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
What owners actually said
101 reports
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Power Train
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH. WHENEVER DOWNSHIFTING MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP THREE TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM (1)AUG. 19, 97, (2)SEPT.2, 97, (3)SEPT. 19, 97. DEALER HAS BLED THE LINES FOR AIR 1ST TIME; 2ND TIME WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, 3RD TIME DEALER SAID THAT THE…
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CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH. WHENEVER DOWNSHIFTING MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP THREE TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM (1)AUG. 19, 97, (2)SEPT.2, 97, (3)SEPT. 19, 97. DEALER HAS BLED THE LINES FOR AIR 1ST TIME; 2ND TIME WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, 3RD TIME DEALER SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF DEFECTIVE PART, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER IS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT FOR THURSDAY 9-11-97 TO BRING VEHICLE BACK FOR CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER TO BE PUT ON . THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #816195
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling
OIL PLUG FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #606048
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1997
Visibility
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60-65 MPH THE PASSEGER'S SIDE WINDOW BROKE. OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. *AK THERE WERE NO DAMAGES OR INJURIES. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #814485
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 1997
Steering
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL, PULLING TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD & WHILE STEPPING ON THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN FIXED BY DEALER, BUT COMSUMER SAID THE PROBLEM STILL THE SAME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #814009
Mileage unknown · Jun 24, 1997
Power Train
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS INTO THE WRONG GEAR WHILE BEING DRIVEN, AND VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIME BECAUSE OF IT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #813472
Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 1997
Power Train
OVERDRIVE GOES OUT WHEN SPEEDOMETER REACH 60MPH. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME WHEN GETTING TO 60MPH IT JUST GOES OUT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #812658
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury
DRIVING VEHICLE, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN RED LIGHT, HIT VEHICLE HEAD ON, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY, DRIVER WENT INTO WINDSHIELD. SEAT BELT HELD.
NHTSA ODI #808388
Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 1996
SuspensionTires
REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE, CURRENTLY THERE'S A NOISE IN THE FRONT, THE FRONT IS UNALIGNED AND THE TIRES ARE WORN OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
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.
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.
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.
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.
1996 Hyundai Accent Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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