Safety ratings
1996 Hyundai Accent 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
No public crash-test footage is available for this vehicle.
Recalls (4)
- VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORCampaign 97V026000 · 26/02/1997
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Risk: THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARMCampaign 02V341000 · 20/12/2002
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DURING WINTER MONTHS, LARGE QUANTITIES OF SALT ARE USED TO DE-ICE ROADS. THIS ROAD SALT COULD RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS.
Risk: SEVERE CORROSION COULD RESULT IN PERFORATION AND POTENTIAL FRACTURE OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM. IF THIS FRACTURE OCCURS, THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY REMAINS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS THROUGH THE FORWARD LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT POINT AND THROUGH THE STRUT ATTACHMENT TO THE UPPER WHEELHOUSE. REDUCED CONTROL OF THE FRONT WHEEL LOCATION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON JUNE 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGSCampaign 98V245000 · 06/10/1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. DURING WINTER MONTHS, THE ROAD SALT USED TO DE-ICE ROADS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION THAT CAUSES PITS TO FORM ON THE LOWER COIL OF THE FRONT SPRINGS ALLOWING CRACKS TO DEVELOP. THIS CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE LOWER SPRING COIL.
Risk: IF THE FRONT COIL SPRING BREAKS, IT CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROM ITS SEATED POSITION, AND CAN CONTACT A TIRE. TIRE DAMAGE CAN RESULT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING GUIDE TO PREVENT A BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING AND DAMAGING A TIRE.
- SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARMCampaign 96V113000 · 01/07/1996
THROUGH CONTACT WITH ROAD HAZARDS AND CURBS, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION.
Risk: THE SHIFTED LOCATION CAN RESULT IN IMPROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MEMBER ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT TO THE UNDERBODY.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- SUSPENSION24
- AIR BAGS21
- POWER TRAIN19
- VISIBILITY7
- STRUCTURE7
- TIRES6
- SERVICE BRAKES5
- HYDRAULIC5
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/19/2000· VISIBILITY
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH BOTH FRONT SIDE WINDOWS COMING OFF THE TRACK. FIRST TIME WINDOW WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. YEAR LATER, PROBLEM REOCCURRED TWICE, AND DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR DUE TO EXPIRED WARRANTY. *AK
- 12/19/1997· AIR BAGSCrashFire
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT DRIVER'S AIR BAG , CAUSED DRIVER TO CRASH INTO CURVE AND THEN A TREE. THE HAT GASES EMINATING FROM THE AIR BAG BURNED DRIVER'S ARMS AND FRONT OF HER BLOUSE. ALSO THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE; AND THE WINDSHIELD ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE ALSO CRACKED. *AK
- 12/16/1998· SUSPENSION
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FOR FRONT COIL SPRINGS. SINCE RECEIVING RECALL LETTER, THE PARTS HAVE BEEN UNAVAILABLE. WHEN CONSUMER WENT TO GET VEHICLE SERVICED, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAD THE PARTS, AND CONSUMER NEEDED TO GET OIL CHANGE ALONG WITH ROUTINE CHECK-UP. AFTER FINISHING WITH THE ROUTINE CHECK-UP, DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE PARTS. *AK
- 12/08/1998· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HESITATE UPON ACCELERATION. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- 12/03/1998· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH THERE WAS A LOUD CRACKING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE VEHICLE VIBRATED WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT. *AK
- 11/29/2001· SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING TIRES WERE PULLING TO EACH SIDE, AND SPLITTING OUT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPAIRED IT. CURRENTLY, THAT PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED AGAIN, AND DEALER COULD NOT TELL WHAT HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM FIRST TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK
- 11/29/1996· SUSPENSION,TIRES
REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE PROBLEM BECAME WORSE, CURRENTLY THERE'S A NOISE IN THE FRONT, THE FRONT IS UNALIGNED AND THE TIRES ARE WORN OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
- 11/24/1998· AIR BAGSCrash
WHILE DRIVING AT 45MPH THE VEHICLE HITA DEER AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, NO INJURIES. *AK
- 11/23/2003· AIR BAGSCrash
WAS IN A CAR CRASH WHERE THE FRONT END OF MY VEHICLE STRUCK THE DRIVERS SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. WAS TRAVLING AT APROXIMATELY 35MPH. NO AIRBAG DEPLOY. FILED A CLAIM WITH HYUNDAI AND WAS TOLD THE AIRBAGS WERE NOT SUPPOSED TO DEPLOY. THEN SOLD THE CAR TO A FRIEND OF MINE. SHE THEN REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND APROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS AGO, SHE WAS T-BONED IN THE SAME VEHICLE. THE JAWS OF LIFE WERE NEEDED TO GET HER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIRBAG DEPLOY. *LA
- 11/22/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
VEHICLE OVERHEATS.
