Research · Compact Cars

1997 Hyundai AccentRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 59 owner complaints for the 1997 Hyundai Accent. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (15) and power train (13). The EPA rates it 27–28 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
27–28mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
2campaigns
Latest Oct 1998
Owner complaints
59
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$2,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

2 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: coil springs

Free remedy

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.

SuspensionReported Oct 6, 1998NHTSA 98V245000

Visibility: windshield wiper

Free remedy

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.

VisibilityReported Feb 26, 1997NHTSA 97V026000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

59 complaints filed with NHTSA · Oct 1997 – Jun 2011
  1. Engine and engine cooling15
  2. Power train13
  3. Air bags12
  4. Suspension6
  5. Electrical system6
  6. Fuel system, gasoline4
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic3
  8. Latches/locks/linkages2
  9. Equipment2

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Accent model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1996102
199759
199848
199966
200643
200788
2008101
2009101
201087
201138
2012153
2013142
201480
201570
2016103
201768
201819
201931
202012
202116
202217
Crashes reported
8
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
6
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

15 reports1 crash
“FOR THE PC SYSTEM PROBLEM, I HAD NOTICED THAT THE PC VALVE WAS LEAKING OIL AROUND IT, SO I REPLACED THE COMPONENT ON MAY 12,2000. BY DECEMBER, I NOTICED THAT THE CAR HAD SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH A NOTED DROP IN PERFORMANCE AND FUEL ECONOMY. SO I DECIDED, BEFORE BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE, TO VISUALLY CHECK THE FLUIDS, AND WEAR COMPONENTS. I ENDED UP FINDING SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE, CREATED BY WATER IN THE OIL. WHEN DODGE/HYUNDAI OF PARAMUS CHECKED-OUT THE CAR THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A CLOGGED PC SYSTEM AND IT WAS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANY, SO I PAID FOR THE WORK. FOR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LEAKING, AND WHEN THE DEALER IN PARAMUS CHECKED-OUT THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THAT SOMEONE HAD OVER-TORQUED THE OIL PAN, BLOWING OUT THE GASKET. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE WARRANTEED BY ALTMAN IN N.CHARLESTON, SINCE THEY DID THE 30K CHECK-UP. WHEN I INFORMED ALTMAN, THEY TOLD ME THAT PARAMUS SHOULD HAVE DONE THE WORK AS WARRANTEED. SO, MIKE AT ALTMAN TOLD ME I WOULD RECEIVE A REFUND, BUT I NEVER DID, AND MIKE DOEN'T WORK THERE ANYMORE, AND NO ONE ELSE KNOWS ANYTHING. I TALKED TO HYUN. MOTOR AMER. CUST. SERVICE, AND I AM…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 3, 2001Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 744895

Power train

13 reports
“CAR WAS RETURNED TO HYUNDAI UNDER WARRANTY IN JANUARY 2002. REPORTED TO HAVE A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER AND STARTER. BOTH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LAST WEEK CAR WOULDNT START AGAIN. OUR MECHANIC DIAGNOSED SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT IF CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AS HAVING EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED AND NOT PATCHED UP. HYUNDAI IS NOW REFUSING TO ABSORB COST SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. TORQUE CONVERTERS AND STARTERS DONT GO BAD YEARLY!!! HELP!!”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 3, 2003Power trainODI 10013897

Air bags

12 reports7 crashes
“DEAR SIR I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE SURPRISING ISSUE IN FRONT OF YOU RELATED TO HYUNDAI ACCENT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW. I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE 401 EAST HIGHWAY, ONTARIO, CANADA ON 16TH DECEMBER 2007 AT 2.35 P.M. MY WIFE AND MY LITTLE ONE AND A HALF YEAR DAUGHTER WERE ALSO ACCOMPANYING ME. I WAS COMING FROM WINDSOR AND HEADING TOWARDS TORONTO. SUDDENLY THE AIR BAG OF THE DRIVER SEAT BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY COLLISION OF MY CAR WITH ANY THING. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE AND MANAGED TO BRING MY CAR OUT OF THE DRIVING LANE. DUE TO ALMIGHTY'S GRACE NO CAR WAS FOLLOWING ME OTHERWISE THAT WOULD HAVE LEAD TO A DISASTER. I WAS AMAZED TO SEE THIS IN FRONT OF MY EYES THAT HOW COULD AIRBAG OF THE CAR BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY COLLISION. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE SURPRISED YOU TOO THAT HOW COULD YOU MANUFACTURE SUCH A DREADFUL VEHICLE IN WHICH THE PARTS ACTIVATE AT THE WRONG TIME AND COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS INSTEAD OF ACTIVATING FOR THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS. I AM THANKFUL TO 911 EMERGENCY THAT THEY CAME ON TIME AND TOOK US OUT OF THE SITUATION AND WE MANAGED TO REACH BACK HOME SAFELY. I IMPRESS UPON YOU TO LOOK INTO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2007Air bags, EquipmentODI 10212307
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Compact Cars
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Manual 5-spd · Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Accent (SOHC)
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
243328$2,200317
Accent (SOHC)
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
233327$2,300329
  • Accent (SOHC)
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L
    24 city · 33 hwy · $2,200/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Accent (SOHC)
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L
    23 city · 33 hwy · $2,300/yr
    27
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 10, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Hyundai Accent as of Nov 10, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 10, 2026Vehicle 3756
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1997 Accent questions

How many recalls does the 1997 Hyundai Accent have?

2 safety recalls as of Nov 10, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1997 Hyundai Accent problems?

Owners filed 59 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (15), power train (13), air bags (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1997 Hyundai Accent get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Hyundai Accent at 27–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 10, 2026