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1998 Hyundai Accent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 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 47 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 →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

8 reports
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50,000 miles · Mar 1, 2007
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50-75 MPH) THE OVERDRIVE WOULD DISSENGAGE. IN TURRN THE RPM WOULD RAMP UP. THIS WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY. SOMTIMES PULLING OFF AND TURNING CAR OFF AND STARTING IT AGAIN TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM. FINALLY, WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. HE FOUND THAT THE WIRING UNER THE STICK (AUTOMATIC) WERE BARE AND TO…

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WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50-75 MPH) THE OVERDRIVE WOULD DISSENGAGE. IN TURRN THE RPM WOULD RAMP UP. THIS WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY. SOMTIMES PULLING OFF AND TURNING CAR OFF AND STARTING IT AGAIN TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM. FINALLY, WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. HE FOUND THAT THE WIRING UNER THE STICK (AUTOMATIC) WERE BARE AND TOUCHING. HE FIXED THE WIRING AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. I HAVE NOTED MANY OTHER ENTRIES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10183909

Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2005
Electrical SystemPower Train

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 50 MY RPM IS AROUND 4000 A FEW MONTHS LATER DECEMBER 2003 TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. NOW JANUARY 2005 RPM IS ACTING UP AGAIN, I HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE GARAGE WHERE MY TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN AND THEY SEE NO PROBLEM WITH IT AT ALL, THEY THINK MAYBE IT IS ELECTRICAL???? DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE…

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DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 50 MY RPM IS AROUND 4000 A FEW MONTHS LATER DECEMBER 2003 TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. NOW JANUARY 2005 RPM IS ACTING UP AGAIN, I HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE GARAGE WHERE MY TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN AND THEY SEE NO PROBLEM WITH IT AT ALL, THEY THINK MAYBE IT IS ELECTRICAL???? DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS....I HATE CARS!!!! *JB

NHTSA ODI #10107646

40,510 miles · Apr 4, 2003
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE STARTER WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION, FRONT BRAKES, OUTER TIE RODS AND THE ENGINE WERE ALL REPLACED. *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10011642

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2001
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WENT DIM AND POWER DIED ON VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #891930

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherCrash

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE, 1998. FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, ENGINE CHECK SENSOR WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A WHILE. SOMETIMES THE MECHANIC FOUND A PROBLEM AND FIXED IT AND TURNED OFF THE LIGHT; SOMETIMES HE TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR; SOMETIMES HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO COME ON. LATEST IN…

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PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN JUNE, 1998. FROM DATE OF PURCHASE, ENGINE CHECK SENSOR WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON FOR A WHILE. SOMETIMES THE MECHANIC FOUND A PROBLEM AND FIXED IT AND TURNED OFF THE LIGHT; SOMETIMES HE TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR; SOMETIMES HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE LIGHT TO COME ON. LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON MAY 15, 2001, WHEN THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON ONCE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP B/C THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THEY'D REPLACED THE PULSE GENERATOR. THERE HAVE BEEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE IN THE PAST; SOMETIMES THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THEY COINCIDED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM. AFTER 3 YEARS AND MANY VISITS TO THE MECHANIC FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, I'M FACING THE END OF MY WARRANTY AND THE LATEST EXPLANATION FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM IS THAT THE SENSOR IS "TOUCHY." IGNORING THE LIGHT IN THE FUTURE IS AN UNACCEPTEABLE AND UNSAFE SOLUTION, AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT IT IS AS "TOUCHY" AS IT IS "FAULTY."*AK

NHTSA ODI #745773

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2000
Electrical System

WHEN I TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE KEY TURNS BACK AND TURNS THE WHOLE ENGINE OFF, IT WENT OUT ON THE FREEWAY ONE TIME! *AK

NHTSA ODI #736666

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED ODOMETER. SIX MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. ; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED COMPUTER MODULE. CURRENTLY, CRANK ANGLE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING STALLING / NO START AT ALL, AND ENGINE MI…

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ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED ODOMETER. SIX MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. ; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED COMPUTER MODULE. CURRENTLY, CRANK ANGLE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING STALLING / NO START AT ALL, AND ENGINE MISSING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK ON 6-2-00 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO HIGHER GEAR AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE ON FREEWAY AT 60 MPH WITH THE RPM GAUGE AT 4500. NLM

NHTSA ODI #862319

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 1999
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

BATTERY DEAD ON THREE OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #544501

Official recalls

1

00V314001 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 2, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ACCENT GT MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DOHC ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 19, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1997; 1998 ACCENT MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 1997 THROUGH JUNE 25, 1998; 1997 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 1996 THROUGH JULY 9, 1997 AND 1998 SONATA VEHICLES PRODUCED FROM JULY 9, 1997 THROUGH APRIL 24, 1998. THE EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS MAY APPLY EXCESSIVE VACUUM TO THE FUEL TANKS DURING THE CANISTER PURGE CYCLE. MINOR FUEL TANK DISTORTION COULD RESULT. A SMALL CRACK COULD DEVELOP ON THE UPPER FUEL TANK SURFACE. THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE AND, IN SOME CASES, THE VEHICLE DRIVER COULD NOTICE A GASOLINE ODOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF IT IS CRACKED, A NEW FUEL TANK WILL BE INSTALLED. A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP THAT DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WILL ALSO BE INSTALLED. NOTE: THE 1997-1998 SONATA FUEL TANKS HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED CRACKING. HOWEVER, AT THIS TIME, THE CAUSE FOR THE CRACKING HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED. THIS PORTION OF THE CAMPAIGN WILL BEGIN AFTER HYUNDAI HAS DETERMINED THE CAUSE AND CORRECTIVE PROCEDURE.

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

1

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