- 11/19/2003· SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE. *AK RECALL#02V341000 *SCC *JB
- 11/19/1997· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PAST 3RD GEAR AND SHAKES/JERKS.
- 11/19/1997· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
ON THREE OCCASSIONS THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF.
- 11/19/1997· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED BY ITSELF.
- 11/19/1997· POWER TRAIN
GEAR SHIFT STICKS, WON'T COME OUT OF PARK.
- 11/18/1997· PARKING BRAKE
VEHICLE WILL NOT COME OUT OF FIRST/SECOND GEAR WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. CLUTCH GOES ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR WITHOUT RESISTANCE. *AK
- 11/03/1999· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HWY ON RAINY NIGHT HEARD A GRINDING NOISE IN THE BRAKES. TRIED TO SLOW DOWN, APPLIED BRAKES AND WENT INTO A DITCH. CONTACTED DEALER MAY THE NECESSARY REPAIR FOR A RECALL. *AK
- 11/02/1998· POWER TRAIN
PULSE GENERATOR FAILED CAUSING TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN SECOND GEAR.
- 10/29/2003· SUSPENSION
DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PERFORM THE RECALL 02V341000 REPAIRS FOR THE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THEY INDICATED THAT THE PART DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED. WITHIN 2500 MILES OF THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTION THE RECALL DEFECT OCCURRED. BOTH LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE BALL JOINT RUSTED THROUGH, AND THE OTHER HAD DEVELOPED A FRACTURE.*AK
- 10/25/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TURN SIGNALS FAILED 8 TIMES.
- 10/24/1996· AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTSCrash
DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A REAREND COLLISION, REARENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE; ALSO, PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN OCCUPANT. *AK
- 10/23/1996· SUSPENSION
AT ANYTIME THE FRONT END PULLS BADLY TO THE LEFT AND WHEN LETTING GO OF THE STEERING WHEEL. IT IS WORSE AT FASTER SPEED (HIGHWAY SPEED). PLEASE DESCRIBE IN DETAIL. *AK
- 10/08/1996· SUSPENSION,TIRES
RECALL NO 96V113000, WAS FIXED ON 8-15-96, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALIGN PROPERLY, AND A SEVERELY PULLS TO THE RIGHT. ALSO EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR. *AK
- 10/07/2003· SUSPENSION
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V245000 CONCERNING FRONT COIL SPRING. THE DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD CONSUMER THAT HE COULD NOT FIX IT DUE TO THE STRUTS BEING CORRODED.*AK
- 10/07/1998· POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THE HEADLIGHTS/ AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER AND RADIO ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER STATES THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. NO FUSES BLOWN. ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORK, REPAIRWORK BEING DONE AT CONSUMER'S COST.*AK
- 10/06/1999· SEAT BELTSCrash
WAS A FRONT SIDE IMPACT DRIVER INJURED, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE HELP
- 10/03/1997· POWER TRAIN
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILURE. *AK
- 10/02/1996· POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED, WON'T GO ABOVE 20 MPH.
- 09/29/1997· AIR BAGSCrash
AUTOMOBILE STALLED OUT, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WERE RECEIVED. *AK
- 09/28/2000· TIRES
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 45 MPH TREAD ON PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE SOMEHOW. DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED. ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 96, HYUNDAI, ACCENT. TIRE MILEAGE 23, 175. THE TIRE WAS TAKEN TO A UNIROYAL DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT TREAD SEPARATION WAS NORMAL. PLEASE LIST DOT # AND TIRE SIZE.*AK FINALLY, THE DEALER OFFERED FOUR FREE TIRES TO THE CUSTOMER. *YH
- 09/26/2007· SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT STOPPED SUDDENLY. THE SUSPENSION SPLIT IN HALF DUE TO CORROSION AND THE LOWER CONTROL ARM COLLAPSED. HE WAS ABLE TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND DROVE BACK INTO HIS DRIVEWAY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V341000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WOULD REPLACE SOME OF THE PARTS AND WOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ADDITIONAL REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 109,477. UPDATED 03/06/08. *LJ
- 09/25/1998· AIR BAGSCrash
VEHICLE WAS HIT HEAD-ON AT 30 MPH BY A TRUCK AND NEITHER DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AFTER BEING HIT, THE VEHICLE SPUN AROUND AND HIT A TREE AND STILL NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK
- 09/25/1996· SUSPENSION,TIRES
#96V113000, AFTER CAR WAS FIXED UNDER THE RECALL THE STEERING IS HARD , TIRES ARE WEARING OUT . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
- 09/24/1996· SUSPENSION
THE LEFT SIDE SUSPENSION IS LOWER DUE TO REPAIR OF THE RECALL 96V11300. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
- 09/15/1998· AIR BAGS
UPON HITTING APOTHOLE, BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BREAKING PASSENGER'S RIGHT HAND, AS WELL AS HITTING DRIVER ON LEFT ARM AND BURNIN GHIS SHIRT.
