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1997 Hyundai Accent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1997 Hyundai Accent do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 64.5.

About this comparison →

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: 6 of 55 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports1 fire reports4 injury reports

Power Train complaints

13 reports
Clear category filter
54,000 miles · Apr 3, 2003
Power Train

CAR WAS RETURNED TO HYUNDAI UNDER WARRANTY IN JANUARY 2002. REPORTED TO HAVE A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER AND STARTER. BOTH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LAST WEEK CAR WOULDNT START AGAIN. OUR MECHANIC DIAGNOSED SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT IF CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AS HAVING EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THIS…

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CAR WAS RETURNED TO HYUNDAI UNDER WARRANTY IN JANUARY 2002. REPORTED TO HAVE A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER AND STARTER. BOTH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LAST WEEK CAR WOULDNT START AGAIN. OUR MECHANIC DIAGNOSED SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT IF CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AS HAVING EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED AND NOT PATCHED UP. HYUNDAI IS NOW REFUSING TO ABSORB COST SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. TORQUE CONVERTERS AND STARTERS DONT GO BAD YEARLY!!! HELP!!

NHTSA ODI #10013897

Mileage unknown · Sep 24, 2002
Power Train

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL HEAVILY JERK AND THEN THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED. DEALER NOTIFIED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8019307

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

FOR THE PC SYSTEM PROBLEM, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE PC VALVE WAS LEAKING OIL AROUND IT, SO I REPLACED THE COMPONENT ON MAY 12,2000. BY DECEMBER, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH A NOTED DROP IN PERFORMANCE AND FUEL ECONOMY. SO I DECIDED, BEFORE BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE, TO VISUALLY CHECK THE FLUIDS, …

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FOR THE PC SYSTEM PROBLEM, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE PC VALVE WAS LEAKING OIL AROUND IT, SO I REPLACED THE COMPONENT ON MAY 12,2000. BY DECEMBER, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH A NOTED DROP IN PERFORMANCE AND FUEL ECONOMY. SO I DECIDED, BEFORE BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE, TO VISUALLY CHECK THE FLUIDS, AND WEAR COMPONENTS. I ENDED UP FINDING SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE, CREATED BY WATER IN THE OIL. WHEN DODGE/HYUNDAI OF PARAMUS CHECKED-OUT THE CAR THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A CLOGGED PC SYSTEM AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANY, SO I PAID FOR THE WORK. FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LEAKING, AND WHEN THE DEALER IN PARAMUS CHECKED-OUT THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE HAD OVER-TORQUED THE OIL PAN, BLOWING OUT THE GASKET. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE WARRANTEED BY ALTMAN IN N.CHARLESTON, SINCE THEY DID THE 30K CHECK-UP. WHEN I INFORMED ALTMAN, THEY TOLD ME THAT PARAMUS SHOULD HAVE DONE THE WORK AS WARRANTEED. SO, MIKE AT ALTMAN TOLD ME I WOULD RECEIVE A REFUND, BUT I NEVER DID, AND MIKE DOEN'T WORK THERE ANYMORE, AND NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ANYTHING. I TALKED TO HYUN. MOTOR AMER. CUST. SERVICE, AND I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A CALL BACK. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS IF EITHER OF THESE IS COVERED BY WARRANTY, AND IF SO WHAT THEN?

NHTSA ODI #744895

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884476

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2001
Power Train

CAR STALLS, RUNS ROUGH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER ON 9/17/99 FOR $8,068.96 INCLUDING FINANCE CHARGES. IT HAD 45,490 MILES. NOW IT HAS 68,841 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $1,600 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT TRADING IT IN, THEY TOLD ME THE VALUE OF THE CAR IS ONLY $2,000.…

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CAR STALLS, RUNS ROUGH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER ON 9/17/99 FOR $8,068.96 INCLUDING FINANCE CHARGES. IT HAD 45,490 MILES. NOW IT HAS 68,841 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $1,600 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT TRADING IT IN, THEY TOLD ME THE VALUE OF THE CAR IS ONLY $2,000. HOW DID IT DEPRECIATE SO MUCH IN ONE YEAR? IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS CAR? IS THE DEALER REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION UP TO 100,000 MILES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY?*AK

NHTSA ODI #740174

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2000
Power Train

TRANSMISSION GEAR GETS STUCK IN PARK AND BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SHIFT INTO DRVE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856346

Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSeat Belts

AUTOMATIC FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD NOT RELEASE AFTER BEING LOCKED. ALSO, CLUTCH FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. ENGINE LIFTERS ALSO WENT OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841705

Mileage unknown · May 10, 1999
Electrical SystemPower Train

GREASE FROM FITTINGS FOR MASTER CYLINDER FOR CLUTCH GETS IN FLUID CAUSING THE INABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS. MJS

NHTSA ODI #545461

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Power Train

SHIFT LEVER FAILED CAUSING GEAR TO STICK WHEN PUT INTO DRIVE. *TT

NHTSA ODI #608627

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingInterior LightingPower Train

BESIDES THE CLUTCH I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES, SUN VISOR,THE TRUNK LIGHT AND WITH THE CAR STARTING. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #701218

Official recalls

2

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.

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

RQ00017 · Fuel Tank Cracking

Opened Sep 16, 2000 · Closed Oct 20, 2000

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

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.