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1996 Hyundai Accent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1996 Hyundai Accent do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 64.5.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 101 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports2 fire reports13 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

21 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 23, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

WAS IN A CAR CRASH WHERE THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVERS SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WAS TRAVLING AT APROXIMATELY 35MPH. NO AIRBAG DEPLOY. FILED A CLAIM WITH HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY. THEN SOLD THE CAR TO A FRIEND OF MINE. SHE THEN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND APROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS A…

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WAS IN A CAR CRASH WHERE THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVERS SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WAS TRAVLING AT APROXIMATELY 35MPH. NO AIRBAG DEPLOY. FILED A CLAIM WITH HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY. THEN SOLD THE CAR TO A FRIEND OF MINE. SHE THEN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND APROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS AGO, SHE WAS T-BONED IN THE SAME VEHICLE. THE JAWS OF LIFE WERE NEEDED TO GET HER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOY. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10047399

Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2003
Air BagsCrashFireInjury

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, WHICH RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009223

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2002
Air Bags

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON TWICE DUE TO THE MODULE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER SHOULD FIX THE SECOND FAILURE WITH OUT CHARGE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #566654

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2001
Air Bags

DURING FRONTAL COLLISION AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #562616

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND A TRACTOR WAS CHANGING LANES, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ROOM. TRACTOR RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, MANUFACTURER SENT CONSUMER A LETTER STATING THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS NOT AT FAULT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #894653

Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001
Air BagsCrashInjury

WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT CONSUMER WAS REARENDED AND PUSHED INTO VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, BOTH AIRBAGS EXPLODED. CONSUMER WAS BURNED BY CHEMICALS IN AIRBAGS. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #884350

Mileage unknown · Jan 23, 2001
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN PARKED VEHICLE. LATER, TRIED TO DRIVE AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A WARNING.*AK CUSTOMER SAYS THE INSPECTOR AND THE DEALER DENIED HIM THE WARRANTY FOR THE AIR BAG THAT WAS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT RESION. THE DEALER AND THE INSPECTOR SUSPECT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN FRONT IMPACT …

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WHILE DRIVING AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, THEN PARKED VEHICLE. LATER, TRIED TO DRIVE AND BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT A WARNING.*AK CUSTOMER SAYS THE INSPECTOR AND THE DEALER DENIED HIM THE WARRANTY FOR THE AIR BAG THAT WAS DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT RESION. THE DEALER AND THE INSPECTOR SUSPECT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN FRONT IMPACT THAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. *YH

NHTSA ODI #878819

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2000
Air BagsCrash

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE FRONT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WICH CAUSED THE FRONT END TO FALL OFF. THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 25MPH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858903

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 1999
Air Bags

CONSUMER DROVE OVER NORMAL STEEL PLATE HAT WAS LEFT IN MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION, AND DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A COLLISION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842522

Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 1999
Air BagsCrash

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 40 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #835036

Official recalls

4

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.

97V026000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Feb 26, 1997

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.

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.

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

3

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

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.

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.

Suspension

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.

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.