IllustrationCONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPARE TIRE. TS
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 STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE WHEELS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. TS
CONSUMER STATES PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS VIBRATE AND OPEN ON THEIR OWN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE SAME PROBLEM EXISTS IN OTHER 2002 ACCENTS. *TT
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…
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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
WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED THEY DIDN'T HOLD, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT ACCELERATE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED, COULD NOT FIX PROBLEM.*AK
IN A FRONTAL COLLISION NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED ON IMPACT.*AK
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILURE. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED. *YH
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 …
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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
INTERMITTANT - ENGINE REVS AT HIGH RPM'S IN ALL GEARS UPON START-UP. ENGINE REVVED WHILE DRIVING IT INTO A PARKING LOT WHILE IN SECOND GEAR. KEPT REVVING. IN 3RD AND 4TH GEARS, FEELS LIKE THE CAR WANTS TO JUST "TAKE OFF" WITHOUT ME GIVING IT ANY MORE GAS.*AK
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.