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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

Suspension complaints

7 reports
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84,000 miles · Nov 25, 2017
Suspension

HAVING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY, I JACKED IT UP TO DO SOME BRAKE WORK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS (AS WELL AS VARIOUS FRAME PARTS UNDERNEATH) ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY. WHEN LOWERING THE VEHICLE USING A FLOOR JACK (AFTER DOING THE REPAIR) THE LOWER CONTROL BROKE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED IN MY YARD ON M…

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HAVING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY, I JACKED IT UP TO DO SOME BRAKE WORK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS (AS WELL AS VARIOUS FRAME PARTS UNDERNEATH) ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY. WHEN LOWERING THE VEHICLE USING A FLOOR JACK (AFTER DOING THE REPAIR) THE LOWER CONTROL BROKE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED IN MY YARD ON MY PROPERTY. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 84,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11048416

63,200 miles · Sep 15, 2016
SuspensionCrash

THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO INJURIES OR MAJOR DAMAGE. DRIVING 25 MILES PER HOUR ON SMALL ROAD WHEN CONTROL ARM FAILED AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.

NHTSA ODI #10907041

94,437 miles · Apr 21, 2015
Suspension

I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF INTERSTATE 76 AT ROUTE 14 AFTER DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. I CAME DOWN THE RAMP AND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL LOCKED UP. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON INTERSTATE 76. THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY WITH SEMI'S ALL AROUND ALONG WITH REGULAR TRAFFIC. I COME TO FIND OUT THE FRONT …

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I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF INTERSTATE 76 AT ROUTE 14 AFTER DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. I CAME DOWN THE RAMP AND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL LOCKED UP. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON INTERSTATE 76. THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY WITH SEMI'S ALL AROUND ALONG WITH REGULAR TRAFFIC. I COME TO FIND OUT THE FRONT LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM COLLAPSED ALLOWING THE TIRE TO COME BACK AGAINST THE LEFT FENDER WHEEL WELL. IT PULLED THE CAR TO THE LEFT AND I SLID OFF THE RAMP ONTO THE BERM AFTER TRYING TO STEER HARD TO RIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JULY 14, 2014. I COME TO FIND OUT THE RIGHT ARM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT HAD 80,362 MILES. IN TODAYS WORLD, THAT IS LOW MILES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, SOMEONE COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED. HOW MANY MORE ARE RUNNING AROUND LIKE THIS. THE BALL JOINTS APPEAR TO BE GOOD BUT THE CONTROL ARM RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT OF WEAKNESS AND COLLAPSED. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT. THEY NEED TO RECALL ALL OF THESE CARS AND HAVE THE CONTROL ARMS INSPECTED. YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE CAR EVEN AT 10 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10712087

158,569 miles · Feb 15, 2015
StructureSuspension

I GOT AN ALIGNMENT AND ALL NEW TIRES. I WAS PULLED IN THE GARAGE TO FIND OUT THERE WAS RUST HOLES IN THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME BELOW THE ENGINE. I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND THERE HAD BEEN OVER 500,000 COUNTS OF DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT YEARS AND MODELS. NONE OF WHICH INCLUDED MINE. I LIVE IN NY STAGE WHERE ROADS ARE HEAVILY SA…

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I GOT AN ALIGNMENT AND ALL NEW TIRES. I WAS PULLED IN THE GARAGE TO FIND OUT THERE WAS RUST HOLES IN THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME BELOW THE ENGINE. I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND THERE HAD BEEN OVER 500,000 COUNTS OF DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT YEARS AND MODELS. NONE OF WHICH INCLUDED MINE. I LIVE IN NY STAGE WHERE ROADS ARE HEAVILY SALTED FOR SAFETY. THE CAR HAS 158,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULDN'T HAVE 6 INCH HOLES IN THE FRAME. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET MY FRAME REBUILT WHEN THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY HYUNDAI. I WAS TOLD BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO CONTACT YOU IF THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I RESEARCHED ENOUGH TO ALSO FIND OUT IT WAS REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX ANY PROBLEM RELATING TO THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10683520

50,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014
Suspension

I WAS ON A SIDE STREET, THANK GOD. ON MY WAY TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A HORRIBLE SCRATCHING, METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. I HAD A HARD TIME STEERING WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT MY CAR JUST STOPPED. I LOOKED, AND MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS, THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM ROTTED AND BROKE, THE AXLE CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE T…

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I WAS ON A SIDE STREET, THANK GOD. ON MY WAY TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A HORRIBLE SCRATCHING, METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. I HAD A HARD TIME STEERING WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT MY CAR JUST STOPPED. I LOOKED, AND MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS, THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM ROTTED AND BROKE, THE AXLE CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE TO HYUNDAI AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I RECENTLY LOST MY JOB AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND CAUSED A HUGE ACCIDENT, DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN MY WHEEL. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PLEASE. THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO THIS SAME EXACT REASON AND IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10579118

116,000 miles · Jan 19, 2012
SuspensionWheels

DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DUE TO LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATING IN HALF. LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CV JOINT DRIVE SHAFT, FENDER AND ROCKER PANEL DAMAGED. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE SHOWING DEFECT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10444553

170,000 miles · May 13, 2011
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ODI #10400742

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.