Hyundai has officially discontinued the Accent, so 2022 is the last to hit the market. It’s a pretty reliable car, but there are some models you’d be better off avoiding. Here are the Hyundai Accent model years with the worst problems.
The 2002 Hyundai Accent had several engine complaints
Car Claims reports that there are 13 owners who have problems with the 2002 model. The engine had four complaints against it, and the worst one was that it stalled. This one received a severity rating of 10 out of 10, with Car Complaints rating it as “Truly Awful.” It cost the owners $3,500 to fix.
Other complaints about the engine included excessive oil consumption, misfiring on all four cylinders and no turning. This also has a severity rating of 10.
The NHTSA provides more information reporting that 143 owners have submitted complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Accent. Several issues were raised against the 2002 model, but the powertrain had to be the worst. Twenty-seven owners reported problems with it. The second worst Hyundai Accent problem was the fuel system, with a total of 18 complaints. In third place were the airbags, with 16 complaints.
There was a recall, which revolved around the A-pillars. Occupants whose heads hit the A-pillar in a crash could encounter some injuries.
The 2004 Hyundai Accent had some complaints about the transmission
The 2002 model isn’t the only Accent with major problems. 2004 also has some issues that aren’t easily overlooked.
According to car complaints, the 2004 model has 14 problems. The biggest one is the transmission, which has 8 complaints against it.
It is prone to failure and has a severity score of 7.3 or “Fairly Bad”. The typical repair cost is $2,250, and most owners report that they had to replace the transmission. Other major problems affecting the 2004 Hyundai Accent are the engine, brake, and fuel system.
According to the NHTSA, there are 32 complaints against the 2004 model year. Airbags had the most reports, with 10 people complaining. Second was the power train, with five complaints, and the steering had four.
The 2012 Hyundai Accent also had engine problems
The 2012 model had its fair share of complaints among critics and owners alike. It has several issues, but Car Complaints reports that the engine has more.
In total, there were 11 complaints, and most of them had to do with excessive fuel consumption. It has a severity score of 6.0 or fairly significant. The real problem is that several owners never found a fix, and the two that did had to replace the entire engine. No data was provided on how much it would cost to repair.
One owner reported that turning the engine off and back on helped. Others reported that even though it was still under warranty, Hyundai did little to help them and seemed to think the excessive oil consumption was perfectly normal.
NHTSA flagged the 2012 model for a safety issue, reporting that “rear passenger abdominal rib deflection was elevated.” This didn’t affect the star rating, but it’s worth noting, especially if you have passengers traveling in the back. There is an increased risk of spinal injury for anyone sitting there.
There is also a memory. This revolves around the 12V accessory socket, which overheats. This is believed to be due to excessive stress during installation, but if the plug is used too much, there is a risk of fire.
There are 116 complaints in total, and most revolve around the engine, which has 27 complaints. The second most common complaint was the airbags, and the third was the vehicle’s speed control. While the Hyundai Accent is decently priced, especially considering that used cars are quite expensive right now, you may be better off shopping for another vehicle.
