HYUNDAI ACCENT · model year

2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT

217 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2012HYUNDAIACCENT carries 217 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 18 fires, 18 injuries, and 1 fatality. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 4/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 ACCENT is engine with 35 filings, followed by electrical system (22) and service brakes (19). 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 2 active recall campaigns, 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 2012 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.

217
Complaints
18
Crashes
18
Fires
18
Injuries
1
Deaths
2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 4.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

217 filings

Crashes Reported

18 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 4/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE35
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM22
SERVICE BRAKES19
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19
AIR BAGS17
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL17
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC14
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM10
STEERING9
STRUCTURE:BODY7
SUSPENSION7
TIRES5
WHEELS5
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)5
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE3

Recalls (2)

23V65100022/09/2023

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock B

20V39300002/07/2020

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolong

Recent Complaints

20260217SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the clutch pedal traveled to the floorboard and the low oil warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the brakes failed to function properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed and determined that the slave cylinder had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was concerned that the failure was related to an engine failure recall, and that the dealer and manufacturer had failed to provide the proper repair during the repair, which caused the current clutch and braking system failures. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 92,000.

Mileage: 92,000

20251104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 67,822, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 87,840.

Mileage: 87,840

20250907SERVICE BRAKES

UNKNOWN. I THINK THE ABS MODULE LIGHT APPEARED INSTANTLY ON THE DASHBOARD. IT'S THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES THAT AREN'T WORKING. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHEN I SAW A BRAKE LIGHT COME UP ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE BUT I HAD NONE AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I ALMOST WENT OVER A CLIFF AND DIED OR BADLY HURT OTHERS OR MYSELF IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I'M WILLING TO TRY AND GET IT FIXED AT OTHER INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTERS IN PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS. THE EVENT HAD HAPPENED A WEEK BEFORE BUT I DIDN'T REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE POLICE, INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVES/OTHERS OR ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T OFFICIALLY ANY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS. FINALLY, MY HYUNDAI ACCENT 2012 WAS DONATED TO ME BY "GOOD NEWS GARAGE" OVER 2.5-3 YRS AGO THROUGH A WORK-TO-PROGRAM/DONATION UNDER THE M.R.C. OR MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION CENTER IN PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS WHICH IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED AND IS NOW CALLED MASS OPTIONS AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I KNOW ABOUT TH

20250907ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

UNKNOWN. I THINK THE ABS MODULE LIGHT APPEARED INSTANTLY ON THE DASHBOARD. IT'S THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES THAT AREN'T WORKING. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHEN I SAW A BRAKE LIGHT COME UP ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE BUT I HAD NONE AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I ALMOST WENT OVER A CLIFF AND DIED OR BADLY HURT OTHERS OR MYSELF IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I'M WILLING TO TRY AND GET IT FIXED AT OTHER INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTERS IN PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS. THE EVENT HAD HAPPENED A WEEK BEFORE BUT I DIDN'T REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE POLICE, INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVES/OTHERS OR ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T OFFICIALLY ANY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS. FINALLY, MY HYUNDAI ACCENT 2012 WAS DONATED TO ME BY "GOOD NEWS GARAGE" OVER 2.5-3 YRS AGO THROUGH A WORK-TO-PROGRAM/DONATION UNDER THE M.R.C. OR MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION CENTER IN PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS WHICH IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED AND IS NOW CALLED MASS OPTIONS AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I KNOW ABOUT TH

