HYUNDAI ACCENT · model year

2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT

17 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2020HYUNDAIACCENT carries 17 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 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 2020 ACCENT is engine with 4 filings, followed by air bags (2) and fuel/propulsion system (2). 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 4 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 2020 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.

17
Complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2020 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 5.0 ★
  • 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

17 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

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

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE4
AIR BAGS2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SEAT BELTS1
STEERING1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR1
SEATS1

Recalls (4)

22V35400019/05/2022

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.

22V06900009/02/2022

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.

21V61900006/08/2021

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LATCH

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of F

22V21800001/04/2022

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.

Recent Complaints

20250817AIR BAGS

Airbag light turned on my dashboard and when I took it to the dealership -regional Hyundai in broken arrow in Oklahoma I was told by the rep that helped me that there is a defect in the passenger airbag and that it would cost me about 1700.00 usd to fix it. If I chose not to fix it then if I get into a car wreck the passenger airbag would deploy, this is a risk hazard for lives and there is no reason why a fairly new car, 2020 should have issues with the airbags. This is a potential risk that passengers should not experience in the case of an unfortunate wreck

20250817SEATS

Airbag light turned on my dashboard and when I took it to the dealership -regional Hyundai in broken arrow in Oklahoma I was told by the rep that helped me that there is a defect in the passenger airbag and that it would cost me about 1700.00 usd to fix it. If I chose not to fix it then if I get into a car wreck the passenger airbag would deploy, this is a risk hazard for lives and there is no reason why a fairly new car, 2020 should have issues with the airbags. This is a potential risk that passengers should not experience in the case of an unfortunate wreck

20250812STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the exterior passenger's front and rear door handles detached while attempting to open the doors. The contact was able to reattach the door handles for the front and rear passenger doors. The contact stated that the interior door handle also detached. The contact had to roll down the window and use the exterior door handles to exit the vehicle. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,500. The VIN was not available.

Mileage: 26,500

20250530FireENGINE

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, smoke was emitting from the vehicle. The contact was inside her residence and noticed the smoke from her window. Unknown if the air bags deployed. The contact stated that the fire spread to another parked vehicle and caused structural damage to the building. The fire department and police department were called. Unknown if a police report was filed. The fire department filed a report. The vehicle was parked at the residence. The contact notified her insurance company and declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

20241113ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I purchased my 2020 Hyundai Accent from Shirlie Slack Mitsubishi, in Fredericksburg, Virginia on [XXX]. It wasn't long after purchasing that I began experiencing difficulties with it. The car will shut off when it comes to a complete stop or even if I s for a brief moment to switch gears, for example when parallel parking. Some days it would happen less often, maybe once or twice per trip then other days it would happen every time I came to a complete stop, shutting off in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway even. Because of my warranty through my dealership and Hyundai, I cannot take it anywhere else to have work done on it. Therefore I have been to this Hyundai for this issue three separate times now. The West Broad Hyundai in Richmond, Virginia. I even tried taking it to a different Hyundai in Richmond and they denied me, saying that I was already in the system at the West Broad location, and that I had to take it there. I have yet to see improvement after having it serviced any

20241113ENGINE

I purchased my 2020 Hyundai Accent from Shirlie Slack Mitsubishi, in Fredericksburg, Virginia on [XXX]. It wasn't long after purchasing that I began experiencing difficulties with it. The car will shut off when it comes to a complete stop or even if I s for a brief moment to switch gears, for example when parallel parking. Some days it would happen less often, maybe once or twice per trip then other days it would happen every time I came to a complete stop, shutting off in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway even. Because of my warranty through my dealership and Hyundai, I cannot take it anywhere else to have work done on it. Therefore I have been to this Hyundai for this issue three separate times now. The West Broad Hyundai in Richmond, Virginia. I even tried taking it to a different Hyundai in Richmond and they denied me, saying that I was already in the system at the West Broad location, and that I had to take it there. I have yet to see improvement after having it serviced any

20241113FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I purchased my 2020 Hyundai Accent from Shirlie Slack Mitsubishi, in Fredericksburg, Virginia on [XXX]. It wasn't long after purchasing that I began experiencing difficulties with it. The car will shut off when it comes to a complete stop or even if I s for a brief moment to switch gears, for example when parallel parking. Some days it would happen less often, maybe once or twice per trip then other days it would happen every time I came to a complete stop, shutting off in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway even. Because of my warranty through my dealership and Hyundai, I cannot take it anywhere else to have work done on it. Therefore I have been to this Hyundai for this issue three separate times now. The West Broad Hyundai in Richmond, Virginia. I even tried taking it to a different Hyundai in Richmond and they denied me, saying that I was already in the system at the West Broad location, and that I had to take it there. I have yet to see improvement after having it serviced any

20240422VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that the cruise control button had fractured. While driving with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 103,300.

