Total Complaints
163 filings
HYUNDAI ACCENT · model year
163 NHTSA complaints, 30 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002HYUNDAIACCENT carries 163 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 30 crashes, 3 fires, 36 injuries, and 11 fatalities. 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 2002 ACCENT is power train:automatic transmission with 18 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline (15) and air bags:frontal (11). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 37 investigation files overlapping the 2002 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
163 filings
Crashes Reported
30 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 18 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 15 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 11 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 9 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 7 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 6 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 |
| SUSPENSION | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 3 |
| STRUCTURE | 3 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE 3-DOOR HATCHBACK EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CRITERION IN THE STANDARD MIDWAY ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD SUPPORT PIL
Purchased car 2002 in Arizona. About 2009 when the check engine light came on and when filling the car with gas the pump would stop after less than .25 gallons pumped. It takes greater than 20 minutes to fill the tank and many times the auto shut off fails and I end up being sprayed gasoline. This is a personal safety issue as well as an enviromental hazard. There are many similar complaints about this issue, but it is repeatedly ignored. What will get this addressed, some one being seriously injured after being doused with gasoline?
ALL CARS AND TRUCKS WITH YELLOW FOGGY HEADLAMP LENSES SHOULD BE RECALLED ? WHEN THEY WERE GLASS AND ONLY $ 5.00 THEY DIDN'T TURN YELLOW . THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AT NITE. !! YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB KEEPING US SAFE!
Mileage: 3
I GOT THIS CAR IN 2015 AND IT KEEP FAILING THE STATE OF OHIO VECHICLE INSPECTION E-CHECK TEST AND THE SAME CODE KEEPS COMING UP..... P1401..... WHY... IT FAIL ON JAN 16,2019 AND IN 2017 JAN.19.17 I SPENT $398.52 AND HAD GAS TANK FILLER NECK AND CANISTER VENTVALVE REPLACE.....AND AGAIN SAME CODE 2019 "P1401..HELP THKS. (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Mileage: 67,000
I AM A POLICE OFFICER, CRASH RECONSTRUCTIONIST, AND CHILD SEAT TECHNICIAN. I WAS INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATING A SERIOUS INJURY CRASH IN WHICH A CHILD WAS IN A DOREL JUVENILE GROUP, SCENERA NEXT CONVERTIBLE SEAT. THE SEAT BROKE AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ITS INTEGRITY. THERE WAS A VERY LARGE CRACK DOWN THE SIDE FRAME, AND THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE SEAT BROKE OUT FROM WHERE THE HARNESS STRAPS COME THROUGH. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CHILD SEAT BREAK EVEN A FRACTION AS MUCH AS THIS SEAT DID, THE SEAT AND CHILD WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE BY PARAMEDICS PRIOR TO MY SEEING THE SEAT. SO I DON'T KNOW ANY DETAILS BEYOND THE FACT IT WAS INSTALLED FORWARD FACING AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. *TT *BF *TR *DT*JB
HAVING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY, I JACKED IT UP TO DO SOME BRAKE WORK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS (AS WELL AS VARIOUS FRAME PARTS UNDERNEATH) ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY. WHEN LOWERING THE VEHICLE USING A FLOOR JACK (AFTER DOING THE REPAIR) THE LOWER CONTROL BROKE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED IN MY YARD ON MY PROPERTY. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 84,000 MILES.
Mileage: 84,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CONTACT BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND VERTEBRATES IN THE BACK, INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CONTACT BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND VERTEBRATES IN THE BACK, INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.
THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO INJURIES OR MAJOR DAMAGE. DRIVING 25 MILES PER HOUR ON SMALL ROAD WHEN CONTROL ARM FAILED AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.
Mileage: 63,200
WHEN PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR, THE FUEL PUMP CLICKS OFF EVERY 10 CENTS OR SO AS IF THE TANK IS FULL BUT IT IS NOT. SOMETIMES THE GAS OVEN RUNS BACK OUT OF THE TANK AS IF IT IS OVERFILLED AND RUNNING OVER, BUT IT IS NOT. I LIVE IN NJ, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TWO STATES THAT HAVE FULL SERVICE GAS STATIONS. AND GAS STATION ATTENDANTS CONSTANTLY TELL ME THAT THEY ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY WITH HYUNDAI'S ALL THE TIME! THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE ALSO SEEN THIS WITH BRAND NEW HYUNDAI MODELS AS WELL, SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT HAS IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS SINCE MY DATED 2002 MODEL. EVEN THE SERVICE TECH AT MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THIS DEFECT WIDELY KNOWN WITH HYUNDAI'S WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM. HE ALSO QUOTED ME A PRICE AROUND $600, WHICH HE SAID FROM HIS EXPERIENCE AS A TECHNICIAN DOESN'T GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. THERE ARE CASES OF THE PROBLEM COMING BACK AFTER THE REPAIR IS DONE! I CONTACTED HYUNDAI WITH MY CONCERNS AND TO SPECIFICALLY ASK WHY THI
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD LEAK FROM THE FILLER NECK ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
Mileage: 92,000
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD SOMETHING SCRAPPING AND VEHICLE QUIT MOVING HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF A DANGEROUS CURVE INTO A PARKING LOT ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK OUT AS THE TOW TRUCK LIFTED IT ONTO IT'S BED. HAD TO PAY FOR THE TOW TRUCK, AND HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 DAYS. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE COMPANY I BOUGHT IT FROM HAS LEFT ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE SINCE THE 6TH DAY OF MAY, AND REUSE TO FIX IT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT, AND THEY ALSO KEPT MY $800 DOWN PAYMENT.
Mileage: 78,000
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD SOMETHING SCRAPPING AND VEHICLE QUIT MOVING HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF A DANGEROUS CURVE INTO A PARKING LOT ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK OUT AS THE TOW TRUCK LIFTED IT ONTO IT'S BED. HAD TO PAY FOR THE TOW TRUCK, AND HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 DAYS. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE COMPANY I BOUGHT IT FROM HAS LEFT ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE SINCE THE 6TH DAY OF MAY, AND REUSE TO FIX IT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT, AND THEY ALSO KEPT MY $800 DOWN PAYMENT.
Mileage: 78,000
MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. YOU CAN'T PUT GAS INTO IT WITHOUT THE PUMP STOPPING APPROXIMATELY EVERY .25 GALLONS. IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO PASS INSPECTION. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HYUNDAI SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT COMES UP AS A 1401 FOR EMISSIONS TESTING
Mileage: 16,000
I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF INTERSTATE 76 AT ROUTE 14 AFTER DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. I CAME DOWN THE RAMP AND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL LOCKED UP. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON INTERSTATE 76. THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY WITH SEMI'S ALL AROUND ALONG WITH REGULAR TRAFFIC. I COME TO FIND OUT THE FRONT LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM COLLAPSED ALLOWING THE TIRE TO COME BACK AGAINST THE LEFT FENDER WHEEL WELL. IT PULLED THE CAR TO THE LEFT AND I SLID OFF THE RAMP ONTO THE BERM AFTER TRYING TO STEER HARD TO RIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JULY 14, 2014. I COME TO FIND OUT THE RIGHT ARM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT HAD 80,362 MILES. IN TODAYS WORLD, THAT IS LOW MILES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, SOMEONE COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED. HOW MANY MORE ARE RUNNING AROUND LIKE THIS. THE BALL JOINTS APPEAR TO BE GOOD BUT THE CONTROL ARM RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT OF WEAKNESS AND COLLAPSED. THE CAR DOE
Mileage: 94,437
I GOT AN ALIGNMENT AND ALL NEW TIRES. I WAS PULLED IN THE GARAGE TO FIND OUT THERE WAS RUST HOLES IN THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME BELOW THE ENGINE. I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND THERE HAD BEEN OVER 500,000 COUNTS OF DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT YEARS AND MODELS. NONE OF WHICH INCLUDED MINE. I LIVE IN NY STAGE WHERE ROADS ARE HEAVILY SALTED FOR SAFETY. THE CAR HAS 158,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULDN'T HAVE 6 INCH HOLES IN THE FRAME. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET MY FRAME REBUILT WHEN THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY HYUNDAI. I WAS TOLD BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO CONTACT YOU IF THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I RESEARCHED ENOUGH TO ALSO FIND OUT IT WAS REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX ANY PROBLEM RELATING TO THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING. *TR
