IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD VEHICLE WILL NOT GO TO FULL SPEED UNLESS THE CONSUMER PLACED THE ACCERLATOR PEDAL TOTALLY DOWN ON THE FLOOR. DEALER HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK
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 reportsI WAS DRIVING 45 MPH, DRIFTED SLIGHTLY ON A CURVE, CORRECTED LEFT WENT RIGHT INSTEAD ON A SANDY DECLINE BRAKED AND FLIPPED TWICE. NEITHER OF THE TWO AIRBAGS WENT OFF. THE CAR IS TOTAL LOSS. *JB
INTERMITTENTLY TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT/DRIVE IN REVERSE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
MY DAUGHTER HIT A CAR AT ABOUT 25 - 30 MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO HIT A GUARD RAIL. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *JB
DOME LIGHT AND THE DOOR AJAR SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. THE PART WAS REPLACED EIGHT TIMES. *AK
THE LUGS:NUTS FAILED ON THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. THE WHEEL FLEW OFF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT FRONT OF THE VEHICLE.*AK
BRAKES FAILED AT 9000 MILES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. FRONT BRAKES WERE IN A METAL TO METAL CONDITION. PADS ON FRONT DISC BRAKES HAVE NEED REPLACEMENT EVERY 8000 MILES SINCE THIS INCIDENT. THE ROTOTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE.*AK
RANDOM IDLE ACCELERATION (2000=4000RPMS WHEN SHOULD BE IDLING) LEADING TO SURGING OF CAR. STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SENSOR, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. I HAVE HAD CAR CHECKED OUT AT DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM, AND THEY HAVE NOT DUPLICATED IT. HAS BEEN HAPPEIN…
Read full complaint
RANDOM IDLE ACCELERATION (2000=4000RPMS WHEN SHOULD BE IDLING) LEADING TO SURGING OF CAR. STARTED A FEW MONTHS AGO WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION SENSOR, PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED. I HAVE HAD CAR CHECKED OUT AT DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM IS RANDOM, AND THEY HAVE NOT DUPLICATED IT. HAS BEEN HAPPEINING RANDOMLY FOR LAST FEW MONTHS, AT LEAST A COUPLE TIMES EVERY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN TO WORK--23 MILES ONE WAY. MUST PUSH THE BREAK AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO KEEP CAR FROM LUNGING WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS.*AK
VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH RPMS WHEN STARTING OR 10 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *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.