Total Complaints
66 filings
HYUNDAI ACCENT · model year
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.
Total Complaints
66 filings
Crashes Reported
17 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 13 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 8 |
| AIR BAGS | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| WHEELS:HUB | 1 |
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
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
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
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
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
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
99 HYUNDAI RECALL - 99V178000- ATRANS SLIP**ANSWERED BY RIC WILLARD** *CC *NM
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
1999 HYUNDAI ACCENT REAR WINDOW EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING.*MR *NM
THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HAS A LEAK FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, WHICH WAS DISCOVERED DURING STATE INSPECTION.*AK
Mileage: 33,468
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
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.
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
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.