Suspension. Review the 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

31 crash reports1 fire reports19 injury reports

Tires complaints

5 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000

Power TrainTires

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MY CAR HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR FAILURE TO START. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED INITALLY AFTER THE CAR STALLED AND FAILED TO START IN AN INTERSECTION ON 11/12/96. AT THIS TIME THE MAP SENSOR WAS REPLACED. SINCE THEN SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE DEALER HAVE NOT DIAGNOSED THE CONTINUING START-UP FAILURES DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY OCCUR SPORADICALLY. THE CAR DOES EVENTUALLY START. I HAVE CONTACTED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS, AND NOW JUST "LIVE WITH IT." MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO RELEASE FROM PARK WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE INNER OVERRIDE SWITCH. I HAVE NOT BROUGHT THIS IN DUE TO PREVIOUS DISAPOINTMENTS AND LOATH OF LEAVING MY CAR AND ARRANGING TRANSPORTATION, AGAIN. MY DRIVERS DOOR HAS BEEN ADJUSTED AND READUSTED, HOWEVER THE GASKET WAS NOT REPLACED WHEN IT BEGAN TO SAG AS THEY FELT THAT I SHOULD PAY FOR THIS ON 9/16/96 WITH 7675 MILES. NEITHER SIDE WINDOW CRANKS UP OR DOWN, RATHER MUST BE PULLED OR PUSHED. ONE WINDOW WAS ADJUSTED JUST AFTER MY PURCHASE, THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS FIXED WHEN THE DRIVER'S DOOR WAS REPLACED FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT, AND THAT WINDOW NOW DOES NOT WORK! I REPLACED 4 TIRES WITHIN 20,000 MILES DUE TO UNUSUAL PROBLEMS SUCH AS A "BROKEN BEAD" THE TIRE REPLACEMENTS WERE IN ADDITION TO WHEN I REPLACED ALL OF THE ORIGINAL TIRES AT @ 35000 MILES. THE TIRES THAT I REPLACED WERE HIGH QUALITY 70,000 MILE WARENTEED TIRES FROM SEARS. I HAVE 5 PAYMENTS LEFT TO CONPLETE MY SALES AGREEMENT, AND I AM UNSURE IF MY CAR WILL MAKE IT!!! I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH MY EXPERIENCES WITH THIS VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P17570S13 )

NHTSA ODI #727549

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1999

Exterior LightingTiresVisibility

FRONT TIRES WERE VERY UNEVENLY WORN WITH LESS THAN 18,000 MILES. ANOTHER SET OF FRONT TIRES HAD TO BE PURCHASED WITH 55,000 MILES DUE TO AGAIN, VERY UNEVENLY WORN TIRES. DRIVER'S SIDE GLASS WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP AND DOWN. REPAIR MADE BY SERVICE DEPT. OF DEALER. HEADLIGHTS SUDDENDLY COMPLETELY WENT OUT. A HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD …

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NHTSA ODI #713758

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 1999

Tires

TIRES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL REPAIR NOTICE.

NHTSA ODI #543242

Mileage unknown · Nov 22, 1996

Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureSuspension

FRONT END MISALIGNED.

NHTSA ODI #511601

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1996

SuspensionTires

RECALL NO 96V113000, THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED ON 8-15-96. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALIGN PROPERLY, AND A SEVERELY PULLS TO THE LEFT, ALSO EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #803339

Official recalls

02V341000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Dec 20, 2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DURING WINTER MONTHS, LARGE QUANTITIES OF SALT ARE USED TO DE-ICE ROADS. THIS ROAD SALT COULD RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SEVERE CORROSION COULD RESULT IN PERFORATION AND POTENTIAL FRACTURE OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM. IF THIS FRACTURE OCCURS, THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY REMAINS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS THROUGH THE FORWARD LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT POINT AND THROUGH THE STRUT ATTACHMENT TO THE UPPER WHEELHOUSE. REDUCED CONTROL OF THE FRONT WHEEL LOCATION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON JUNE 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

98V245000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Oct 6, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. DURING WINTER MONTHS, THE ROAD SALT USED TO DE-ICE ROADS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION THAT CAUSES PITS TO FORM ON THE LOWER COIL OF THE FRONT SPRINGS ALLOWING CRACKS TO DEVELOP. THIS CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE LOWER SPRING COIL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE FRONT COIL SPRING BREAKS, IT CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROM ITS SEATED POSITION, AND CAN CONTACT A TIRE. TIRE DAMAGE CAN RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING GUIDE TO PREVENT A BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING AND DAMAGING A TIRE.

96V113000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Jul 1, 1996

THROUGH CONTACT WITH ROAD HAZARDS AND CURBS, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE SHIFTED LOCATION CAN RESULT IN IMPROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MEMBER ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT TO THE UNDERBODY.

95V043000 · Electrical System:wiring:interior/under Dash

Mar 3, 1995

THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN BE CONTACTED BY THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: CONTACT ABRADES AND DAMAGES THE INSULATION ONTHE HARNESS CAUSING A FUSE TO BLOW AND THE ENGINE TO STALL. UNEXPECTED ENGINE STALLING INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND REPOSITION THE HARNESS SO THAT CONTACT WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL LEVER WILL NOT OCCUR.

95V003000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:high/low Beam Dimmer Switch

Jan 20, 1995

A PLASTIC SLIDER PIECE WITHIN THE HEADLAMP DIMMER SWITCH ASSEMBLY DOES NOT FULLY RETRACT WHEN THE HEADLAMP DIMMER SWITCH IS MOVED FROM LOW BEAM TO HIGH BEAM POSITION. THE LOW BEAM LAMPS GO OUT AS INTENDED, BUT THE HIGH BEAM LAMPS DO NOT COME ON.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION WILL RESULT IN INADEQUATE LIGHTING CAUSING A VISIBILITY PROBLEM FOR THE DRIVER AND OTHER ONCOMING MOTORISTS AND AN ACCIDENT CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HEADLAMP DIMMER SWITCH ASSEMBLY.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE02055 · Front Suspension Lower Control Arm

Opened Jul 2, 2002 · Closed Dec 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension; Suspension:front:control Arm; Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

ON DECEMBER 18TH, 2002 HYUNDAI AMERICA TECHNICAL CENTER, INC. (HYUNDAI) SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT REGARDING APPROXIMATELY 47,000 1995 AND 1996 HYUNDAI ACCENT VEHICLES REGISTERED IN SALT BELT STATES.ACCORDING TO HYUNDAI, THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS WITH AN INTERIOR PARTITION WALL.THE PARTITION WALL RESTRICTS THE COVERAGE OF PAINT TO THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF THE CONTROL ARM.WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY THAT USE ROAD SALT FOR DE-ICING, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM CAN CORRODE OVER TIME.THIS CORROSION CAN LEAD TO PERFORATION AND CAN POSSIBLY FRACTURE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR PIVOT POINTS OF THE ARM.SUCH A FRACTURE LIMITS THE FRONT SUSPENSION'S ABILITY TO CONTROL FRONT TO BACK MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL.UNDER BRAKING, THE FRONT WHEEL CAN CONTACT THE WHEELHOUSE.ALL KNOWN FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED IN SALT BELT STATES.VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED FOR LOWER CONTROL ARM CORROSION DAMAGE AND, IF DAMAGED, THE ARMS WILL BE REPLACED.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Suspension:front:control Arm

Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Arm

Suspension

EA00001 · Passenger Air Bag Related

Opened Jan 5, 2000 · Closed Mar 9, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal

There is no summary currently available

PE99046 · Passenger Air Bag Related Fatalities

Opened Jul 7, 1999 · Closed Jan 5, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal

ODI IS AWARE OF SEVEN FATALITIES OF CHILDREN (EXCLUDING CHILDREN IN REAR FACING CHILD SAFETY SEATS)THAT WERE CAUSED BY THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAGS IN MINOR OR MODERATE SEVERITY CRASHES INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 1997 HYUNDAI ACCENT VEHICLES.TWO OF THE SEVEN FATALITIES OCCURRED IN PUERTO RICO.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS FORFURTHER INVESTIGATION.

PE97014 · Air Bag Exhaust Fire

Opened Apr 4, 1997 · Closed Aug 26, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags

There is no summary currently available