IllustrationTHE 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
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Accent years →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
210–25K
1925–50K
1950–75K
1075–100K
4100–150K
3150K+
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
What owners actually said
134 reportsCONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT AIR BAG PROBLEMS, NON DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN TWO DIFFERENT FRONT COLLISIONS WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK
DRIVER'S SEAT BELTS IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 40-50 MPH IT COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND CONSUMER SUSTAINED UNJURIES.*AK *TS
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
I WAS JUST IN AN ACCIDENT THREE DAYS AGO AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS MOVING AT A SPEED TO ACTIVATE BALM (35-45 MPH). MY NECK IS NOW IN ALOT OF PAIN AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. IT WAS SUCH A HARD HIT MY BACK WHEELS CAME OFF THE GROUND! IT WAS A T BONE HIT, BUT IHIT SQUARE WITH DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL, AND…
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I WAS JUST IN AN ACCIDENT THREE DAYS AGO AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. I WAS MOVING AT A SPEED TO ACTIVATE BALM (35-45 MPH). MY NECK IS NOW IN ALOT OF PAIN AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. IT WAS SUCH A HARD HIT MY BACK WHEELS CAME OFF THE GROUND! IT WAS A T BONE HIT, BUT IHIT SQUARE WITH DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL, AND WITH STOPPING TIME. I BELIEVE THAT MY NECK WOULD HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED IF THE AIR BAGS WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.*AK
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
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 CA…
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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.
THE TOP LEFT INSIDE DOOR PANEL CLIPS CAME OUT. THE PANEL HIT THE DRIVER IN THE FACE WHILE DRIVING. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. *JB
THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Official recalls
102V167000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.