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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

15 reports
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73,000 miles · Apr 4, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND EACH TIME I WOULD STATE HOW THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR JERKS AND THEN IT RESUMES NORMALLY AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ALL SAY THEY HAVE N…

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I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND EACH TIME I WOULD STATE HOW THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR JERKS AND THEN IT RESUMES NORMALLY AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ALL SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND IT HAD NEVER BEEN REPORTED BEFORE. NHTSA NEEDS TO GET ON THE CASE AND NOTIFY WHOMEVER NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10064529

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE CAN BE LEFT IN ANY POSITION AND IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026947

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

70,000 miles · Feb 21, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLED WHEN THE GEARS WERE CHANGED, THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10009017

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETER STATING IF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES IF A CRACK DEVELOPES IN FUEL TANK. CONSUMER STATES LIGHT WAS ON PRIOR TO RECEIVING LETTER. DEALER STATED THEY WERE CHARGING FOR HER FOR CHECKING THE ENGINE LIGHT. CONSUMER FEELS SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A RECALL. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8020021

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE WILL CUT OFF AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CAUSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO COME ON. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WILL EITHER RESUME OPERATING OR STALL. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE M…

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THE ENGINE WILL CUT OFF AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, CAUSING THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT TO COME ON. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WILL EITHER RESUME OPERATING OR STALL. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING BEFORE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #761069

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

THIS WAS A PROGRAM CAR. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS REPEATEDLY WITH THIS CAR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, IT STARTED USING OIL. THEY REBUILT THE HEAD. THEN ABOUT 8 MONTHS OR SO LATER IT STARTED USING OIL AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY "SAID" THEY PUT ON A NEW HEAD. HOWEVER, I DONT BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE, NOW 8 MONTHS LATER IT I…

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THIS WAS A PROGRAM CAR. I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS REPEATEDLY WITH THIS CAR. ABOUT 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT IT, IT STARTED USING OIL. THEY REBUILT THE HEAD. THEN ABOUT 8 MONTHS OR SO LATER IT STARTED USING OIL AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY "SAID" THEY PUT ON A NEW HEAD. HOWEVER, I DONT BELIEVE THAT BECAUSE, NOW 8 MONTHS LATER IT IS ONCE AGAIN USING OIL. ALSO, I CAN BE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 60 MPH AND THE ENGINE WILL "HICCUP" AND JERK REALLY HARD AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON FOR ABOUT 2-3 SECONDS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE ALSO BEEN REPORTING TO THE DEALER, THAT I HEAR A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE ENGINE IS NOT GETTING ANY OIL. BUT, THEY JUST TELL ME THAT I AM HEARING THINGS. I AM PAYING FOR THIS LEMON WITH MY HARD EARNED MONEY. I HAVE TRIED TO GET THEM TO LET ME TRADE IT BACK TO THEM AND BUY A BRAND NEW CAR, BUT THEY INSIST THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH MINE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED CONSUMER AFFAIRS, THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T GET INVOLVED. THAT IT WAS BETWEEN ME AND THE DEALER. I NEED HELP!!! ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS!*AK

NHTSA ODI #748895

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING ON EXPRESSWAY VEHICLE SHUT OFF. OIL LIGHT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

NHTSA ODI #884719

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AND THE GEARS STICKS SOMETIMES. LOW FUEL LIGHT, STOPPED OPERATING/ENGINE OIL SPOT UNDER HOOD, AND ROUGH IDLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE VEHICLE CRACK IN FUEL TANK. *YH

NHTSA ODI #879954

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

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