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2012 Hyundai Accent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Accent years

Owner complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Accent are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

90 reports with mileage · 63 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.

  • Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports8 fire reports10 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

18 reports
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71,000 miles · Oct 22, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TAPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AND REV UP TO 1,500-2000 RPM WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. EVEN WHEN BRAKING. RETURNING THE CAR TO NEUTRAL CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV UP TO OR BEYOND 2,000 RPM UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THIS INCIDENT FIRST OCCURRED IN …

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AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE AND TAPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN AND REV UP TO 1,500-2000 RPM WITHOUT PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR. EVEN WHEN BRAKING. RETURNING THE CAR TO NEUTRAL CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV UP TO OR BEYOND 2,000 RPM UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF. THIS INCIDENT FIRST OCCURRED IN APRIL 2016. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE SENSORS BY THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP. THE ISSUE RESURFACED AGAIN IN JANUARY 2017. THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO A CARBON BUILDUP IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. NOW IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO HYNDAI'S ON THE INTERNET. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #11035520

65,000 miles · Apr 16, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS IN THE DOWN POSITION AND DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE FULLY DISENGAGED POSITION. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE ENGINE STAYS REVED FOR UP TO 3 SECONDS AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL SLOWLY MOVE BACK UP. SOM…

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THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS IN THE DOWN POSITION AND DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE FULLY DISENGAGED POSITION. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE ENGINE STAYS REVED FOR UP TO 3 SECONDS AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL SLOWLY MOVE BACK UP. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL IT BACK UP TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. OCCASIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STAY ENGAGED EVEN AFTER I PRESS THE BRAKE, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS....UPDATED 07/10/17 *BF ..UPDATED 08/09/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/29/2017*JS *CN

NHTSA ODI #10978683

54,000 miles · Jan 25, 2017
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.

NHTSA ODI #10947513

61,000 miles · Mar 2, 2016
EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD REV TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000-6,000 RPMS EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN ANOTHER GEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE FAILURE WAS TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD REV TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000-6,000 RPMS EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN ANOTHER GEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE FAILURE WAS TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #10839345

24,500 miles · Nov 22, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

MY CAR IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND WHEN PRESS THE CLUTCH THE RPM GO UP TO 4,000 RPM AND I THINK THAT IS THE ACCELERATION PEDAL MAY STAY STOCK BECAUSE DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME.I USED MY CAR EVERYDAY TO GO TO WORK I REALLY TREAT THE CAR GOOD ONLY HAVE A 25.000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI #10795290

56,000 miles · Nov 17, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control

THIS IS MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED CAR- INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT OR FOR A FEW HOURS, THE THROTTLE WILL STICK EVEN AFTER THE GAS PEDDLE IS RELEASED. THIS STARTED WITH THE REVS RISING 500-1000 RPM WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PRESSED IN AND THE ACCELERATOR RELEASED. INITIALLY THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE CLU…

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THIS IS MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED CAR- INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT OR FOR A FEW HOURS, THE THROTTLE WILL STICK EVEN AFTER THE GAS PEDDLE IS RELEASED. THIS STARTED WITH THE REVS RISING 500-1000 RPM WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PRESSED IN AND THE ACCELERATOR RELEASED. INITIALLY THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PRESSED IN, NOT WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVING IN GEAR. RECENTLY, IF THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE IT IS IN GEAR. THE EFFECT LASTS FOR 1-3 SECONDS AND IS MOST NOTICEABLE IN CITY DRIVING IN LOWER GEARS. ON THE HIGHWAY YOU CAN "FEEL" THE THROTTLE STICK, BUT THE HIGHER GEARS PREVENT THE CAR FROM SURGING FORWARD. THE EFFECT IS LESSENED OR REMOVED ENTIRELY IF THE THROTTLE IS EASED OFF OF VERY SLOWLY. THE STICKING OF THE THROTTLE HAS NOT REDUCED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF BRAKING SO FAR.

NHTSA ODI #10794373

21,577 miles · Jun 22, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WE PURCHASED A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT ON OCTOBER 19, 2011. FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY WE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BRAKE AT TIMES AND WOULD HAVE BOUTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. FROM THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE WE ADVISED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND EVEN BROUGHT IN OUR VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY REFUSED TO DO A…

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WE PURCHASED A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT ON OCTOBER 19, 2011. FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY WE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BRAKE AT TIMES AND WOULD HAVE BOUTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. FROM THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE WE ADVISED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND EVEN BROUGHT IN OUR VEHICLE TO BE LOOKED AT. THEY REFUSED TO DO ANY KIND OF DIAGNOSTIC AND SAID THAT I WAS BEING A PARANOID WOMAN AND NEW MOMS TEND TO WORRY TOO MUCH. MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE BOTH DRIVEN THIS VEHICLE AND EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. WE ADVISED HYUNDAI, THE DEALERSHIP AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE ISSUE. EACH TIME WE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP THE ACTED VERY CAVALIER AS IT WAS "NOT A BIG DEAL" AND WOULD SEND US ON OUR WAY. WE HAD VARIOUS COMMUNICATIONS AND HAVE PAPERWORK WHERE THE DEALERSHIP NOTED WE WERE COMPLAINING OF THE BRAKES NOT WORKING AND THEN THEY WOULD STATE THEY DID NOT/WILL NOT DO A DIAGNOSTIC. I WOULD NOT ALLOW MY CHILDREN TO RIDE IN THIS VEHICLE FURTHER AS IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS WAS NOT ONLY GOING TO KEEP HAPPENING BUT AS TIME PASSED IT HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY AND CAUSED ME TO FEAR FOR MY LIFE. IN DECEMBER 2013 I ADVISED MY HUSBAND I FEARED FOR MY LIFE. ONE WEEK LATER 12/16/13 I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE I WAS SLOWLY TURNING, WENT TO BRAKE AND THE BRAKES FELT EMPTY AS THEY DID WHEN THIS WOULD HAPPEN AND THE CAR REVVED LOUDLY AND ACCELERATED AT AN EXTREME SPEED. THESE BOUTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ARE DOCUMENTED YET HYUNDAI AND THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WILL NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY,. THEY DISMISSED MY CLAIM STATING OUR FLOOR MAT PROTECTOR WHICH LAYS FLAT AND HAS PLENTY OF CLEARANCE IS THE CAUSE HOWEVER I MUST ADVISE AND HAVE RESPONDED THAT THE FLOOR MAT PROTECTORS WERE NOT PURCHASED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR AND DID NOT GET PUT INTO THE VEHICLE UNTIL JULY OF 2013 SO THE DOCUMENTED INCIDENTS WERE MOSTLY BEFORE AND ONE IN JULY 2013 AFTER THEY HAD BEEN PLACED IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10605008

800 miles · Aug 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS; HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTAN…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS; HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,000. ..UPDATED 09/04/12 *BF UPDATED 09/07/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10468999

Official recalls

2

23V651000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

Sep 22, 2023

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

20V393000 · Equipment:electrical

Jul 2, 2020

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor to inflate a tire.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.

Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.

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

1

AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires

Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.