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2002 Hyundai Accent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Accent years

Owner complaints for the 2002 Hyundai Accent are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

76 reports with mileage · 58 unknown

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

26 crash reports2 fire reports18 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

12 reports
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61,000 miles · Dec 18, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE MERGED INTO ANOTHER LANE AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE F…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE MERGED INTO ANOTHER LANE AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE FAILURES OCCURRED IDENTICALLY ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10252215

38,701 miles · May 8, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

ONGOING ROUGH IDLE, POOR ACCELERATION. NOT SURE IF THIS PROBLEM IS CAUSING PERMANENT DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE DEALER, ON THREE OCCASIONS IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10156994

14,000 miles · Aug 20, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE BRAKE LINE ERUPTED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS WITHIN THE FIRST 14K MILES AND REFUSED TO CHECK AND LUBRICATE BOTH FRONT CALIPER SLIDES WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PAD TO COMPLETELY WEAR DOWN THE METAL. THE PASSENG…

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THE BRAKE LINE ERUPTED ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT ROTORS AND THE BRAKE PADS WITHIN THE FIRST 14K MILES AND REFUSED TO CHECK AND LUBRICATE BOTH FRONT CALIPER SLIDES WHICH CAUSED THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PAD TO COMPLETELY WEAR DOWN THE METAL. THE PASSENGER SIDE CALIPER BRACKET RUSTED. THERE WAS ALSO AN ENGINE NOISE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10087075

30,000 miles · Jul 8, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE LIFTERS TAP LOUDLY FOR ANYWHERE FOR 2 MINS OR 20 MILES DEPENDING ON HOW LONG THE CAR SET. THE LIFTERS HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE. TAKEN TO DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT THEY SAYS ITS FINE BUT A FRIEND OF MINE THAT ALSO WORKS THERE SAYS THEY ARE BOARDER LINE AND WILL NEED TO BE TAKEN CARE OF SOON. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10080630

27,000 miles · Mar 14, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

ABOUT: 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT PROBLEM HAPPENS SHORT TIME AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR HAS A SUDDEN LARGE LOSS OF POWER, OVERDRIVE CUTS OUT. PROBLEM MAY PERSIST FOR A DAY OR TWO THEN GO AWAY AND COME BACK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE GOING AWAY. SITUATION: MY WIFE WAS CROSSING A STREET AND COULD NOT GET…

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ABOUT: 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT PROBLEM HAPPENS SHORT TIME AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR HAS A SUDDEN LARGE LOSS OF POWER, OVERDRIVE CUTS OUT. PROBLEM MAY PERSIST FOR A DAY OR TWO THEN GO AWAY AND COME BACK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE GOING AWAY. SITUATION: MY WIFE WAS CROSSING A STREET AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE JUST BARLEY ESCAPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES IN 14,000 MILES OF DRIVING. IT NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE GAS TANK IS FILLED. DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS ON PURPOSE WHEN THE GAS CAP IS NOT SECURED PROPERLY. HYUNDAI PUTS DRIVER'S LIVES AT STAKE ON PURPOSE!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10062179

22,000 miles · Jan 12, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 22,000 MILES. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE RELAY SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. CD, REAR WINDOW AND DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE RE…

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THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 22,000 MILES. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE RELAY SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. CD, REAR WINDOW AND DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH

NHTSA ODI #10048674

22,000 miles · Nov 25, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashFire

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE TRAPPED THE DRIVER INSIDE, BURNING HIM TO DEATH. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10048641

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN FIRST STARTING THE VEHICLE IN THE MORNING IT VEHICLE IDLES HIGH A COUPLE OF TIMES AND SHAKES, THEN THE VEHICLE IS FINE. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037646

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015357

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSteering

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE SPINDLES WERE BROKEN, THE BRAKE LINE FAILED AND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM. *JB *TS

NHTSA ODI #10009253

Official recalls

1

02V167000 · Structure:frame And Members

Jun 25, 2002

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE 3-DOOR HATCHBACK EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CRITERION IN THE STANDARD MIDWAY ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD SUPPORT PILLAR (A-PILLAR).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN OCCUPANT'S HEAD THAT CONTACTS THE A-PILLAR DURING A CRASH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INCREASED RISK OF A HEAD INJURY AS A RESULT OF THIS CONDITION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW ENERGY MANAGEMENT BRACKETS TO SUPPORT THE A-PILLAR COVERS AND INCREASE THE ENERGY ABSORBING PERFORMANCE OF THE A-PILLAR IN THE RELEVANT AREA. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 28, 2002. 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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.