Problems · NHTSA complaints
2018 Hyundai Accent problems
Owners filed 19 complaints about the 2018 Hyundai Accent with NHTSA between Mar 2018 and May 2026. The most-cited component is engine (8).
Complaints
19
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine8
- Electrical system3
- Service brakes2
- Structure2
- Suspension1
- Exterior lighting1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Latches/locks/linkages1
- Air bags1
- Other / unknown3
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
4
0
2
1
3
2
1
3
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 3 |
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
8 reports2 fires
“This car burns through gas at an unbelievable rate. I have read that this is a common problem and Hyundai needs to address the problem - and REPAIR it - for all affected owners. I have about 75,000 miles and the problem has been ongoing for over a year. I have to add oil every week and if I forget, it is all burned up within 2 weeks.”
Electrical system
3 reports2 fires
“The system that malfunctioned was the brake light(s) and/or electrical components which started a fire in the trunk of my car on 2 separate occasions. On one of the occasions, the top break light in my trunk apparently blew out without my knowledge, it wasn't until my two kids in the backseat started to smell smoke that I pulled over and tried to figure out where the smoke was coming from. When I opened my trunk, I noticed the top break light had burned through the encasement and the wiring was dangling in my trunk which caught a plastic bag on fire. On another occasion, it burned part of a brand-new rug before I caught it in time. I was told by two separate auto mechanics that for some reason the electrical current running through the wiring to the light bulbs is what caused it. When I brought it into Hyundai, they acted like it was no big deal. I recently got my oil changed at Valvoline this past week and they found another one of my brake lights had blown out (this time the right brake light), the auto mechanic at Valvoline told me that she has encountered a lot of blown-out lights in Hyundais versus other vehicle manufacturers and stated she believes it has…”
Service brakes
2 reports1 fire
“The break light came on. The local garage says I need a new master cylinder, and the dealer I purchesed the car from will not verify an extended warantee item or silent recall. This master cylinder part is all over the the internet as defective on multiple years.”
Structure
2 reports
“RECIBI RECALL DE SEGURIDAD HYNDAI ACCENT 2018 INDICANDO QUE LA CERRADURA DEL BAUL NO FUNCIONE CORRECTAMENTE. This could cause the trunk to open on its own or not want to open when you need to open it. THE DEALER INDICATES THAT THE NOTIFICATION DOES NOT APPEAR IN THE SYSTEMS AND THAT THE TRUNK DOES NOT OPEN”
Suspension
1 report
“El carro lo agarré en el dealer hace dos meses, regresé al día siguiente para que me arreglaran la alineación que me la dieron mala cada vez que conducía por el freeway el carro a alta velocidad se me jalaba hacia el lado izquierdo y es muy incómodo estar presionando con fuerza a la hora de manejar por largas horas por lo que estaba expuesta a tener un accidente aparte del check del motor apareció en mi tablero va y viene y no me dan respuesta de eso regresé al dealer y me dijeron que la alineación no iba ser 100 % posible ya que tenía malo los amortiguadores y que es necesario reemplazarlo y que debo pagarlo he regresado varias veces para que lo puedan arreglar ya que estaba malo desde que lo agarré en el dealer”
Exterior lighting
1 report1 fire
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.