Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
230–25K
1325–50K
1650–75K
1775–100K
18100–150K
3150K+
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
What owners actually said
153 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringSuspension
I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, STEERING AND SUSPENSION WHICH STARTED WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM PICKING MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL DEC. 21 2012. THERE WAS SNOW ON THE ROAD AND I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE BUT THE BRAKES CAUSED THE CAR TO JUMP, THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND FAST ENOUGH AND T…
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I HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, STEERING AND SUSPENSION WHICH STARTED WHEN I WAS COMING HOME FROM PICKING MY SON UP FROM SCHOOL DEC. 21 2012. THERE WAS SNOW ON THE ROAD AND I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN GOING DOWN AN INCLINE BUT THE BRAKES CAUSED THE CAR TO JUMP, THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND FAST ENOUGH AND THE SUSPENSION FELT LIKE WE WERE RIDING ON METAL RIMS. I ALMOST HIT A TELEPHONE POLE BUT WE SLOWED IN THE SOFTER SNOW WHICH WASN'T BEAT DOWN YET. EVER SINCE THEN WHEN THERE IS SNOW OR ICY ROADS ESPECIALLY UP HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS OF WEST VIRGINIA I TEST THE BRAKES, STEERING AND SUSPENSION ON THE ROAD I LIVE ON BEFORE GOING ON THE HIGHWAY. OH, I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT IF YOU SHOULD BE UNFORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HIT A POTHOLE IT DOES THROUGH THE CAR TO THE RIGHT IF YOUR RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CATCHES IT AND IF YOUR LEFT FRONT WHEEL CATCHES ONE IT WILL PUT YOU INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO ME SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST YEARS. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10579465
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2014
Unknown Or Other
I WAS WASHING MY 2012 ACCENT IN MAY OF 2013 AND I NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE DIRT ABOVE THE HATCHBACK WINDOW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT IT WAS A RUST SPOT COMING UP FROM UNDER THE PAINT AND CLEAR COAT. THERE WAS ONLY A SPOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NUMBER TWO PENCIL POINT. AS OF TODAY( 4-13-14) THERE ARE FIVE SPOTS OF…
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I WAS WASHING MY 2012 ACCENT IN MAY OF 2013 AND I NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE DIRT ABOVE THE HATCHBACK WINDOW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT IT WAS A RUST SPOT COMING UP FROM UNDER THE PAINT AND CLEAR COAT. THERE WAS ONLY A SPOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NUMBER TWO PENCIL POINT. AS OF TODAY( 4-13-14) THERE ARE FIVE SPOTS OF RUST COMING UP ALL OF VARIOUS SIZE AND NOW I FOUND ONE ON MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR. HAS ANYONE ELSE REPORTED RUST COMING FROM UNDER THE PAINT ? WHICH TO ME MEANS THE RECYCLED METAL WHEN SMELTED DID NOT REMOVE THE RUST DURING THE PROCESS. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10579462
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2014
Steering
HELLO MY NAME IS[XXX], I HAVE 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT AND THE STEERING ON THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY STUPID AND LAME AND FRUSTRATING. WHEN YOU DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY YOU GOTTA CONSTANTLY KEEP TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING STRAIGHT. I HAVE READ SOMEWHERE THAT THIS CAR IS WITH ELECTR…
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HELLO MY NAME IS[XXX], I HAVE 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT AND THE STEERING ON THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY STUPID AND LAME AND FRUSTRATING. WHEN YOU DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY YOU GOTTA CONSTANTLY KEEP TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING STRAIGHT. I HAVE READ SOMEWHERE THAT THIS CAR IS WITH ELECTRIC STEERING OR SOMETHING... I'M NOT FAMILIAR BUT THERE IS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM. I HAVE READ IN THE FORUMS THAT IT COULD BE STEERING COLUMNS... BUT I THINK HYUNDAI SUPPOSE TO COME OUT WITH A RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THEM LIKE 5 MONTH'S AGO I EXPLAINED TO THEM THE WHOLE SITUATION THEY SAID THAT THEY GONNA GIVE ME A CALL BUT THEY NEVER DID. SO PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE THIS CAR DRIVES ME CRAZY! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10563233
40,000 miles · Jan 30, 2014
Service Brakes
MY BRAKES HAD BEEN MAKING A NOISE. NOT REALLY LOUD BUT A SLIGHT GRIND. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED BRAKE PADS. I WAS GOING TO GET THEM DURING THE WEEKEND. I CAME TO A STOP AT LIGHT AND HEARD A POPPING/BANGING NOISE. I THEN COULD NOT MOVE. MY CAR WAS LOCKED UP. MY FATHER LOOKED AND THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE EBRAKE SO WE LOADED ON TRAILE…
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MY BRAKES HAD BEEN MAKING A NOISE. NOT REALLY LOUD BUT A SLIGHT GRIND. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED BRAKE PADS. I WAS GOING TO GET THEM DURING THE WEEKEND. I CAME TO A STOP AT LIGHT AND HEARD A POPPING/BANGING NOISE. I THEN COULD NOT MOVE. MY CAR WAS LOCKED UP. MY FATHER LOOKED AND THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE EBRAKE SO WE LOADED ON TRAILER AND BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP. IT WAS THE CALIPER, THE PISTON SHOT OFF AND LOCKED UP WHEEL. THE DEALER SAID HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKES...I REALIZE I HAVE HIGH MILEAGE BUT I HAVE BROUGHT IT TO DEALER TWO TIMES DUE TO ISSUES WITH BRAKES - FIRST TIME I WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE, SECOND TIME I WAS TOLD PADS LOW. ???? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10562246
