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2008 Hyundai Accent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Hyundai Accent do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 64.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

82 reports with mileage · 19 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility/wiper. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

34 reports
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127,100 miles · Jan 11, 2021
Air Bags

08 ACCENT GS, AIRBAG LIGHT ON WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT OR UNUSUAL DRIVING. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS ISSUE SINCE MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11387571

100,850 miles · Feb 18, 2020
Air Bags

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. WAS INFORMED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS IN THE AREA THAT IS A KNOWN SAFETY AND SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ISSUE WITH THE 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT HATCHBACK MODELS AND NOT SURE WAY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED.

NHTSA ODI #11309847

12,500 miles · Mar 25, 2019
Air BagsEngine

TAKATA RECALL: AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND CAR CANNOT BE INSPECTED. ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. REMOVED PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS TO CHECK SENSORS/WIRES BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #11191297

92,500 miles · Jan 29, 2017
Air Bags

ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE. WE TOOK OUR CAR TO OUR HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED A NEW AIRBAG INSTALLED AND IT WOULD COULD AROUND $1000 FOR THE PART. THEY ORDERED IT AND WE HAVE TO SCEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO PUT IT ON. WE ARE ON A FIXED INCOME AND $1000 OR MORE IS A…

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ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO THE SEAT BELT LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS BEEN ON EVER SINCE. WE TOOK OUR CAR TO OUR HYUNDAI DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT WE NEEDED A NEW AIRBAG INSTALLED AND IT WOULD COULD AROUND $1000 FOR THE PART. THEY ORDERED IT AND WE HAVE TO SCEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO PUT IT ON. WE ARE ON A FIXED INCOME AND $1000 OR MORE IS A WHOLE LOT OF MONEY THAT WE DON'T HAVE. WE WERE WONDERING IF THERE IS OR COULD POSSIBLY BE A RECALL FOR THIS AIRBAG PROBLEM. LOOKING ON LINE AT THE COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS AIRBAG PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT WE WERE WONDERING WHY YOU HAVE NOT RESOLVED THIS COMPLAINT WITH A RECALL. THANKS FOR YOU TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10948340

67,000 miles · Nov 7, 2016
Air Bags

AT APPROXIMATELY 67,000. MI THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HAD AN AUTO PARTS STORE SCAN THE CODE AND SAID IT WAS PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR, AT THE TIME I USED THE CAR FOR COMMUTING TO WORK AND NEVER HAD PASSENGERS. NOW RETIRED AND CANNOT HAVE A PASSENGER FOR FEAR THAT BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT COULD BE DEADLY FOR THE OCCUPANT OF THAT…

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AT APPROXIMATELY 67,000. MI THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, HAD AN AUTO PARTS STORE SCAN THE CODE AND SAID IT WAS PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR, AT THE TIME I USED THE CAR FOR COMMUTING TO WORK AND NEVER HAD PASSENGERS. NOW RETIRED AND CANNOT HAVE A PASSENGER FOR FEAR THAT BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT COULD BE DEADLY FOR THE OCCUPANT OF THAT SEAT, WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD ITS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, ( I'M SECOND OWNER ) AND THE SEAT ALONE WOULD COST AT LEAST $900. PLUS INSTALLATION WOULD BE ABOUT $1200. OR MORE ON A FIXED INCOME AND CANNOT AFFORD THAT, CANNOT SELL THE CAR IT LOWERS THE RESALE, AND WHO WOULD WANT IT. GUESS I'M STUCK

NHTSA ODI #10924684

58,385 miles · Jun 17, 2016
Air Bags

AT END OF MAY 2016, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK MY 2008 ACCENT TO THE DEALER ON 6/2/16 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OCS MAT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400 TO $1600. IF I DO NOT REPLACE IT, THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE AIRBAG SENSOR SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THIS 2008 ACCENT SHOULD B…

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AT END OF MAY 2016, MY AIRBAG LIGHT WENT ON AND STAYED ON. I TOOK MY 2008 ACCENT TO THE DEALER ON 6/2/16 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE OCS MAT MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400 TO $1600. IF I DO NOT REPLACE IT, THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE AIRBAG SENSOR SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THIS 2008 ACCENT SHOULD BE RECALLED BECAUSE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10874935

Mileage unknown · May 17, 2016
Air Bags

TAKATA RECALL.AIR BAG LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #10865512

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2016
Air BagsSeat Belts

THE AIRBAG LIGHTS COMES ON AN STAYS ON YOU HAVE TO GET IT SCAN SN THE CODE WILL READ B1448, B1449, OR B1450 AN IT SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS .BECAUSE ONLY A DEALER CAN GET IT OFF AN THEN THEY WANT TO CHSRGE YOU 1345.95 JUST TO GET IT FIX THATS HIGHWAY ROBBERY .WELL THE GOING TO REJECT YOU AN YOU CAN GET A INSPECTION STICKER EI…

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THE AIRBAG LIGHTS COMES ON AN STAYS ON YOU HAVE TO GET IT SCAN SN THE CODE WILL READ B1448, B1449, OR B1450 AN IT SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THIS .BECAUSE ONLY A DEALER CAN GET IT OFF AN THEN THEY WANT TO CHSRGE YOU 1345.95 JUST TO GET IT FIX THATS HIGHWAY ROBBERY .WELL THE GOING TO REJECT YOU AN YOU CAN GET A INSPECTION STICKER EITHER.

NHTSA ODI #10862559

94,000 miles · Feb 26, 2016
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ THE PASSENGER LOWER SEAT ASSEMBLY AND OCS MAT WERE REPLACED ON MARCH 7, 2016. U…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 04/14/16*LJ THE PASSENGER LOWER SEAT ASSEMBLY AND OCS MAT WERE REPLACED ON MARCH 7, 2016. UPDATED 05/17/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10838722

187,600 miles · Feb 10, 2016
Air BagsService BrakesCrash

HEADING WEST BOUND ON I 10 IN ALABAMA. CAR WAS GOING BETWEEN 60-70MPH. AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT BY SLIDING INTO ANOTHER LANE, BREAKS DID NOT CATCH. UPON FISH TAILING BACK INTO TRAFFIC HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT UNTIL CAR WAS NO LONGER IN MOTION. THE FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT A…

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HEADING WEST BOUND ON I 10 IN ALABAMA. CAR WAS GOING BETWEEN 60-70MPH. AVOIDED THE ACCIDENT BY SLIDING INTO ANOTHER LANE, BREAKS DID NOT CATCH. UPON FISH TAILING BACK INTO TRAFFIC HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY ON IMPACT UNTIL CAR WAS NO LONGER IN MOTION. THE FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG AND THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. WAS STANDING ON THE BREAKS TRYING TO GET THE CAR TO STOP AND THE CAR NEVER STOPPED. IT TOOK THE MEDIAN CABLES TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CAR HAD COME TO A STOP IS WHEN THE SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAG ON PASSENGER SIDE DEPLOYED. DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED HEAVILY TO DRIVER SIDE FRONT AS WELL AND STILL NO SIDE AIRBAGS, SEAT, OR FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. E-BREAK DID NOT EVEN CATCH.

NHTSA ODI #10825434

Official recalls

1

13V113000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Apr 1, 2013

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

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.