IllustrationAIR BAG DEPLOYED WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT. *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 reportsAFTER REAR ENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT 30 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
ABOUT: 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT PROBLEM HAPPENS SHORT TIME AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR HAS A SUDDEN LARGE LOSS OF POWER, OVERDRIVE CUTS OUT. PROBLEM MAY PERSIST FOR A DAY OR TWO THEN GO AWAY AND COME BACK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE GOING AWAY. SITUATION: MY WIFE WAS CROSSING A STREET AND COULD NOT GET…
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ABOUT: 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT PROBLEM HAPPENS SHORT TIME AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR HAS A SUDDEN LARGE LOSS OF POWER, OVERDRIVE CUTS OUT. PROBLEM MAY PERSIST FOR A DAY OR TWO THEN GO AWAY AND COME BACK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE GOING AWAY. SITUATION: MY WIFE WAS CROSSING A STREET AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE JUST BARLEY ESCAPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES IN 14,000 MILES OF DRIVING. IT NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE GAS TANK IS FILLED. DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS ON PURPOSE WHEN THE GAS CAP IS NOT SECURED PROPERLY. HYUNDAI PUTS DRIVER'S LIVES AT STAKE ON PURPOSE!*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH , THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE DRIVER CHANGED THE TIRE AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT THIS ISSUE. *AK *JB
WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS FULLY EXTENDED IT WOULD NOT RETRACT. *NM
THE MOTOR OVER-ACCELERATES EVEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT PRESSED. THIS ONCE CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD FROM A STOPPED POSITION WITHOUT MY PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. * CB
THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 22,000 MILES. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE RELAY SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. CD, REAR WINDOW AND DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE RE…
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THE ENGINE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING AT 22,000 MILES. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED. AFTERWARDS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. AS A RESULT, THE RELAY SYSTEM WAS REPLACED. CD, REAR WINDOW AND DIFFERENTIAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. *PH
WHILE DRIVING IN THE SNOW, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID DIN NOT SPRAY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HAVE POOR VISIBILITY. *AK THERE WAS NO VISIBLE KINK IN THE HOSE LEADING TO THE DRIVER'S SPRAYER. ONCE THE TEMPERATURE HAD GONE ABOVE FREEZING, BOTH THE SPRAYERS WOULD WORK. *SCC *JB
WHILE BACKING OUT IN REVERSE, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT TO REPORT. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH ALMOST CAUSED HER TO HIT HER FATHER. WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO R…
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WHILE BACKING OUT IN REVERSE, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT TO REPORT. *AK THE DEALER REPLACED THE SENSOR ASSEMBLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES WHICH ALMOST CAUSED HER TO HIT HER FATHER. WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO REV, IT WAS IN PARK, THEN THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. *SCC *JB
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, CAUSING CONSUMER TO TRY TO START THE IGNITION NUMEROUS TIMES. DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED. *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.