2002 Hyundai Accent

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. SHE STATED THAT WHILE AT A SERVICE STATION AND DRIVING IN REVERSE LESS THAN 5 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AND BEGAN TO SPIN IN CIRCLES. A CRASH OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. THERE WERE DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO SUSTAINED A NECK INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE TOW TRUCK, IT STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AGAIN . THEY DIAGNOSED IT STATING THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 54,063. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN UPDATED 09/02/10*JB

ON A 2002 HYUNDAI, THE THROTTLE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED IN 2004. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV TO VERY HIGH LEVELS (AS HIGH AS 4-5000 RPM) AND THE CAR LUNGES FORWARD; BRAKING BARELY SEEMS TO HOLD IT BACK. IT IS LIKE A CAR POSSESSED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, MY HUSBAND WAS BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE, AND THE CAR SHOT OUT OF THE GARAGE, INTO THE ALLEY, AND HE NEARLY HIT THE GARAGE BEHIND US. THE THROTTLE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN EARLY 2006, IT FAILED AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND THE CAR LEAPT FORWARD; I HAD TO REPEATEDLY TAP THE BRAKE TO AVOID HITTING THE PEOPLE IN FRONT OF ME. WITHOUT USING THE BRAKE OR THE GAS, THE CAR WOULD MOVE AT 20 MPH. IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. THE ENGINE REVVED VERY HIGH WITHOUT ME EVER TOUCHING THE GAS. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR HAS JUST BEEN STARTED AND WHEN IT HAS BEEN RUNNING. PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK AND TAPPING THE GAS WILL OFTEN CAUSE THE RPMS TO GO DOWN. AFTER THE 2002 INCIDENT, THE SERVICE CENTER CASUALLY MENTIONED THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER HYUNDAIS. DURING THE MOST RECENT REPAIR, I MADE A POINT OF MENTIONING THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME THIS MALFUNCTION HAD OCCURRED; THE MECHANIC DIDN'T EXPRESS ANY FEELINGS OR IMPRESSIONS ABOUT THIS. THE CAR IS STILL COVERED, FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2006, UNDER A BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY, SO THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BY THE DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, THIS IS AN ALARMING MALFUNCTION THAT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AND IT SEEMS TO BE HABITUAL FOR THIS CAR -- EVERY 2 YEARS-- AND PERHAPS FOR OTHERS TOO. IT'S MADE ME NERVOUS ABOUT OWNING THE CAR MUCH LONGER. *NM

WHILE BACKING OUT IN REVERSE, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT TO REPORT. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH ALMOST CAUSED HER TO HIT HER FATHER. WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO REV, IT WAS IN PARK, THEN THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB

SUDDEN POWER SURGES (RPM UP TO 3000) WHEN PUTTING IN PARK. OCCASIONAL SURGES WHEN TRYING TO DRIVE AT NORMAL CITY SPEEDS (25-35 MPH). SOMETIMES ENGINE STARTS AND THEN CUTS OFF AFTER HAVING SAT FOR SEVERAL HOURS. SECOND START-UP RUNS FINE.*AK WHEN BRAKING, ENGINE SOMETIMES SURGES AND REQUIRES HEAVY PRESSURE TO NOT COLLIDE WITH CAR IN FRONT. VEHICLE CAN TAKE OFF ON ITS OWN IF I JUST REMOVE FOOT FROM BRAKE. WHEN BROUGHT LAST TO DEALER, THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEM.