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2013 Hyundai Accent

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Accent years

Owner complaints for the 2013 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

70 reports with mileage · 71 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 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

16 crash reports9 fire reports12 injury reports

Engine complaints

34 reports
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130,000 miles · Jun 20, 2019
Engine

WAS RELIGIOUS ON MY 3000 MILE OIL CHANGES. AND ONE DAY THE OIL LIGHT CAM E ON AND PUT A QUART IN AND WENT FOR OIL CHANGE AT DEALER NEXT DAY...BONE DRY. IT SRARTED NIGHT NIGHT BEFORE AND WAS TOLD ITS IT STORING OIL OR GETTING STICK SOMEWHERE SINCE NO LEAK. NOW NEW ENGINE IS NEEDED.

NHTSA ODI #11221548

92,000 miles · Jan 18, 2019
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WERE NO INJURIE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AND THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD AND DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 92,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11170791

82,000 miles · Jan 9, 2019
EnginePower Train

ENGINE/POWER TRAIN THE ENGINE WENT OUT ON MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING FROM HOUSTON TO DALLAS TEXAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED THE ENGINE PROBLEM. I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWED OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED FROM 70K-82K MILES. I PROVIDED THAT INFO…

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ENGINE/POWER TRAIN THE ENGINE WENT OUT ON MY VEHICLE WHILE I WAS TRAVELING FROM HOUSTON TO DALLAS TEXAS ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. I HAD IT TOWED TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHO DIAGNOSED THE ENGINE PROBLEM. I WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOWED OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE WAS BEING PERFORMED FROM 70K-82K MILES. I PROVIDED THAT INFORMATION TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONDUCTED A PRE-APPROVAL AND SENT IT OVER TO HYUNDAI CORPORATE. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS WAITING AND STRANDED IN DALLAS, I RECEIVED THE NEWS THAT THE CLAIM WAS DENIED FOR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE. UNFORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT TOLD WHAT TYPE OF MAINTENANCE WAS NEEDED SINCE I PROVIDED THE DOCUMENTATION REQUESTED THAT SHOWED I DID HAVE MAINTENANCE. I CALLED HYUNDAI CORPORATE TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND GET A BETTER REASON FOR DENIAL. I WAS TOLD I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A CALL WITH MORE INFORMATION AND I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY FEEDBACK. I VISITED A HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP BACK IN NOVEMBER WHO TOLD ME MY ENGINE WAS GOING BAD AND PROVIDE PAPERWORK. I WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP WHEN THIS INFORMATION WAS NEEDED AND HOW SOON. I TOOK THE CARE FOR AN OIL CHANGE AFTER VISITING THE DEALERSHIP AS IT WAS TIME AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. I FEEL HYUNDAI IS NOT HONORING THEIR WARRANTY FOR MY CAR ALTHOUGH I PROVIDED THE INFORMATION THEY NEEDED TO SHOW I WAS KEEPING UP WITH OIL CHANGES. I HAVE NO VEHICLE AND PURCHASED THIS CURRENT VEHICLE UNDER THE IMPRESSION THEY WOULD HONOR THEIR 100,000 WARRANTY. MY CAR IS UNDER 100,000 SO I'M NOT UNDERSTANDING WHY THEY ARE NOT FIXING MY ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11166126

97,000 miles · Aug 22, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

AS I GO UP A HILL OR RAPIDLY ACCELERATE ON AN INCLINE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE PROBLEM POINTS TO THE KNOCK SENSOR (CODE P0326) BEING AT FAULT. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN BUT WHEN IT DOES IT IS DISCONCERTING. I REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR WITH A NEW OEM PART, BUT IT TOO ACTS THE SAME AS THE OLD ONE. I CALLED THE DEA…

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AS I GO UP A HILL OR RAPIDLY ACCELERATE ON AN INCLINE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. THE PROBLEM POINTS TO THE KNOCK SENSOR (CODE P0326) BEING AT FAULT. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN BUT WHEN IT DOES IT IS DISCONCERTING. I REPLACED THE KNOCK SENSOR WITH A NEW OEM PART, BUT IT TOO ACTS THE SAME AS THE OLD ONE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $90 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND THEN ANY LABOR/PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR IT. HOWEVER, I HAVE READ SEVERAL REPORTS ONLINE ABOUT A SOFTWARE UPDATE, FLASHING THE ECU HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. IF THIS IS SO, SHOULDN'T THIS BE A REASON FOR A RECALL?

NHTSA ODI #11121621

49,000 miles · May 20, 2018
EnginePower Train

I NOTICE MY CAR HAD A 'KNOCKING'/ 'PINGING' SOUND AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET SERVICED ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO. THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY 'COULDN'T REPLICATE THE NOISE' WHICH IS FALSE BECAUSE I TOOK ONE OF THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES FOR A RIDE TO SHOW HIM THE NOISE. THEY DECIDED TO CLEAN THE INTAKE WHICH HELPED, BUT THE PRE DETON…

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I NOTICE MY CAR HAD A 'KNOCKING'/ 'PINGING' SOUND AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET SERVICED ABOUT 7 MONTHS AGO. THE DEALER CLAIMED THEY 'COULDN'T REPLICATE THE NOISE' WHICH IS FALSE BECAUSE I TOOK ONE OF THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES FOR A RIDE TO SHOW HIM THE NOISE. THEY DECIDED TO CLEAN THE INTAKE WHICH HELPED, BUT THE PRE DETONATIONS ARE BACK AGAIN, THIS TIME THEY ARE MORE NOTICEABLE. I'VE READ SEVERAL ACCENT OWNERS IN FORUMS COMPLAINING ABOUT PINGING, KNOCKING, AND PRE DETONATIONS. HYUNDAI MUST ACT ON THIS ISSUE!

NHTSA ODI #11096959

40,000 miles · Feb 8, 2018
EngineStructureWheelsFire

OUR 2013 HYUNDAI ACCENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WAS BURNT SO BADLY THAT THE PASSENGER FRONT TTIRE MELTED. THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 7 HOURS IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK WHEN IT WAS REPORTED TO BE ON FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #11071669

42,000 miles · Dec 19, 2017
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

TAKATA RECALL: I HAD TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT GETS STUCK WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND WON'T PICK UP THE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. WHILE THE ON THE HIGHWAY IT DRIVES HORRIBLE AND THE STEERING IS UNPREDICTABLE. EACH TIME THAT I TOOK IT INTO THE HYUNADAI DEALERSHIP THEY CAN'T F…

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TAKATA RECALL: I HAD TOOK MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT GETS STUCK WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND WON'T PICK UP THE POWER WHEN ACCELERATING. WHILE THE ON THE HIGHWAY IT DRIVES HORRIBLE AND THE STEERING IS UNPREDICTABLE. EACH TIME THAT I TOOK IT INTO THE HYUNADAI DEALERSHIP THEY CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WRONG WITH IT. WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I DID TAKE IT TO OTHER PLACES TO SEE WHAT THEY WOULD SAY AND THEY ALL NOTICED THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT IT APPEARS THAT IT'S WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I DID CONTACT HYUANDAI DIRECTLY AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I AM SCREWED!

NHTSA ODI #11055426

28,994 miles · Feb 20, 2017
Engine

MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 30000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN FOR SERVICE 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. ALL ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. NO POWER STEERING. THE HAPPENS WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A LIGHT OR WILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE FIRST TWO TIMES DEALER STATED IT WAS FROM HAVING …

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MY CAR HAS LESS THAN 30000 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE TAKEN THIS CAR IN FOR SERVICE 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. ALL ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON. NO POWER STEERING. THE HAPPENS WHEN I TAKE OFF FROM A LIGHT OR WILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THE FIRST TWO TIMES DEALER STATED IT WAS FROM HAVING A REMOTE STARTER ON IT. I REMOVED IT AND THE PROBLEM STILL HAPPENS. I WAS ALMOST IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON FRIDAY 2.17.17 AS THE PROBLEM HAPPENED IN THE MIDDLE OF RUSH HOUR. I TRIED TO WORK A SITUATION WITH THE DEALER BUT THEY DID NOT WANT TO HELP ME AT ALL. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AND I AM NOT GETTING ANY ANSWERS WITH THE DEALER.

NHTSA ODI #10955578

59,992 miles · Sep 28, 2015
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE VEHICLE STALLS, WHICH CAUSES IT TO LOSE LIGHTS, GAUGES, STEERING, ETC. THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING OUT, SOMETIMES UP TO AN HOUR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAS HAPPENED OVER 8 TIMES NOW. THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER SAID IT MIGHT BE THE IP JU…

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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT LOSES ELECTRICAL POWER AND THE VEHICLE STALLS, WHICH CAUSES IT TO LOSE LIGHTS, GAUGES, STEERING, ETC. THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY AFTER STALLING OUT, SOMETIMES UP TO AN HOUR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AND HAS HAPPENED OVER 8 TIMES NOW. THE LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER SAID IT MIGHT BE THE IP JUNCTION BOX OR IT MIGHT BE A LOSE GROUNDING WIRE AND THEY WILL NOT GIVE US A DEFINITE ANSWER FOR A FIX. THE CAR CONTINUES TO LOSE ELECTRICAL AND STALL AND IS NOW UNABLE TO BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE FACT OF THE MILEAGE IS AT 60,100. I SEE THIS AS A MANUFACTURING FAULT WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND HYUNDAI SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA ODI #10778185

18,000 miles · Apr 2, 2015
Engine

THE ENGINE MAKE A NOISE WHEN IS STARTED IN THE MORNING. THE NOISE SOUND LIKE RUBBING METAL PART LIKE TIMING BELT. THE DEALER RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM ON THOSE VEHICLE ALSO ON OTHER WITH THE SAME MILEAGES BUT UP TODAY DOES NOT HAVE ANY SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER ALSO INFORM THAT THEY TRIED REPLACING OIL PUMP, TIMING BEL…

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THE ENGINE MAKE A NOISE WHEN IS STARTED IN THE MORNING. THE NOISE SOUND LIKE RUBBING METAL PART LIKE TIMING BELT. THE DEALER RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM ON THOSE VEHICLE ALSO ON OTHER WITH THE SAME MILEAGES BUT UP TODAY DOES NOT HAVE ANY SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER ALSO INFORM THAT THEY TRIED REPLACING OIL PUMP, TIMING BELT AND TENSIONER BUT THEY STILL HAVING THE PROBLEM. THE NOISE NOW COULD BE HEAR DURING DAY USE AND THE ENGINE OIL LOOKS DARK ONLY WITH 1,000 MILES OF USE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10703272

Official recalls

1

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.

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.