17,000 miles · Dec 31, 2013
Service Brakes
I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER WHO IS VERY EASY ON MY BRAKES, TO PREVENT WEAR. I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED AND HAD TO TURN, EVEN THOUGH I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP, I HAD TO SWERVE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE MY BRAKES ARE WORN DOWN AT 17K MILES??? SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY W…
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I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER WHO IS VERY EASY ON MY BRAKES, TO PREVENT WEAR. I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED AND HAD TO TURN, EVEN THOUGH I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP, I HAD TO SWERVE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE MY BRAKES ARE WORN DOWN AT 17K MILES??? SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKES IN A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. EVEN IF I FLOOR THE BRAKE PEDAL I DON'T STOP AND HEAR GRINDING NOISES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10558041
9,279 miles · Dec 3, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DURING THE DAY AND LOOKED DOWN AND MY HIGH BEAMS WERE ON. I WASN'T SURE WHY SINCE MY LIGHTS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. I TRIED PLAYING WITH THE LIGHTING SWITCH ON THE INSIDE OF MY CAR, AND IT FINALLY TURNED OFF AFTER FLASHING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF WITH THE SWITCH A FEW TIMES. I TOOK A PICTURE, AND …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DURING THE DAY AND LOOKED DOWN AND MY HIGH BEAMS WERE ON. I WASN'T SURE WHY SINCE MY LIGHTS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. I TRIED PLAYING WITH THE LIGHTING SWITCH ON THE INSIDE OF MY CAR, AND IT FINALLY TURNED OFF AFTER FLASHING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF WITH THE SWITCH A FEW TIMES. I TOOK A PICTURE, AND THEN STARTED DRIVING, ABOUT A MILE OR SO DOWN THE ROAD, THE HIGH BEAMS CAME BACK ON, SO I HEADED TOWARD THE DEALERSHIP, AND PEOPLE WERE MOVING OUT OF MY WAY ON THE TWO LANE HIGHWAY SINCE MY HIGH BEAMS WERE ON. THE SAID WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, THEY COULDN'T BE SURE WHY IT HAPPENED. WHEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN, I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH IT HAPPENING AND THEY PLAYED WITH THE SWITCH TO GET THEM TO SHUT OFF AND TOLD ME I HAD NO CLUE HOW TO WORK MY LIGHTS, THAT MY DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS WERE ON, AND WHEN I INFORMED HIM MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE THEM, HE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. I KEPT GOING BACK AND EVEN HAD MY LAWYER GET INVOLVED SINCE THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. THERE WERE EVEN TIMES WHEN I STARTED MY CAR WITH THE REMOTE START AND THE HIGH BEAMS CAME ON THEMSELVES, AND I DROVE ALL THE WAY HOME WITH NO OTHER EXTERIOR LIGHTS ON SINCE I HADN'T REALIZED THE LIGHTS WEREN'T ON, SINCE THE HEADLIGHTS HAD BEEN ON. FINALLY WENT TO A SHOP THAT THEY WORK HAND IN HAND WITH TO INSTALL REMOTE STARTERS AND REMOTE DOOR UNLOCKS, AND THEY HAD TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP TO TELL THEM THAT THE LIGHTING SWITCH WAS BAD. BEFORE THEY WERE CALLED, THEY TOLD MY LAWYER I PAID BOTTOM DOLLAR FOR MY CAR AND I MIGHT AS WELL SUBMIT A LEMON LAW REQUEST, BUT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO FIX IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10554574
34,000 miles · Aug 1, 2013
Air BagsCrash
I WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE WHERE I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THERE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THE INCIDENT WHICH CAUSED ME TO BANG MY HEAD AGAINST THE SUN VISOR/ ROOF OF THE CAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10533023
22,000 miles · Jul 23, 2013
TiresWheels
3 OUT 4 OF THE STOCK KUMHO TIRES HAVE NOW DEVELOPED BUBBLES IN THE SIDE WALLS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10526303
39,000 miles · May 6, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury
I HIT AN ELK AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR. FRONT END OF CAR TOTALED. BUMPER, HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS RIPPED OFF. HOOD CRUMBLED UPWARDS. PIECES UNDER THE HOOD DISLOCATED. WINDSHIELD SCATTERED AND PARTIALLY DISCONNECTED. HOWEVER DRIVER'S AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOYED. I WALKED AWAY WITH MINOR INJURIES, BODY SORENESS. BUT CONCERNED TH…
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I HIT AN ELK AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR. FRONT END OF CAR TOTALED. BUMPER, HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS RIPPED OFF. HOOD CRUMBLED UPWARDS. PIECES UNDER THE HOOD DISLOCATED. WINDSHIELD SCATTERED AND PARTIALLY DISCONNECTED. HOWEVER DRIVER'S AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOYED. I WALKED AWAY WITH MINOR INJURIES, BODY SORENESS. BUT CONCERNED THAT THE CAR MIGHT NOT PERFORMED AS IT SHOULD IN THIS SITUATION ONE MORE DETAIL. I WAS TRAVELING ALONE, NO PASSENGER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10510881
24,000 miles · Apr 20, 2013
Air BagsCrashInjury
AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS IS THE SECOND CAR AND THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED.
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.
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.
2012 Hyundai Accent Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year