Problems · NHTSA complaints
2016 Hyundai Accent problems
Owners filed 103 complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Accent with NHTSA between Apr 2016 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is engine (33).
Complaints
103
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine33
- Air bags30
- Electrical system27
- Steering11
- Vehicle speed control7
- Service brakes7
- Structure6
- Seats5
- Fuel/propulsion system4
- Electronic stability control (esc)4
- Power train3
- Exterior lighting3
- Seat belts2
- Wheels2
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
6
8
12
13
13
8
15
10
5
7
6
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 8 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 8 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 6 |
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
Engine
33 reports1 crash2 fires
“Engine failure on a vehicle under 100,000 miles creates a risk of sudden loss of power while driving. A failing catalytic converter & coil packs can cause overheating and potential fire risk. These components were either pre-existing manufacturer defects or were damaged during the engine replacement process at Auto Nation Columbus (Columbus, GA), neither of which was disclosed to me as the owner.”
Air bags
30 reports5 crashes
“I brought my vehicle to Victorville Hyundai to address the official manufacturer safety warranty extension, Campaign Z01, which covers a defective passenger side Occupant Classification System (OCS) airbag sensor. My vehicle currently has 129,000 miles. The dealership and the service manager refused to perform the necessary safety diagnostic or inspection unless I signed a pre-authorization contract agreeing to pay a out-of-pocket fee of $219. The manager explicitly stated that this fee would be charged if they found that the sensor was contaminated with "outside water or dust." While I confirmed that the vehicle has never sustained any liquid spills or water intrusion, the vehicle is driven in the High Desert area and naturally contains standard environmental dust due to its age and mileage. By inserting the word "dust" into a mandatory pre-authorization agreement, the dealership is creating an intentional, deceptive financial loophole to deny a corporate safety warranty and avoid repairing a critical restraint system component. Because I refused to sign this predatory waiver, the dealership refused to service my vehicle's airbag defect, leaving a critical safety issue unresolved”
Electrical system
27 reports4 fires
“ABS module electrical fault and fire. On the evening before the fire, the vehicle displayed ABS and ESC warning lights with diagnostic fault code C2402 (motor electrical fault). A continuous buzzing/vibrating noise came from under the hood near the engine compartment and persisted for several minutes even after the engine was shut off and key removed. Disconnecting the negative battery terminal immediately stopped the noise. The next morning, approximately 12 hours later, the vehicle caught fire in the engine bay near the ABS module. The fire was extinguished manually. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The ABS module and surrounding wiring show fire damage and are available for inspection. This defect poses a serious fire risk.”
Steering
11 reports1 crash
“The Emergency brake light, ABS light, and esc light all come on while driving & speedometer goes to 0. The speedometer also stops tracking mileage when these lights come on. This used to happen on & off, but now it’s almost permanent. Hundreds are reporting the same exact issue online, but mechanics cannot figure out what the problem is. Me and countless others have taken the vehicle to mechanics multiple times with no resolve and thousands of dollars worth of diagnostics that are incorrect and don’t resolve the issue. It is dangerous because we don’t know how fast we’re going, and we don’t know if your abs, emergency brakes, & esc are all working properly. This issue is impacting Hyundai Accents years 2015, 2016, & 2017 based on the multiple threads & posts online. I think it’s related to electrical issues too because my windshield wipers & blinkers will randomly malfunction while this is happening. A random online user said that it is a “SMART Junction Box” issue that needs to be replaced. Please look into this and issue a recall because thousands of people are spending thousands of hard-earned dollars with no resolve.”
Vehicle speed control
7 reports1 crash
“I Dont no why but my Engine will randomly stall out even in the middle of making a.left or a right-hand turn and it's scary when I a.m. at an intersection intersection and I doll out then I have to shut my car off completely turn it back on and pump the gas. Till it starts . few days later my warning lights came on the meters and lights shot up quick and. Then the car shut down I was so freaked out my husband took it to the dealer ship they stated it was. A tire valve sensor they claimed to have checked all the fluids which i no was not the oil was burnt when i got out and checked old oil they want me to pay before they can repair but tire valve is not the #1 because i had another shop change. Out the stem these random occurrences happen today and warning lights still on. I read these sensor àre covered upto 100,000 miles.”
Service brakes
7 reports1 crash
“The car was rented by a Turo host with defectuous brakes and worn-out tires. During 3 weeks and 3400 Mi, forward disk brakes produced a thud of metallic grinding without effective braking at each brake. Forward tires were measured 2/32" and 'Replace Tire' marking were noticed on the treads. Rear tires were measured 3/32" and 'Replacement Tire Monitor' marking were noticed on the treads. A rear tire exploded on a straight line, between 55 and 60 Mph, the burst fortunately did not cause any swerve and the vehicle was able to be stopped on a few meters. During the journey, the driver's seat belt sometimes unlocks unexpectelly, even if initial locking has been checked by pulling on the buckle.”
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.