1998 Hyundai Accent Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1998 Hyundai Accent, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine1524.6%
- Fuel system1219.7%
- Electrical813.1%
- Transmission813.1%
- Airbags58.2%
- Steering34.9%
- Brakes23.3%
- Seat belts23.3%
- Powertrain (other)11.6%
- Body & structure11.6%
- Driver assistance11.6%
- Visibility11.6%
- Heating & air conditioning11.6%
- Other / unspecified11.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND EACH TIME I WOULD STATE HOW THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR JERKS AND THEN IT RESUMES NORMALLY AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. I HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME ISSUE AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ALL SAY THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND IT HAD NEVER BEEN REPORTED BEFORE. NHTSA NEEDS TO GET ON THE CASE AND NOTIFY WHOMEVER NEEDS TO BE NOTIFIED. *NM
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE CAN BE LEFT IN ANY POSITION AND IT WILL ROLL BACKWARDS. *AK
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
ON YOUR WEB SITE I FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY CAR(FUEL TANK)IF MY MECHANIC FIX IT WILL THE MANUFACTURE REIMBURSE ME. IT IS A EMERGENCY BECAUSE IT LEAKS OUT NOW. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE IN HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE GASOLINE FUEL SYSTEM STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECT WAS ON RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNERS HAD THE RECALL ALREADY REPAIRED; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS BEFORE, THEN IT WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED WITH A DEFECTED PART. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS BELOW 100,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,000.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50-75 MPH) THE OVERDRIVE WOULD DISSENGAGE. IN TURRN THE RPM WOULD RAMP UP. THIS WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY. SOMTIMES PULLING OFF AND TURNING CAR OFF AND STARTING IT AGAIN TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM. FINALLY, WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. HE FOUND THAT THE WIRING UNER THE STICK (AUTOMATIC) WERE BARE AND TOUCHING. HE FIXED THE WIRING AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. I HAVE NOTED MANY OTHER ENTRIES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. *JB
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 50 MY RPM IS AROUND 4000 A FEW MONTHS LATER DECEMBER 2003 TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. NOW JANUARY 2005 RPM IS ACTING UP AGAIN, I HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE GARAGE WHERE MY TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN AND THEY SEE NO PROBLEM WITH IT AT ALL, THEY THINK MAYBE IT IS ELECTRICAL???? DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS....I HATE CARS!!!! *JB
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50-75 MPH) THE OVERDRIVE WOULD DISSENGAGE. IN TURRN THE RPM WOULD RAMP UP. THIS WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY. SOMTIMES PULLING OFF AND TURNING CAR OFF AND STARTING IT AGAIN TEMPORARILY FIXED PROBLEM. FINALLY, WE TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. HE FOUND THAT THE WIRING UNER THE STICK (AUTOMATIC) WERE BARE AND TOUCHING. HE FIXED THE WIRING AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM SINCE. I HAVE NOTED MANY OTHER ENTRIES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. *JB
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 50 MY RPM IS AROUND 4000 A FEW MONTHS LATER DECEMBER 2003 TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. NOW JANUARY 2005 RPM IS ACTING UP AGAIN, I HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE GARAGE WHERE MY TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN AND THEY SEE NO PROBLEM WITH IT AT ALL, THEY THINK MAYBE IT IS ELECTRICAL???? DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS ON THIS....I HATE CARS!!!! *JB
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A SUDDEN STOP IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
WHILE TRAVELING AT 62 MPH ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT HAD HAZARD LIGHTS ON. CONSUMER TRIED TO GO AROUND, THERE WAS SNOW ON GROUND/NOT ON ROAD, BUT ON SIDE OF ROAD, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GUARDRAIL, AND TWO OTHER GUARDRAILS ON OTHER SIDE OF ROAD. NONE OF AIRBAGS DEPLOYED.*AK CONSUMER HIT GUARDRAIL HEAD ON.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE STARTER WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION, FRONT BRAKES, OUTER TIE RODS AND THE ENGINE WERE ALL REPLACED. *TS *JB
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SPINDLE ON EACH FRONT WHEEL HAD RUSTED, THE CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW ESPECIALLY SINCE THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN TWO MONTHS OLD. NLM NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS COSMETIC RUST AND DOES NOT PRESENT ANY RISK, THEREFORE NOTHING WILL BE DONE. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE STARTER WAS REPLACED SIX TIMES, THE TRANSMISSION, FRONT BRAKES, OUTER TIE RODS AND THE ENGINE WERE ALL REPLACED. *TS *JB
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ANTI-LOCK BRAKES. VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE MANUFACTURER YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR SEAT BELTS DON'T EXTRACT. DRIVERS SIDE HAS BEEN REPLACE THREE TIMES, JUST REPLACED AND WITHIN A WEEK WAS DOING IT AGAIN. *NM
PLASTIC SEAT BELT "CASING" (THAT CONTAINS THE ACTUAL SEAT BELT) OF RARELY USED FRONT PASSENGER BELT HAS CRACKED WITHOUT CAUSE AND LEFT SHARP EDGES TOUCHING THE INTERNAL BELT WEBBING WHICH COULD DAMAGE THE INTERNAL WEBBING OF THE BELT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
ENGINE CONTROL MONITOR MELTED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED ODOMETER. SIX MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION/COMPUTER MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. ; DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED COMPUTER MODULE. CURRENTLY, CRANK ANGLE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING STALLING / NO START AT ALL, AND ENGINE MISSING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK ON 6-2-00 THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO HIGHER GEAR AT 60 MPH, CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE ON FREEWAY AT 60 MPH WITH THE RPM GAUGE AT 4500. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND I AM CONCERNED IF THIS CRACK WILL AFFECT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WOULD KEEP SLIPPING. ALSO, ENGINE WOULD KEEP REVVING. RPMS WOULD GO UP WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT/SIGN OR WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STAND STILL. VEHICLE WOULD ALSO HESITATE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD KEEP COMING ON. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER HAD BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEM WITH AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER FAN. THEY HAD STOPPED WORKING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER HAD BEEN HAVING SOME PROBLEM WITH AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER FAN. THEY HAD STOPPED WORKING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR WHEEL HAD SMOKE COMING FROM T UNDER THE CARRAIGE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .