HYUNDAI ACCENT · model year

1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT

66 NHTSA complaints, 17 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999HYUNDAIACCENT carries 66 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 17 crashes, 3 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 ACCENT is power train:automatic transmission with 13 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (8) and air bags (5). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 1999 ACCENT, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

66
Complaints
17
Crashes
3
Fires
12
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

66 filings

Crashes Reported

17 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION13
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL8
AIR BAGS5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
SEATS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
WHEELS:HUB1

Recent Complaints

20140510SUSPENSION

I WAS DRIVING IN A TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 15MPH AND MY LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE IN THE MIDDLE I WAS LUCKY THAT I WASN'T IN THE HIGHWAY OR DRIVING FAST SO YOU AREN'T LOOKING FOR MY COMPLAINT.AFTER CHECKING FROM THE BOTTOM EVEN THE SUB-FRAME IS ALMOST BROKEN,I GUESS IT IS A BIG MANUFACTURING PROBLEM FOR SAFETY I RECOMMEND FOR ALL OWNERS OF HYUNDAI TO CHECK THERE CONTROL ARMS AND SUB-FRAMES. (NOTE). I CALLED HYUNDAI THEY TOLD IT ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY(10YEARS OR 60000MILLES), I TOLD THEM IT IS ABOUT SAFETY THOSE PARTS SHOULD BE LIFETIME WARRANTY!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 72,000

20120620FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FIRE WHILE DRIVING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE TEN DAYS AFTER PURCHASING IT. THE CONSUMER STATED HER DAUGHTER WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE AND IT SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

20100830FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT. UNABLE TO SAFELY FILL GAS TANK. THE GAS PUMP SHUTS OFF AFTER PUMPING ONLY 31/2 GALLONS. WHEN YOU TRY TO FILL IT UP GAS COMES OUT OF THE FILLER NECK SPILLING ON THE CAR AND THE GROUND. HYUNDAI SITE SHOWS TSB 96-30-006 STATING THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED ON THEIR CARS SINCE 1998 BUT OFFERS NO FIX. IS THERE A RECALL? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 47,800

20100514CrashAIR BAGS

MY 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT VEHICLE GOT HIT ON THE REAR (BUMPER) WHILE I WAS STILL ON A RED LIGHT AND THE IMPACT WAS SO STRONG THAT THE HIT PROPELLED MY VEHICLE TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE (A SUBURBAN TRUCK) CAUSING REAR AND FRONT DAMAGES TO THE HYUNDAI. THE SUBURBAN INCURRED ZERO DAMAGES, WHILE THE LIMOUSINE THAT HIT ME INCURRED VERY LITTLE DAMAGES IF ANY. MY VEHICLE GOT 'SANDWICH' EVEN THOUGH I WAS ABOUT 4 TO 6 FEET BEHIND THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY CHILDREN WERE ON THE REAR SEATS AND INCURRED LIMITED INJURIES. I RECEIVED INJURIES AND VEHICLE WAS TOTAL LOST. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANYTIME. I CONTACTED THE HYUNDAI CORPORATE AND AN INVESTIGATION IS YET TO BE SCHEDULED. I RECEIVED WRITTEN CONFIRMATION THAT MY HYUNDAI VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN THE ONLY ONE WITH AIRBAGS DEPLOYMENT FAILURE. THAT TO ME IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED ACCORDINGLY. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

20081202AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN HER VEHICLE FOR OVER A YEAR. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT MAINTENANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED ON THE AIR BAG. THE INSPECTION WOULD COST $70. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. SHE WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER TO SEEK ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,439. UPDATED 020209 *BF UPDATED 02/03/09.*JB

Mileage: 84,439

20081022POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSES THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V17800. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,621 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 11/14/08 *CN UPDATED 11/19/08. *JB

Mileage: 81,000

20070226POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

99 HYUNDAI RECALL - 99V178000- ATRANS SLIP**ANSWERED BY RIC WILLARD** *CC *NM

20061026FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PUMPING GAS AT A GAS STATION, THE FUEL FILLER PIPE NECK WOULD ONLY ALLOW SO MUCH GASOLINE AT A TIME UPON ENTERING THE FUEL TANK AS THOUGH IT WAS ALREADY FULL OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE PRESSURE RELIEF VACUUM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED.

