SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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.

About this comparison →
134Owner complaints

Model-year median: 64.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
61
199992
2000112
2001134
200237
200333
200449
2005
Compare all Accent years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
24Fuel System, Gasoline
17Air Bags
15Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13Engine And Engine Cooling
12
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
12Fuel/propulsion System
7Suspension
7Tires
6Visibility
6Structure
5Unknown Or Other
5Electrical System
4Steering
4Latches/locks/linkages
3Seat Belts
3Wheels
2Child Seat
1Engine
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Interior Lighting
1Parking Brake
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

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

Power Train complaints

24 reports
Clear category filter
28,000 miles · Aug 27, 2004
Power Train

RANDOM IDLE ACCELERATION (2000=4000RPMS WHEN SHOULD BE IDLING) LEADING TO SURGING OF CAR. STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SENSOR, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. I HAVE HAD CAR CHECKED OUT AT DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM, AND THEY HAVE NOT DUPLICATED IT. HAS BEEN HAPPEIN…

Read full complaint

RANDOM IDLE ACCELERATION (2000=4000RPMS WHEN SHOULD BE IDLING) LEADING TO SURGING OF CAR. STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SENSOR, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. I HAVE HAD CAR CHECKED OUT AT DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM, AND THEY HAVE NOT DUPLICATED IT. HAS BEEN HAPPEINING RANDOMLY FOR LAST FEW MONTHS, AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN TO WORK--23 MILES ONE WAY. MUST PUSH THE BREAK AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP CAR FROM LUNGING WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10088678

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2004
Power Train

2002 HYANDAI ACCENT--TRANSMISSION LEAP AT IDLE--FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE LEARCH FORWARD AND RMP INCREASE INCLUDING BUCKING AND JERK FORWARD. DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR 4 TIMES, FIRST TIME SAID NOTHING WRONG, SECOND TIME CHANGED THE INTERNAL SOLENOID BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED, THIRD TIME THEY CHARGED US $280. BUCKS TO DRAIN THE TRANSM…

Read full complaint

2002 HYANDAI ACCENT--TRANSMISSION LEAP AT IDLE--FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE LEARCH FORWARD AND RMP INCREASE INCLUDING BUCKING AND JERK FORWARD. DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR 4 TIMES, FIRST TIME SAID NOTHING WRONG, SECOND TIME CHANGED THE INTERNAL SOLENOID BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED, THIRD TIME THEY CHARGED US $280. BUCKS TO DRAIN THE TRANSMISSION AND TUNE UP CAR SAID THAT WOULD FIX IT. IT DIDN'T WE ARE STILL WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, 4TH TIME DEALERSHIP AGAIN TOLD US NOTHING COULD BE DETECTED AFTER THREE DAYS OF DRIVING IT. WE ARE AT THE END OF OUR ROPE. THIS WAS PURCHASED AS TEEN DAUGHTERS FIRST CAR TO GO TO COLLEGE IN AND IT IS NOT SAFE. WHAT ELSE SHOULD WE DO BUT TRY TO CONTACT A LAWER. ANYONE HAVE SUGGESTIONS OR GOOD LAWERS?*AK

NHTSA ODI #10082980

54,000 miles · Jul 28, 2004
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 54,000 MILES, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10082885

9,287 miles · Jul 27, 2004
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC AT 50 MPH CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR WHICH BECAME STUCK, AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND. ENGINE REVVED, BUT THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. VEHICLE WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THIS VEHICLE HAD THREE TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED SINCE 7-2-2003.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10083640

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2004
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicTires

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. *MR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, BRAKE HOSE AND PADS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FLUID WAS NOT RETURNING TO THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT. THERE WAS A SHIMMY FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, THE TECH FOUND BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS DI…

Read full complaint

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. *MR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, BRAKE HOSE AND PADS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FLUID WAS NOT RETURNING TO THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT. THERE WAS A SHIMMY FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, THE TECH FOUND BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS DISC WARPED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD A DELAY SHIFTING, THE WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE, THE FRONT CALIPERS HAD FROZEN IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, THE PADS STUCK IN THE HOLDERS DUE TO THE RUST BUILD UP AND NOISE COULD BE HEARD AND WAS TRACED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE HOSE AND PADS. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10083954

75,000 miles · Jun 14, 2004
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, SUDDENLY THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE JERK FORWARD AND THE MOTOR LOCKED UP. THIS ALMOST RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE FLIPPING OVER. THE CLUTCH HAD BLOWN UP, WHICH CAUSED THE MOTOR TO LOCK UP. THE CAUSE OF THE CLUTCH BLOWING UP IS UNDETERMINED. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10065560

9,000 miles · Jul 7, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

HORN HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 7 MONTHS. CLUTCH WENT AT 11,000 MILES. WINDSHIELD WIPERS BROKE AT 11,000 MILES. REAR BRAKES NEED TO BE TAKEN APART AND CLEANED BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE DIRT/ROAD MATERIAL GETTING INTO BRAKES. GAS MILEAGE POOR SINCE 9,000 MILES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025574

5 miles · Mar 14, 2003
Power Train

TRANSMISSION CLUNK FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, ALSO WHEN MAKING A TURN DOWN A SMALL HILL WILL SLIP AND BUCK. DEALER REPLACED INTERNAL SOLENOID 3 WEEKS AGO TO RESOLVE, SEEMED TO WORK, HOWEVER PROBLEM IS BACK. WILL BE TAKING BACK TO DEALER AS SOON AS TIME PERMITS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10010487

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2002
Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE, TRANS. SLIPS, FREE WHEELS, BUCKS, BRAKES TWICE HAVE NOT WORKED UNTIL MINUTES AFTER PEDAL PRESSED TO FLOOR, THEN POP WHEN ACCELERATING, DEALER UNABLE TO REPRODUCE?? SO THEY WON'T FIX/INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE, HOWEVER, REPLACED PARTS FOR MANUAL WINDOWS THAT WERE FALLI…

Read full complaint

VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR SERVICE, TRANS. SLIPS, FREE WHEELS, BUCKS, BRAKES TWICE HAVE NOT WORKED UNTIL MINUTES AFTER PEDAL PRESSED TO FLOOR, THEN POP WHEN ACCELERATING, DEALER UNABLE TO REPRODUCE?? SO THEY WON'T FIX/INVESTIGATE PROBLEMS, THEY HAVE, HOWEVER, REPLACED PARTS FOR MANUAL WINDOWS THAT WERE FALLING DOWN. NLM

NHTSA ODI #767213

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 2002
Power Train

THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET A RECONDITIONED ONE IN, BUT I CAN GET A BRAND NEW ONE IN OCTOBER. BOTH THE DEALER AND HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN TOTALLY UNCONCERNED THAT I NEED THIS CAR TO MAKE A …

Read full complaint

THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET A RECONDITIONED ONE IN, BUT I CAN GET A BRAND NEW ONE IN OCTOBER. BOTH THE DEALER AND HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN TOTALLY UNCONCERNED THAT I NEED THIS CAR TO MAKE A TRIP TO HELP MY DISABLED FAMILY MEMBERS IN OHIO. I HAVE NOW ASKED FOR A LOANER VEHICLE TO MAKE THE TRIP. AND I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM ON THAT. I AM FOLLOWING THE STEPS NECESSARY IN CASE I NEED TO PROCEED WITH A LAWSUIT BASED ON THE LEMON LAW.*JB

NHTSA ODI #764726

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.