Mileage: 103,300

20230615STEERING

Power steering went out

20220831SEAT BELTS

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

20220627ENGINE

My vehicle does the same thing as NHTSA ID Number: 11423521 and now I know not to bother taking it in for service for this issue. I was validated when I read that complaint as I have and continue to experience the same non-responsive issue when I accelerate from a complete stop ever since the vehicle was purchased 2020 February. This form asks for a specific date but there is no specific date. It happens every time I drive the vehicle. The issue can be erratic and I never know when I can or can’t depend on the vehicle’s acceleration and live in fear of causing a wreck or worse inuring / killing someone else. I get honked at all the time from impatient drivers insisting I pull out while I wait to make sure there is more than enough time to pull out and accelerate safely. Impatient drivers be hanged and pay attention to your own driving.

20220627VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My vehicle does the same thing as NHTSA ID Number: 11423521 and now I know not to bother taking it in for service for this issue. I was validated when I read that complaint as I have and continue to experience the same non-responsive issue when I accelerate from a complete stop ever since the vehicle was purchased 2020 February. This form asks for a specific date but there is no specific date. It happens every time I drive the vehicle. The issue can be erratic and I never know when I can or can’t depend on the vehicle’s acceleration and live in fear of causing a wreck or worse inuring / killing someone else. I get honked at all the time from impatient drivers insisting I pull out while I wait to make sure there is more than enough time to pull out and accelerate safely. Impatient drivers be hanged and pay attention to your own driving.

20220627FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My vehicle does the same thing as NHTSA ID Number: 11423521 and now I know not to bother taking it in for service for this issue. I was validated when I read that complaint as I have and continue to experience the same non-responsive issue when I accelerate from a complete stop ever since the vehicle was purchased 2020 February. This form asks for a specific date but there is no specific date. It happens every time I drive the vehicle. The issue can be erratic and I never know when I can or can’t depend on the vehicle’s acceleration and live in fear of causing a wreck or worse inuring / killing someone else. I get honked at all the time from impatient drivers insisting I pull out while I wait to make sure there is more than enough time to pull out and accelerate safely. Impatient drivers be hanged and pay attention to your own driving.

20210708STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving approximately 55-60 mph, the hood was released without warning and cracked the front windshield. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

Mileage: 42,000

20210706ENGINE

I owned a 2017 Elantra and now I own a 2020 Accent. Both cars had the same on and off problem. When I am at an intersection and have to step on the gas to get thru the intersection quickly, when I step on the gas nothing happens. I have to pump the gas several times to get going. In the old days we called this vapor lock. This has happened numerous times but last week it almost got me killed. A car was coming from the lane to my right and I stepped on the gas and got about half way thru the intersection and the car just stopped and I was almost hit broad side. I called the service manager at my local Hyundai dealership in Freehold, NJ and ask if other people have had the same problem. He said yes but their is nothing they can do about it. It is something built into the Hyundai cars. This is unacceptable. There has to be something that can be done. When I took my 2017 Elantra into the dealership, the service manager said to leave the car, but if it does do it when they take it out for

20210703CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

As I went to take a turn the vehicles electric power steering went out causing loss of control of the vehicle. The electric power steering is faulty and others should know about this major safety defect. Again What Exactly Happened was as I was turning the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn then all of a sudden it turned extremely easy, "more than normal" and caused loss of control of the vehicle resulting in a head on collision that injured me and left me with fractured ribs and Sternum.

20201024CrashAIR BAGS

MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY NEAR DALLAS TX. AS SHE SLOWED FOR AN UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION ZONE SHE WAS REAR-ENDED BY BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PROPELLING HER INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND FURTHER TO THE RIGHT ENDING UP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS WITH FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. NOBODY AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2020 WILL DISCUSS THE ISSUE NOR AM I ABLE TO CONTACT ANY BREATHING PERSON AT HYUNDAI CORPORATE TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.

Mileage: 6,000

Compare 2020HYUNDAIACCENT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
The 2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 17 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 1 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The 2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
Yes, the 2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEAT BELTS:FRONT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The most-complained component for the 2020 HYUNDAI ACCENT is ENGINE with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2020 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 2020 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.