Problems · NHTSA complaints
1996 Hyundai Accent problems
Owners filed 102 complaints about the 1996 Hyundai Accent with NHTSA between Apr 1996 and May 2011. The most-cited component is suspension (24).
Complaints
102
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
14
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Suspension24
- Air bags21
- Power train19
- Structure7
- Visibility7
- Tires6
- Latches/locks/linkages5
- Seat belts5
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Exterior lighting3
- Steering3
- Electrical system2
- Vehicle speed control1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
13
16
18
11
7
10
4
15
1
1
3
1
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 13 |
| 1997 | 16 |
| 1998 | 18 |
| 1999 | 11 |
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 15 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Suspension
24 reports1 crash3 related recalls
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING 65 MPH, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED, THE TIRE TURNED SIDEWAYS INTO THE FENDER AND THE VEHICLE DROPPED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND REFERENCED RECALL 02V341000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 120,000.”
Air bags
21 reports15 crashes2 fires
“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”
Power train
19 reports
“MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILS TO SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR, 4TH GEAR, OR REVERSE. (INTO ANY OF THE DOWN SHIFTING POSITIONS) THERE SEEMS TO BE NO PATTERN TO PREDICT WHEN THIS PROBLEM WILL APPEAR. I'VE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS ON SURFACE STREETS, FREEWAYS, AND WHEN JUST STARTING THE CAR OR MID TRIP. *JB”
Structure
7 reports
“CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN VEHICLE'S DOOR BY LIFTING THE HANDLE, A SPRING POPPED OUT. THIS RESULTED IN DOOR HANDLE NOT OPERATING. THIS WAS THE THIRD HANDLE THAT BROKE. *AK”
Visibility
7 reports1 related recall
“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”
Tires
6 reports
“VEHICLE CONSTANTLY PULLS TO THE RIGHT MAKING IT HARD TO STEER.TIRES AND STRUTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, AND PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.