20250907ENGINE

UNKNOWN. I THINK THE ABS MODULE LIGHT APPEARED INSTANTLY ON THE DASHBOARD. IT'S THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES THAT AREN'T WORKING. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHEN I SAW A BRAKE LIGHT COME UP ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE BUT I HAD NONE AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND I ALMOST WENT OVER A CLIFF AND DIED OR BADLY HURT OTHERS OR MYSELF IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I'M WILLING TO TRY AND GET IT FIXED AT OTHER INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTERS IN PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS. THE EVENT HAD HAPPENED A WEEK BEFORE BUT I DIDN'T REPORT THIS INCIDENT TO THE POLICE, INSURANCE REPRESENTATIVES/OTHERS OR ANY OTHER MANUFACTURER BECAUSE THERE WASN'T OFFICIALLY ANY AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS. FINALLY, MY HYUNDAI ACCENT 2012 WAS DONATED TO ME BY "GOOD NEWS GARAGE" OVER 2.5-3 YRS AGO THROUGH A WORK-TO-PROGRAM/DONATION UNDER THE M.R.C. OR MASSACHUSETTS REHABILITATION CENTER IN PLYMOUTH MASSACHUSETTS WHICH IS PERMANENTLY CLOSED AND IS NOW CALLED MASS OPTIONS AND THAT'S THE ONLY THING I KNOW ABOUT TH

20250723SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the ABS warning light was intermittently illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and stated that the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that parts were not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

Mileage: 117,000

20250429FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

On the [XXX], my 2012 Hyundai Accent caught fire in the engine compartment and engulfed in flames. Right before the fire started, smoke came out of the air vents into the car, causing me to become stifled and choke for several minutes. Smoke was also coming out of the hood. At that point, I lifted the hood and there were flames coming out of the engine. During the past six months prior to the fire, I developed a chronic cough and now believe it might have been attributed to fumes that I have been inhaling through the air vents from my car's engine. My [XXX] mother and [XXX] son have suffered headaches, coughing, sore throat and congestion when riding in my car with the air conditioner turned on. The remains of the vehicle were inspected by the Rockdale County Fire Department after they extinguished the fire. What remains of the car is available for inspection in Rockdale County Ga at a tow yard designated by the Rockdale County emergency rescue team members who assisted me. It was t

20250429FireSERVICE BRAKES

On the [XXX], my 2012 Hyundai Accent caught fire in the engine compartment and engulfed in flames. Right before the fire started, smoke came out of the air vents into the car, causing me to become stifled and choke for several minutes. Smoke was also coming out of the hood. At that point, I lifted the hood and there were flames coming out of the engine. During the past six months prior to the fire, I developed a chronic cough and now believe it might have been attributed to fumes that I have been inhaling through the air vents from my car's engine. My [XXX] mother and [XXX] son have suffered headaches, coughing, sore throat and congestion when riding in my car with the air conditioner turned on. The remains of the vehicle were inspected by the Rockdale County Fire Department after they extinguished the fire. What remains of the car is available for inspection in Rockdale County Ga at a tow yard designated by the Rockdale County emergency rescue team members who assisted me. It was t

20250429FireENGINE

On the [XXX], my 2012 Hyundai Accent caught fire in the engine compartment and engulfed in flames. Right before the fire started, smoke came out of the air vents into the car, causing me to become stifled and choke for several minutes. Smoke was also coming out of the hood. At that point, I lifted the hood and there were flames coming out of the engine. During the past six months prior to the fire, I developed a chronic cough and now believe it might have been attributed to fumes that I have been inhaling through the air vents from my car's engine. My [XXX] mother and [XXX] son have suffered headaches, coughing, sore throat and congestion when riding in my car with the air conditioner turned on. The remains of the vehicle were inspected by the Rockdale County Fire Department after they extinguished the fire. What remains of the car is available for inspection in Rockdale County Ga at a tow yard designated by the Rockdale County emergency rescue team members who assisted me. It was t

20250226FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that after the vehicle was occupied and parked in the residence, the contact started the vehicle to let the engine warm up went inside his home then returned outside from his home and noticed the engine was burning. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle to see where the fire was coming from and turned the vehicle off. The contact grabbed the water hose and attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful.  The contact mentioned he did call 911. The contact did not sustain injuries.  No medical attention was sought. No police report was filed. The fire departments arrived on the scene, and the firefighters extinguished the fire. The fire consumed the vehicle in the contact's driveway and the fire spread causing damage. No Fire department report was filed. The vehicle currently remained on the scene. The contact related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The insurance c

20250226FireENGINE

The contact owned a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that after the vehicle was occupied and parked in the residence, the contact started the vehicle to let the engine warm up went inside his home then returned outside from his home and noticed the engine was burning. The contact opened the hood of the vehicle to see where the fire was coming from and turned the vehicle off. The contact grabbed the water hose and attempted to extinguish the fire but was unsuccessful.  The contact mentioned he did call 911. The contact did not sustain injuries.  No medical attention was sought. No police report was filed. The fire departments arrived on the scene, and the firefighters extinguished the fire. The fire consumed the vehicle in the contact's driveway and the fire spread causing damage. No Fire department report was filed. The vehicle currently remained on the scene. The contact related the failure to the NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000(SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). The insurance c

20250103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear driver's side tire suddenly became flat. There was an abnormal sound coming from the infotainment system and the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that the front driver's side and the rear passenger's side windows were stuck and had to be manually raised. The check engine, air bag, and low tire pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

20250103STRUCTURE

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear driver's side tire suddenly became flat. There was an abnormal sound coming from the infotainment system and the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that the front driver's side and the rear passenger's side windows were stuck and had to be manually raised. The check engine, air bag, and low tire pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

20250103TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear driver's side tire suddenly became flat. There was an abnormal sound coming from the infotainment system and the vehicle was shuddering. The contact stated that the front driver's side and the rear passenger's side windows were stuck and had to be manually raised. The check engine, air bag, and low tire pressure warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the vehicle was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

20241106STEERING

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH and turning to the right, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the power steering assist module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

20240814FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that gasoline was leaking from the fuel pump, and the fuel cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the dealer another time and was diagnosed, and it was determined that the exhaust pipes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact researched and determined that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was unknown.

20240814ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that gasoline was leaking from the fuel pump, and the fuel cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the dealer another time and was diagnosed, and it was determined that the exhaust pipes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact researched and determined that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was unknown.

20240814SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that gasoline was leaking from the fuel pump, and the fuel cap needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the dealer another time and was diagnosed, and it was determined that the exhaust pipes needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact researched and determined that the failure was due to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was unknown.

20240715FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Hyundai's current handling of recall 251 is inadequate, posing significant danger to drivers and passengers. Hyundai's remedy for Recall 251 replaces ABS fuse with a lower amperage fuse. While this may prevent fires caused by brake fluid leaks, it disables the ABS, introducing severe safety hazards: •Without ABS, the risk of wheel lockup during heavy braking increases, leading to skidding and loss of control. •ABS reduces stopping distances, especially on slippery surfaces. Disabling it may result in longer stopping distances, raising collision risks. •Drivers accustomed to ABS may not be prepared for how the vehicle behaves without it, potentially leading to improper braking. Federal regulations mandate that all U.S. cars and minivans manufactured in 2012 or later must have four-wheel ABS. By disabling the ABS, Hyundai circumvents this requirement, compromising safety. Despite attempts to communicate these safety issues, Hyundai has shown inadequate response. This suggests a

20240715FireSERVICE BRAKES

Hyundai's current handling of recall 251 is inadequate, posing significant danger to drivers and passengers. Hyundai's remedy for Recall 251 replaces ABS fuse with a lower amperage fuse. While this may prevent fires caused by brake fluid leaks, it disables the ABS, introducing severe safety hazards: •Without ABS, the risk of wheel lockup during heavy braking increases, leading to skidding and loss of control. •ABS reduces stopping distances, especially on slippery surfaces. Disabling it may result in longer stopping distances, raising collision risks. •Drivers accustomed to ABS may not be prepared for how the vehicle behaves without it, potentially leading to improper braking. Federal regulations mandate that all U.S. cars and minivans manufactured in 2012 or later must have four-wheel ABS. By disabling the ABS, Hyundai circumvents this requirement, compromising safety. Despite attempts to communicate these safety issues, Hyundai has shown inadequate response. This suggests a

Compare 2012HYUNDAIACCENT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
The 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 217 NHTSA complaints, 18 crashes, 18 fires, 18 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 4/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
Yes, the 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The most-complained component for the 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT is ENGINE with 35 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and SERVICE BRAKES.
Is the 2012 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. The 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. 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.