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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

134 reports
79,500 miles · Aug 9, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

CAN'T FILL GAS TANK,PUMP AND NOZZLE KEEPS CLICKING OFF EVEN AT A TRICKLE OF GAS AND TANK NEAR EMPTY. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH HYUNDAI AND IT SHOULD BE RECALLED OR FIXED FOR FREE NOT $700-800 AT THE DEALER!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10348332

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

A FEW MONTHS AGO A PROBLEM STARTED WITH MY PUMPING GAS. GAS TANK/CAR WILL NOT ACCEPT MORE THAN A FEW CENTS WORTH OF GAS BEFORE CLICKING OFF AS IF FULL. TANK IS CONFIRMED AS NOT FULL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE IE EVERY TIME GAS IS ATTEMPTED TO BE PUMPED. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. THIS IS…

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A FEW MONTHS AGO A PROBLEM STARTED WITH MY PUMPING GAS. GAS TANK/CAR WILL NOT ACCEPT MORE THAN A FEW CENTS WORTH OF GAS BEFORE CLICKING OFF AS IF FULL. TANK IS CONFIRMED AS NOT FULL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS A CONSTANT OCCURRENCE IE EVERY TIME GAS IS ATTEMPTED TO BE PUMPED. IT SEEMS THE PROBLEM IS THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. THIS IS SCARY BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO THE "CLICK-OFF" IT OFTEN OVERFLOWS SPILLING/SPRAYING GAS ALL OVER ME, MY CAR AND THE GROUND. I AM STRESSED AND FEAR WALKING AROUND WITH FLAMMABLE LIQUID DRIED INTO MY CLOTHING! WHAT IF THE GAS GOT INTO MY EYES! I WISH SOMEONE COULD HELP WITH GETTING HYUNDAI TO DO A RECALL AS THIS IS MAKING ME NERVOUS TO THE POINT WHERE I WILL NOT PUMP GAS WHILE MY CHILDREN ARE IN THE CAR WHICH IS EXTREMELY INCONVENIENT AND IS SOMETHING I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY AND CONSTANTLY STRESS ABOUT. PLEASE HELP BECAUSE COMING IN CONTACT WITH FLAMMABLE GASOLINE IS JUST TERRIFYING AND NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO CONTINUE DOING! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343698

51,130 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Fuel System, Other

HAVING TROUBLE PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR,NOZZLE KEEPS SHUTTING OFF ABOUT EVERY COUPLE OF SECONDS. HAPPENS EVERY TIME I GET GAS. TRIED DIFFERENT STATIONS SOME ATTENDANTS WILL TRY DIFFERENT WAYS TO PUT THE NOZZLE IN OR TURN IT BUT IT STILL DOES IT .FIRST STARTED AT THE END OF MAY2010. CAR IS A 2002 ACCENT WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES ON IT…

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HAVING TROUBLE PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR,NOZZLE KEEPS SHUTTING OFF ABOUT EVERY COUPLE OF SECONDS. HAPPENS EVERY TIME I GET GAS. TRIED DIFFERENT STATIONS SOME ATTENDANTS WILL TRY DIFFERENT WAYS TO PUT THE NOZZLE IN OR TURN IT BUT IT STILL DOES IT .FIRST STARTED AT THE END OF MAY2010. CAR IS A 2002 ACCENT WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES ON IT. TOOK TO DEALER SAID THE CHARCOAL CANISTER,DMTL MOTOR,& A VALVE ASSY-FUEL V NEED TO BE REPLACED. HAD TO PREPAY FOR PARTS TO BE ORDERED. PICKED CAR UP UNTIL PARTS COME IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10341108

Mileage unknown · May 30, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHEN PUTTING GAS IN MY 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT, THE GAS PUMP KEEPS SHUTTING OFF AND/OR GAS LEAKS OUT OF GAS TANKS WHILE FILLING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10333864

55,000 miles · May 24, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL BEING PUMPED IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER LOCATED IN THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO FILL THE VEHICLE WITH FUEL, SHE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL BEING PUMPED IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CHARCOAL CANISTER LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER BUT WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 55,000. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ

NHTSA ODI #10331962

54,063 miles · Feb 25, 2010
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10314205

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

FOR AT LEAST A YEAR NOW, MY GAS TANK SHUT OFF VALVE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE TIP ON THE FUEL HANDLE GOES IN BUT THE HANDLE SHUTS OFF AFTER ONLY A FEW SECONDS AFTER STARTING TO FILL THE TANK. THE SWITCH OFF SENSOR INSIDE THE FUEL INTAKE VALVE AREA SEEMS TO INDICATE THE TANK IS FULL WHEN IT IS NOT. THE TRIGGER ON THE HANDLE HA…

