Hyundai Accent years to avoid (and the best years)
828 NHTSA owner complaints and 10 recalls across 13 model years, 2010 to 2022. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 828complaints
- 10recalls
- 77reported crashes
- 50reported fires
- 89reported injuries
- 1reported deaths
Which Hyundai Accent years should you avoid?
No Hyundai Accent model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Hyundai Accent year has 68 complaints on file. The busiest years are the 2012 (153) and 2013 (141).
What are the best Hyundai Accent years?
The Hyundai Accent years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2020 (12), 2022 (16) and 2021 (16). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 16 | 0.2× | 2 | 2 | 2 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2021 | 16 | 0.2× | 4 | 0 | 1 | Few red flags | Seat belts |
| 2020 | 12 | 0.2× | 4 | 2 | 2 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2019 | 30 | 0.4× | 1 | 2 | 1 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2018 | 19 | 0.3× | 1 | 0 | 1 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2017 | 68 | 1.0× | 0 | 9 | 7 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2016 | 100 | 1.5× | 0 | 7 | 8 | Few red flags | Engine |
| 2015 | 69 | 1.0× | 2 | 7 | 10 | Some concerns to check | Airbags |
| 2014 | 79 | 1.2× | 1 | 12 | 14 | Some concerns to check | Brakes |
| 2013 | 141 | 2.1× | 1 | 16 | 23 | Some concerns to check | Brakes |
| 2012 | 153 | 2.2× | 2 | 13 | 13 | Some concerns to check | Engine |
| 2011 | 38 | 0.6× | 1 | 3 | 3 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2010 | 87 | 1.3× | 1 | 4 | 4 | Few red flags | Brakes |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 176 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain44 (25%)
- Electrical & infotainment34 (19%)
- Steering, suspension & tires26 (15%)
- Airbags & seat belts21 (12%)
- Brakes19 (11%)
Recalls (10)
Brakes · 23V651000 · Sep 2023 · model years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Seat belts · 22V354000 · May 2022 · model years 2020, 2021, 2022
An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Steering · 22V311000 · May 2022 · model years 2021, 2022
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 22V218000 · Apr 2022 · model year 2020
Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Seat belts · 22V069000 · Feb 2022 · model years 2020, 2021
An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.
Brakes · 21V937000 · Dec 2021 · model year 2021
Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 21V619000 · Aug 2021 · model years 2018, 2019, 2020
A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Safety · 20V393000 · Jul 2020 · model year 2012
An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.
Exterior lighting · 15V566000 · Sep 2015 · model years 2010, 2011
Failure to illuminate the brake lights during braking or the inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 15V218000 · Apr 2015 · model year 2015
If the ODS fails to detect that the seat is occupied by a child restraint seat, the front air bag will not be deactivated and, in the event of a crash necessitating front air bag deployment, the air bag deployment could cause increased risk of injury to the occupant in the child restraint seat.