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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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40,000 miles · Aug 29, 2014
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR MAT WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING MAINTENANCE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSOR MAT WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ODI #10629356

49,000 miles · Aug 2, 2014
Air Bags

THE SRS AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT CAME UP, THE CODE READS B1448 WHICH IS THE MALFUNCTION OF THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. WITHOUT THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR WORKING CORRECTLY, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION! THIS ACCENT MODEL SHOULD HAVE RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10618302

59,000 miles · Jun 18, 2014
Air Bags

THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, SO WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD BE $900 TO REPAIR THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WITHOUT THE REPAIR, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. THIS MUST BE DUE TO A FAULTY PART OR POOR IN…

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THE SRS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, SO WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD US IT WOULD BE $900 TO REPAIR THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, SINCE THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. WITHOUT THE REPAIR, THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. THIS MUST BE DUE TO A FAULTY PART OR POOR INSTALLATION, SINCE OUR VEHICLE HAS NOT SEEN ANY RECENT ACCIDENTS OR UNUSUAL USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10599190

85,000 miles · Oct 3, 2013
Air Bags

I PURCHASED A CAR IN COLORADO SPRING IN 2008(MY STATE OF RECORD) AND CURRENTLY I LIVE IN GERMANY WORKING FOR THE US ARMY. MY AIRBAG DRIVERS SEAT SENSOR DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY, BECAUSE THE SENSOR SHOWS RED AND THE CAR WASN'T EVEN FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. I CONTACTED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN AMBERG, BAYERN,…

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I PURCHASED A CAR IN COLORADO SPRING IN 2008(MY STATE OF RECORD) AND CURRENTLY I LIVE IN GERMANY WORKING FOR THE US ARMY. MY AIRBAG DRIVERS SEAT SENSOR DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY, BECAUSE THE SENSOR SHOWS RED AND THE CAR WASN'T EVEN FIVE YEARS OLD WHEN THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS. I CONTACTED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP IN AMBERG, BAYERN, GERMANY AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT. THEY TESTED THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WHICH I ALREADY KNEW IT, BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO PIN POINT THE LOCATION OF AIRBAG SENSOR THAT WAS SHOWING ERROR ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THE PROBLEM IS THEY CANNOT EVEN LOCATE THE PART OF THE SYSTEM ON HYUNDAI FACTORY CATALOG WITH THE COMPUTER DATA BASE. THE HYUNDAI SPECIFICATION FOR THE US OR EUROPEAN CAR AIRBAG SYSTEM SHOULDN'T BE DIFFERENT UNDER CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW. THE COMPANY IS CONCERNS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION & POLLUTION AND PROVIDES WARRANTY; BUT SEAT BELTS OR AIRBAG SYSTEM IT'S NOT EVEN INCLUDED IN THE MANUAL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546582

50,200 miles · Sep 13, 2013
Air Bags

PASSENGER AIR BIG LIGHT SAYS IT IS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10543393

29,000 miles · Jul 29, 2013
Air Bags

MY 30,000 MILE HYUNDAI HAS A FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR. MY WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO GO UP AND I HAD IT FIXED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON BECAUSE OF A SEAT SENSOR THAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. BASICALLY A WEEK AFTER MY WARRANTY WENT UP AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM, MY LIGHT WENT BACK ON. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS VER…

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MY 30,000 MILE HYUNDAI HAS A FAULTY AIRBAG SENSOR. MY WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO GO UP AND I HAD IT FIXED. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON BECAUSE OF A SEAT SENSOR THAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY. BASICALLY A WEEK AFTER MY WARRANTY WENT UP AND TWO WEEKS AFTER THE DEALERSHIP FIXED THE PROBLEM, MY LIGHT WENT BACK ON. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS VERY CONCERNING HAVING YOUR AIRBAG LIGHT ON. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THEY'LL WORK SO I DON'T USE THE INTERSTATE. I THINK IT IS RIDICULOUS SOMETHING LIKE AN AIRBAG IS SOMETHING I AM WORRYING ABOUT ON A 5 YEAR OLD CAR. I HAVE HEARD HORROR STORIES OF THE AIRBAGS RANDOMLY GOING OFF OR NOT GOING OFF AT ALL IN SIMILAR HYUNDAI'S. IT IS A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. IT'S A JOKE THAT I HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MY AIRBAG SYSTEM IN 2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532357

102,000 miles · Nov 15, 2012
Air BagsSeats

THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT SENSOR IN THE LOWER SEAT CUSHION FAILED CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO STAY ON. THE DEALERSHIP SCANNED THE COMPUTER AND RECEIVED CODE B1448. PASSENGER AIRBAGS WOULD NOT INFLATE IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. NEEDED TO REPLACE THE SENSOR TO PASS INSPECTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10484754

28,000 miles · Oct 12, 2012
Air Bags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO HYUNDAI FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOW, JUST 4 MONTHS LATER ( NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY) THE LIGHT IS BACK ON. OTHER MAKES AND YEARS OF HYUNDAI HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 2008 ACCENT SHOULD ALSO HAVE AIRBAG RECALL. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME FOR THE SAME PROB…

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THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY, SO HYUNDAI FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOW, JUST 4 MONTHS LATER ( NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY) THE LIGHT IS BACK ON. OTHER MAKES AND YEARS OF HYUNDAI HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE 2008 ACCENT SHOULD ALSO HAVE AIRBAG RECALL. THIS IS THE 3RD TIME FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479861

13,330 miles · Sep 27, 2012
Air Bags

THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DASH INDICATOR WAS LIT INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF WHEN MY WIFE (170 LBS) WAS SEATED & BUCKLED IN. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS CONDITION (238 LBS). THE DEALER PLANET HYUNDAI IN GOLDEN CO COULD NOT DETECT A PROBLEM. MY WIFE & I LATER DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS WITNESSED BY A SERVICE ASSOC…

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THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DASH INDICATOR WAS LIT INDICATING THAT THE AIR BAG WAS OFF WHEN MY WIFE (170 LBS) WAS SEATED & BUCKLED IN. I WAS ALSO ABLE TO DUPLICATE THIS CONDITION (238 LBS). THE DEALER PLANET HYUNDAI IN GOLDEN CO COULD NOT DETECT A PROBLEM. MY WIFE & I LATER DUPLICATED THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS WITNESSED BY A SERVICE ASSOCIATE [XXX]. THE SERVICE MANAGER [XXX] CALLED & SAID THAT HE HAD SPOKEN TO THE HYUNDAI ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE SEAT SENSOR IS PLACED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT CUSHION & THAT PUTTING WEIGHT ON THE SEAT SIDE BOLSTERS WOULD NOT ACTIVATE THE SENSOR. [XXX] SUGGESTED THAT I PUT A CUSHION ON THE MIDDLE OF THE SEAT TO HAVE THE SENSOR BE MORE RESPONSIVE. HE REFUSED TO REPLACE ANY PARTS BECAUSE HE STATED THAT HYUNDAI BELIEVES THAT THE SENSOR IS PERFORMING "AS DESIGNED". THIS IS CLEARLY A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE & THE RESOLUTION IS INADEQUATE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10477283

Mileage unknown · Sep 27, 2012
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED IN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE CRASHED IN TO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10477263

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.