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FOR AT LEAST A YEAR NOW, MY GAS TANK SHUT OFF VALVE SEEMS TO BE DEFECTIVE. THE TIP ON THE FUEL HANDLE GOES IN BUT THE HANDLE SHUTS OFF AFTER ONLY A FEW SECONDS AFTER STARTING TO FILL THE TANK. THE SWITCH OFF SENSOR INSIDE THE FUEL INTAKE VALVE AREA SEEMS TO INDICATE THE TANK IS FULL WHEN IT IS NOT. THE TRIGGER ON THE HANDLE HAS TO BE MANUALLY SQUEEZED AND EVEN THEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS. ON MANY OCCASIONS THE GAS HAS OVERFILLED, SPIT OUT AND SPILLED OUT AND ONTO GROUND, THE CAR, THE HANDLE AND MY HAND AS THE SENSOR DOES NOT INDICATE THE TANK IS FULL. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THE HYUNDAI DEALER SERVICE REP SAID TO BRING THE CAR IN TO CHECK AND IT WOULD COST AROUND $100. IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, THE DEALER SHOULD COVER THIS CHECK AND CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10300053

66,700 miles · Dec 30, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT 2 DR SEDAN THERE IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHERE GAS BEING PUMPED INTO THE CAR IS BEING REJECTED BY THE FUEL SYSTEM AND SPITTING BACK OUT OF THE FUEL PIPE WITHOUT TRIGGERING THE GASOLINE PUMP SHUT OFF. THE FUEL HAS ON MANY OCCASIONS SPIT BACK ON THE PERSON FILLING THE CAR WITH GASOLINE. PER THE HYUNDAI DEALER…

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2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT 2 DR SEDAN THERE IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHERE GAS BEING PUMPED INTO THE CAR IS BEING REJECTED BY THE FUEL SYSTEM AND SPITTING BACK OUT OF THE FUEL PIPE WITHOUT TRIGGERING THE GASOLINE PUMP SHUT OFF. THE FUEL HAS ON MANY OCCASIONS SPIT BACK ON THE PERSON FILLING THE CAR WITH GASOLINE. PER THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED OR REQUESTED. THE PROBLEM IS A CHARCOAL FUEL FILTER CANISTER THAT CONTAINS A BAG OF CHARCOAL THAT HAS BURST WHEREBY THE CHARCOAL PIECES ARE BLOCKING A VALVE THAT REGULATES THE FLOW OF FUEL INTO THE GAS TANK. THE COST OF THE REPAIR AT THE DEALER IS $720 PLUS TAX. GAS WILL EVENTUALLY BE ABLE TO BE PUT INTO THE TANK VERY SLOW IF THE PERSON PUMPING THE GAS IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, IF NOT THE GASOLINE SPRAYS EVERYWHERE WHICH IS WHERE THE DANGER OCCURS. ONE SPARK AND THE PERSON AND VEHICLE WILL EXPLODE OR BURST INTO FLAMES. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION BELOW, WAS THERE A DEATH OR INJURY, WAS THERE A FIRE, WAS THERE PROPERTY DAMAGE. ALL OF THIS HAVE A GREAT POSSIBILITY OF INCURRING IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN INCURRED BY OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. I SPOKE TO HYUNDAI CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO PAY FOR OR ASSIST IN PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS IN ANY MANNER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297566

94,000 miles · Oct 30, 2009
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHENEVER MAKING TURNS THE VEHICLE WILL SLIGHTLY LOOSE POWER. ALSO WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT WOULD STILL MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 94000…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHENEVER MAKING TURNS THE VEHICLE WILL SLIGHTLY LOOSE POWER. ALSO WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE IT WOULD STILL MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP , AND THE TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 94000, FAILURE MILEAGE WAS AT 98000. UPDATED 12/07/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THIS IS THE SECOND TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/09/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10290352

91,744 miles · Aug 19, 2009
Power Train

APRIL OF 2008 OUR USED 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENTS TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE WENT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO GET A REPLACEMENT AND A "REFURBISHED" ONE WAS PUT IN. THE REPLACEMENT HAS NOW FAILED 4 MONTHS AFTER THE 1 -YEAR WARRANTY DEADLINE. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS COMPANY CAN MAKE SUCH BAD TRANSMISSIONS ? NO RE…

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APRIL OF 2008 OUR USED 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENTS TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. WE WENT TO A LOCAL DEALER TO GET A REPLACEMENT AND A "REFURBISHED" ONE WAS PUT IN. THE REPLACEMENT HAS NOW FAILED 4 MONTHS AFTER THE 1 -YEAR WARRANTY DEADLINE. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS COMPANY CAN MAKE SUCH BAD TRANSMISSIONS ? NO RECALLS TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAVE BEEN AWARDED. AS A SAFETY ISSUE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD STALL AND DROP INTO 80 KM SAFE MODE THIS IS A CANADIAN BOUGHT VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10281116

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.