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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
53,900 miles · Jun 17, 2009
Structure

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY SCREW OR NUT UNDER THE HOOD OF HER VEHICLE WAS RUSTY AND CORRODED. THE LAST PLACE SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE WAS TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RUSTY SCREWS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EVERY SCREW OR NUT UNDER THE HOOD OF HER VEHICLE WAS RUSTY AND CORRODED. THE LAST PLACE SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE WAS TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT THE RUSTY SCREWS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,900.

NHTSA ODI #10274142

Mileage unknown · Mar 31, 2009
StructureCrashInjury

2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT - OWNER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. CONDITIONS AND INJURIES ARE SIMILAR TO THOSE STATED IN RECALL 02V167000. *NJ

NHTSA ODI #10264528

61,000 miles · Dec 18, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE MERGED INTO ANOTHER LANE AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE F…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE MERGED INTO ANOTHER LANE AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTS WERE PERFORMED. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THERE FAILURES OCCURRED IDENTICALLY ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISKS INVOLVED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #10252215

40,000 miles · Jan 10, 2008
Electrical SystemSteeringFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS OFF ON THE VEHICLE AND SHE HAD TO PURCHASE NEW TIRES. SHE ALSO SMELLED BURNING WIRES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 53,999 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10214406

30,000 miles · Nov 28, 2007
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE SWITCHING LANES BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT'S FACE SLAMMED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 30,000.

NHTSA ODI #10210222

96,000 miles · Aug 30, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY DRIVE IN REVERSE. THERE WERE …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL ON. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY DRIVE IN REVERSE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,407. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER INSTALLED A REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION THE 2ND TIME. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND HAD TO PAY $439.62 FOR LABOR COST. THE CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/18/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10201208

54,854 miles · Aug 14, 2007
Power Train

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILING. PREVIOUSLY REVVED WHILE IN PARK. TOOK TO MECHANIC, PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. WHILE ON HIGHWAY TRYING TO PASS OTHER CARS, AFTER STEPPING ON GAS - CAR WOULD JUMP/CLUNK/JERK INTO GEAR. ON BACK ROAD HOME, WAS REVVING HIGHER THAN NORMAL BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO GO ANYWHERE. SLUGGISH AND JITTERY…

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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILING. PREVIOUSLY REVVED WHILE IN PARK. TOOK TO MECHANIC, PROBLEM SEEMED TO GO AWAY. WHILE ON HIGHWAY TRYING TO PASS OTHER CARS, AFTER STEPPING ON GAS - CAR WOULD JUMP/CLUNK/JERK INTO GEAR. ON BACK ROAD HOME, WAS REVVING HIGHER THAN NORMAL BUT DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO GO ANYWHERE. SLUGGISH AND JITTERY RESPONSE TO INCREASE IN SPEED. MECHANIC SAID IT HAS A WHINNY NOISE WHILE TEST DRIVING. EXACT MILEAGE 54,854. STILL PAYING ON CAR. PURCHASED USED. WILL CONTACT DEALER, ALTHOUGH NOT SURE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10199563

66,000 miles · Jun 12, 2007
Steering

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RUBBING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. SHE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES AS NOTED IN REC…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RUBBING NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. SHE WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND DRIVE HOME. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURES AS NOTED IN RECALL # 96V113000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 66,000.

NHTSA ODI #10193029

64,645 miles · Oct 26, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER BEING DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DETERMINED THE TRANS AXLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10171900

748,398 miles · Sep 27, 2006
Power Train

WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 60 MPH. STOP AT LIGHT, WHEN READY TO GO, THE CAR "BOGGED" AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER, TESTED ALL AUTO. TRANS. GEARS, FINE. GOT TO OFFICE. TURNED OFF CAR FOR 1-2 HRS. GOT BACK IN CAR, STARTED UP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT ON AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE…

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WAS DRIVING ALONG AT 60 MPH. STOP AT LIGHT, WHEN READY TO GO, THE CAR "BOGGED" AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER, TESTED ALL AUTO. TRANS. GEARS, FINE. GOT TO OFFICE. TURNED OFF CAR FOR 1-2 HRS. GOT BACK IN CAR, STARTED UP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOT ON AND THE PROBLEM WAS GONE?? I THINK THE "COMPUTER BRAIN" MALFUNCTION, IS THAT POSSIBLE AND WHY??? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10169431

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.