- 09/11/2003· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE THREE DOORS ON MY CAR THAT THE HANDLES HAVE BROKEN. I HAVE FIXED ONE BUT IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE AND AFTER I FIXED IT THE INSIDE OF IT BROKE.
- 09/10/1998· POWER TRAIN
MASTER CYLINDER WITH THE CLUTCH WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT LESS THAN 5 MPH. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIR WORK WAS DONE. *AK
- 09/10/1998· SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL LOCK UP, AND WILL NOT COME OUT, ALLOWING CONSUMER TO USE. DEALER CONTACTED. DEALER REPAIRED SEAT BELT, AND THREE MONTHS LATER PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
- 09/09/1997· POWER TRAIN
CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH CLUTCH. WHENEVER DOWNSHIFTING MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO CHANGE THE GEAR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SHOP THREE TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM (1)AUG. 19, 97, (2)SEPT.2, 97, (3)SEPT. 19, 97. DEALER HAS BLED THE LINES FOR AIR 1ST TIME; 2ND TIME WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, 3RD TIME DEALER SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF DEFECTIVE PART, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER IS GIVEN AN APPOINTMENT FOR THURSDAY 9-11-97 TO BRING VEHICLE BACK FOR CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER TO BE PUT ON . THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED. *AK
- 09/09/1997· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL PLUG FAILED.
- 09/04/1996· EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY
THE SIGNAL LIGHTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING, WHILE DRIVING THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW JUMPED OFF TRACK WHERE IT HAD TO BE TAPED IN ORDER FOR IT TO STAY UP. PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION.
- 08/27/1998· AIR BAGSCrash
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 55MPH AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
- 08/22/2001· AIR BAGS
DURING FRONTAL COLLISION AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. NLM
- 08/17/2001· AIR BAGSCrash
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND A TRACTOR WAS CHANGING LANES, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ROOM. TRACTOR RAN INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT, MANUFACTURER SENT CONSUMER A LETTER STATING THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS NOT AT FAULT. *SLC
- 08/12/1998· SUSPENSION
RECALL WORK COMPLETED ON THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS (RIVETS), HOWEVER FAILED TO PREVENT FAILURE.
- 08/11/1998· STRUCTURE
THE IMPACT BEAM WAS NOT ON CORRECTLY. WHEN DRIVER'S DOOR IS CLOSED, IT WOULD RATTLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR DOOR. PICKED VEHICLE UP AFTER REPAIRS & NOTICED DOOR NOT WELDED ACCORDING TO INVOICE. COMPOUND USED. TAKING VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. *AK
- 08/08/2006· SUSPENSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, THE SERVICE DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL # 02V341000 FOR THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN AUGUST OF 2003. THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM ON THE RIGHT SIDE WAS REPLACED IN 2005 AND THE LEFT SIDE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM WAS REPLACED IN AUGUST 8, 2006, AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE MANUFACTURER AND SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THERE WAS NO RECALL IN THE COMPANY DATABASE. THE CONTACT SHOWED THE SERVICE DEALER A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER.
- 08/06/1996· POWER TRAIN
WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO DRIVE FROM REVERSE , THE VEHICLE JUMPS OUT OF GEAR. *AK
- 07/29/1997· VISIBILITY
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 60-65 MPH THE PASSEGER'S SIDE WINDOW BROKE. OWNER ALSO NOTES THAT AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. *AK THERE WERE NO DAMAGES OR INJURIES. *SLC
- 07/25/2003· SUSPENSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING UPPER BALL JOINT BROKE. *AK