Mileage: 158,569
I GOT AN ALIGNMENT AND ALL NEW TIRES. I WAS PULLED IN THE GARAGE TO FIND OUT THERE WAS RUST HOLES IN THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME BELOW THE ENGINE. I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND THERE HAD BEEN OVER 500,000 COUNTS OF DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT YEARS AND MODELS. NONE OF WHICH INCLUDED MINE. I LIVE IN NY STAGE WHERE ROADS ARE HEAVILY SALTED FOR SAFETY. THE CAR HAS 158,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULDN'T HAVE 6 INCH HOLES IN THE FRAME. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET MY FRAME REBUILT WHEN THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY HYUNDAI. I WAS TOLD BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO CONTACT YOU IF THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I RESEARCHED ENOUGH TO ALSO FIND OUT IT WAS REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX ANY PROBLEM RELATING TO THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING. *TR
Mileage: 158,569
PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. I WENT TO PUT IT IN PARK, BUT THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE. I WAS GOING FORWARD IN DRIVE AT THE TIME. IT STARTED GOING IN REVERSE. NO MATTER WHAT GEAR I TRIED, IT WOULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE. I COULDN'T TURN OFF THE CAR. I KEPT TRYING TO PUT IT IN PARK AND EVENTUALLY IT WORKED. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON LINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *TR
Mileage: 58,000
I WAS ON A SIDE STREET, THANK GOD. ON MY WAY TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A HORRIBLE SCRATCHING, METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. I HAD A HARD TIME STEERING WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT MY CAR JUST STOPPED. I LOOKED, AND MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS, THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM ROTTED AND BROKE, THE AXLE CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE TO HYUNDAI AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I RECENTLY LOST MY JOB AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND CAUSED A HUGE ACCIDENT, DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN MY WHEEL. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PLEASE. THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO THIS SAME EXACT REASON AND IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *JS
Mileage: 50,000
MY 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT "CLICKS OFF" REPEATEDLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE. GASOLINE POOLS IN THE CHAMBER BETWEEN THE FUEL DOOR AND THE GAS TANK CAUSING A SERIOUS HAZARD. FUEL SMELLS ARE FREQUENTLY OBSERVED WITHIN THE CAR AFTER FUELING AND FOR A PERIOD OF DAYS AFTERWARD. THE "CHECK ENGINE" REMAINS ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FUEL LINE SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY A FULL SERVICE AUTOMOTIVE FACILITY AND THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITH NO SUCCESS IN REMEDYING THE PROBLEM. HAVE SUGGESTED POSSIBLY REPLACING THE ENTIRE FULL LINE, GAS TANK, ETC BUT HAVE INDICATED THIS IS LIKELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SUCH. AT THE CURRENT TIME IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT MORE THAN A FEW OUNCES OF GASOLINE INTO THE CAR AT ANY ONE TIME AND FAILURE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE CHAMBER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL CAN LEAD TO GASOLINE OVERFLOW AND SPILLS. I HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS AS TO THE SAFETY OF FUELING THIS CAR ON A WEEKLY BASIS AS WELL AS THE RISK OF FIRE HAZ
Mileage: 50,000
WHILE I HAVE FELT THAT I HAVE BEEN LEADING UP TO THE PROBLEM THAT I AM ABOUT TO LIST FOR OVER A YEAR WITH WHINING IN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE/BRAKE AREA. I AM GETTING READY FOR MY FOURTH BRAKES ON MY ACCENT IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. FINALLY IN MAY OF THIS YEAR (2013) I STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN I WOULD PRESS IN THE CLUTCH THE CAR WOULD SLOW AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING PRESSED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING AND BRAKES, BRAKE LINES, MASTER CYLINDER, OR AS THE MECHANIC SAYS:, "WE HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW TO REPLACE OR REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM". WELL TODAY, 08/15/2013 I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, I AM THE SECOND OWNER, MY SISTER-IN-LAW AND HER HUSBAND WERE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN INDIANAPOLIS OFF OF THE LOT BY THEM. *TR
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.