and the car was parked, when he came out to get in that is when he noticed it. There was no one else near where he parked his car and no evidence of anyone being near the car.

Service Brakes
Filed Oct 1, 2020129,274 milesCO

MY BRAKE LIGHTS WORK THEN THEY DONT I HAVE REPLACED FUSES BULBS I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CHECK THEY WAS WORKING YESTERDAY TODAY I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES LIGHT WASNT WORKING AFTER ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED. I WAS STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. THIS ISNT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED

Electrical System
Filed Sep 9, 2020128,000 milesAL

THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. CAN NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY INSIDE OR WITH A KEY OUTSIDE OR WITH REMOTE. DESPITE THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE OR WARRANTY, THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE, AND THE, NHTSA, SHOULD HAVE ALREADY HAVE HAD ORDERED A MANDATORY RECALL, GIVEN HUNDAI MOTORS IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS NOT ACTED ON ITS OWN. GIVEN THE,NHTSA'S RECORD ON RECALLS ( REACTIVE RATHER THAN PRO ACTIVE ) BASED ON THE NUMBER OF DEATHS REQUIRED, ANY MANDATED RECALL IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY...THE N IN NHTSA, BEST REPRESENTS NEGLECT!

Engine
Filed Mar 15, 2020160,000 milesTX

THE CAR WILL STALL WHILE RUNNING THEN WILL TURN OVER BUT NOT START FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IT HAS DONE THIS WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR IN MOTION ROUNDING A CORNER.

Suspension
Filed Feb 15, 2020OK

I WAS INTERESTED IN THIS CAR BUT BEFORE PURCHASING I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE FOR A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION. ONE OF THE REPAIRS NEEDED WAS A CV AXLE. IT WAS POPPING WHEN YOU MAKE TURNS AND VISIBLY LEAKING GREASE. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS WITHOUT DRASTICALLY INCREASING THE PRICE. ESSENTIALLY, THEY WOULD MAKE MORE MONEY SELLING THIS UNSAFE VEHICLE TO AN UNSUSPECTING BUYER. IF A CV AXLE FAILS WHEN A PERSON IS DRIVING, IT WOULD MEAN COMPLETE LOSS OF THE VEHICLE AND THEREFORE OBVIOUS CONSEQUENCES. I UNDERSTAND A USED CAR NEEDING MAINTENANCE, HOWEVER THIS IS COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE THAT COULD RESULT IS SOMEONE LOSING THEIR LIFE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE EARNESTLY, I'M GUESSING THIS ISN'T THE FIRST NOR THE LAST TIME THIS WILL HAPPEN AT THIS DEALERSHIP. YOU CAN SEE WHICH DEALERSHIP I'M REFERRING TO BY LOOKING AT THE OWNERSHIP RECORD AND THE DATE OF INCIDENT, OR BY CONTACTING ME DIRECTLY.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 14, 2020MD

2009 HYUNDAI ACCENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED.*JS

Air Bags
Filed Dec 9, 201985,000 milesTX

WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND WON'T TURN OFF. RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL STAYS ON. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I NEVER REPORTED IS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS WON'T STAY UP. I REPLACED THE DRIVER SIDE, BUT THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING TO A DRIVER TO HAVE THE VISOR DROP DOWNAND FEEL THIS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY CONCERN. THE REST OF THE INFORMATION IS ABOUT THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON, NOT THE VISORS.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 19, 2019147,000 milesMI

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T SHUT OFF. CAME ON IN MORNING JUST STARTING THE CAR AND HAS NOT TURNED OFF. I HAVE UNHOOKED BATTERY AND CHECKED FUSES BUT STILL ON.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 27, 201979,000 milesHI

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT FOR PASSENGER SEAT-OCS---NOTE MANY OTHER 2009 HYUNDAI ACCENT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG ISSUES--ALSO 2008/9/10/11/12,ETC-WHY NOT THIS ONE???

Air Bags
Filed Oct 25, 201945,000 milesAZ

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I TURNED THE CAR ON ONE DAY. I WAS INFORMED THE AIRBAG PRESSURE SENSOR HAD FAILED AND WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM AS THE AIRBAG WOULDN'T DEPLOY CORRECTLY IF SOMEONE WAS IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. RECENTLY LEARNED IT WAS A RECALL FOR SOME KIA MODELS THROUGH A NOTICE FOR MY KIA SEDONA, BUT MY MODEL WASN'T INCLUDED ALTHOUGH THE ISSUE IS IDENTICAL.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 25, 2019120,000 milesNM

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON ONE DAY. AND ITS ON CONSTANTLY. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY DONT CARE. I BELIEVE HYUNDAI IS THE LEAST TRUSTWORTHY BRAND FOR CAR AND SHOULD NOT BE SOLD IN US MARKET.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 17, 201977,900 milesPA

MY CAR MISFIRED AND AFTER THAT STARTED TO SPUTTERING WHEN I IDOL, SLOW DOWN OR SPEED UP. I GOT NEW PLUGS PUT IN AND PUT SOME DRY GAS IN TANK.STILL SPUTTERS WHEN IN IDLE OR SLOWING DOWN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BLINKS AND THEN STAYS ON.

Fuel/Propulsion SystemFire
Filed Dec 2, 20185,400,000 milesCA

IT STARTED RUNING BAD I PULL OVER SMOKE COMEING FROM FIRE WALL I PUT IT OUT /NEXT DAY I STARTED IT AND TURN IT OFF/ THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON/ ONLY 54000.00 MILES/THANK YOU/RUNING ON THE HIGHWAY

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 13, 201875,000 milesCA

DURING OR AFTER OPERATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONING, WATER POURS DOWN INTO THE FOOTWELL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF ANY OTHER PARAMETERS.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 14, 2018120,000 milesGA

CAR HAS EXTREMELY HARD TIME STARTING WHEN YOU PUT FUEL IN CHANGED ALL SENSORS AND PURGE VALVE NO HELP MECHANIC IS STUMPED

Air Bags
Filed Mar 12, 201889,500 milesMD

THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 90,000 MILES, YET THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. A MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE ERROR AS B1448 OCS. THE MECHANIC SAID THE PROBLEM COULD BE THE WEIGHT SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE WIRING HARNESS UNDERNEATH THE SEAT, OR THE CONTROL MODULE.

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
2009 — this page101210Routine
2008101110Routine
200788310Routine
200643301Fatalities reported
200549130Routine
200433020Routine
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.

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: Sep 8, 2015. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.