Mileage: 49,000

20060614FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FUEL LINE AND POWER STEERING LINE RUBBED WHERE THEY WERE CLOSE TOGETHER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE WHICH WAS SPRAYING A STEADY STREM OF GASLOLINE RIGHT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ALL OVER THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FANS. I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND THAT THOSE LINES NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED THAT CLOSE TOGETHER THIS IS NOT A LAUGHING MATTER HOWEVER HYUNDAI MOTORS OF AMERICA TOL ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION AND OR FIRE. *NM

Mileage: 77,985

20060614SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

FUEL LINE AND POWER STEERING LINE RUBBED WHERE THEY WERE CLOSE TOGETHER IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING A HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE WHICH WAS SPRAYING A STEADY STREM OF GASLOLINE RIGHT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ALL OVER THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR FANS. I FEEL THAT THIS WAS A DESIGN FLAW AND THAT THOSE LINES NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED THAT CLOSE TOGETHER THIS IS NOT A LAUGHING MATTER HOWEVER HYUNDAI MOTORS OF AMERICA TOL ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED THERE COULD HAVE BEEN AN EXPLOSION AND OR FIRE. *NM

Mileage: 77,985

20060606POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I NOTICED WHEN I GOT MY CAR THAT IS DID NOT HAVE GOOD ACCELERATION, BUT I FIGURED THAT IT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT ONLY HAD 85 HORSE POWER IT IS A 99 HYUNDAI ACCENT. IT ALSO HITCHED WHEN YOU WOULD GO TO STEP ON THE GAS. AS TIME WENT ON IT WORSENED. THEN ONE DAY WITHOUT ANY WARNING I WENT TO BACK UP AND I HEARD A HUGE THUNKING NOISE. I HAD LOST REVERSE IN MY TRANSMISSION AND IT DID NOT SHIFT WELL INTO FIRST OR SECOND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 3RD OR OVER DRIVE. I THEN LOOKED UP TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON MY TRANSMISSION AND I FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE STARTING 20 DAYS AFTER MINE WAS MANUFACTURED. I WOULD LIKE PROOF THAT THEY WERE USING DIFFERENT SOLENOID VALVES WHEN 20 DAYS BEFORE THE RECALL STARTED BECAUSE I THINK THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT NOT OPERATORS. THE CAR ONLY HAS 110736 MILES ON IT. *NM

Mileage: 110,736

20060403POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED TWO YEARS AGO THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF SECOND GEAR. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING INTO SECOND GEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF SECOND GEAR IS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE SAME INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD A DEFECT AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE NHTSA. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 99V178000, REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 130,000

20051018VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM WITH REAR DEFOGGER ON OUR DAUGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT NOTICED A BAD SMELL LIKE BURNING. WHERE I CHECKED THE REARVIEW MIRROR I SAW SMOKE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDOW. I TURNED OFF THE DEFOGGER AND SECONDS LATER THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED WITH A BANG LEAVING A HOLE NEAR THE CONNECTOR. BY THE TIME WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION (ABOUT 30 MINUTES) MOST OF THE WINDOW HAD FALLEN IN. DEALER INITIALLY SAID THERE WAS NO POWER TO REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER. ON FURTHER INSPECTION THEY SAID THE SWITCH WAS STUCK BUT THERE WAS NO REASON TO THINK THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF INCREASED POWER THAT WOULD CAUSE THE GLASS TO OVERHEAT. WE ARE STILL ATTEMPTING TO GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WE PURCHASED TO COVER THE REPAIR. *JB

Mileage: 78,250

20050923STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

DT: THE CALLER SAID ALL THE OUTSIDE DOORHANDLES EXCEPT THE REAR PASSENGER HANDLE FELL OFF. WHEN SHE TRIED TO OPEN THE DOORS THE HANDLES CAME OFF IN HER HAND. SHE SAID THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP HER FOR FREE. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. *AK

Mileage: 44,000

20050920POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I OWN A 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT GL AND BEGAN EXPERIENCING TROUBLE WITH TRANSMISSION. I SEARCHED ON INTERNET AND DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON TRANSMISSION PERTAINING TO THE SAME TROUBLE I AM HAVING WITH MINE. I CALLED THE HYUNDAI MOTOR CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY REFUSE TO HONOR RECALL. I WOULD APPRECIATE INFO TO HELP ME EXERCISE MY RIGHTS TO WHAT I AM ENTITLED TO. *NM

Mileage: 91,000

20050506VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING.*MR *NM

20050309ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS A LEAK FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH WAS DISCOVERED DURING STATE INSPECTION.*AK

Mileage: 33,468

20050302SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MORE CONSUMER HEARD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR WHEELS, AND A GRINDING NOISE APPEARED WHEN BRAKING. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO STOP PROPERLY WHEN BRAKING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH REAR DRUMS WERE OUT OF ROUND/WARPED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Mileage: 67,000

20050110ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THERE WERE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE HAD BROKEN DOWN AFTER CHARGING THE SYSTEM AND THE WARNING LIGHT HAD COME ON. *BF *SC *JB THE ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED WHICH CAUSED THE HEADLAMPS TO FAIL, SEVERAL FUSES HAD TO BE REPLACED.

20041220VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

WHILE TURNING ON THE REAR DEFROSTER BACK WINDOW BLEW OUT OF THE REAR WINDOW FRAME. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO SAID THAT DEFECT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. ALSO, THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO SAID BASICALLY THE SAME. *AK THE CONSUMER VIEWED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. *SC

Mileage: 87,000

Compare 1999HYUNDAIACCENT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
The 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 66 NHTSA complaints, 17 crashes, 3 fires, 12 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The most-complained component for the 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT is POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION with 13 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.