STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
2002 Hyundai Accent
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 134 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Hyundai Accent, most frequently naming the fuel system, transmission and airbags categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 52 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| May 2004 | 1 | 54 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 55 |
| Jul 2004 | 7 | 62 |
| Aug 2004 | 4 | 66 |
| Sep 2004 | 3 | 69 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 70 |
| Nov 2004 | 2 | 72 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 73 |
| Mar 2005 | 2 | 75 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 76 |
| Dec 2005 | 1 | 77 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 78 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 79 |
| May 2006 | 4 | 83 |
| Jun 2006 | 1 | 84 |
| Sep 2006 | 1 | 85 |
| Oct 2006 | 1 | 86 |
| Jun 2007 | 1 | 87 |
| Aug 2007 | 2 | 89 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 90 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 91 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 92 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 93 |
| Jun 2009 | 1 | 94 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 95 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 96 |
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 97 |
| Jan 2010 | 1 | 98 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 99 |
| May 2010 | 2 | 101 |
| Jul 2010 | 2 | 103 |
| Aug 2010 | 2 | 105 |
| Oct 2010 | 1 | 106 |
| Nov 2010 | 1 | 107 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 108 |
| Mar 2011 | 1 | 109 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 110 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 111 |
| Jul 2011 | 1 | 112 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 113 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 114 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 115 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 116 |
| Jun 2013 | 1 | 117 |
| Aug 2013 | 1 | 118 |
| Oct 2013 | 1 | 119 |
| Apr 2014 | 1 | 120 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 121 |
| Feb 2015 | 1 | 122 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 123 |
| May 2015 | 2 | 125 |
| Aug 2015 | 1 | 126 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 127 |
| Sep 2016 | 1 | 128 |
| Aug 2017 | 1 | 129 |
| Nov 2017 | 1 | 130 |
| Apr 2018 | 1 | 131 |
| Mar 2019 | 1 | 132 |
| Sep 2019 | 1 | 133 |
| Aug 2024 | 1 | 134 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Fuel system2516.9%
- Transmission2013.5%
- Airbags1510.1%
- Brakes1510.1%
- Engine138.8%
- Driver assistance128.1%
- Suspension74.7%
- Visibility64.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govRecent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Purchased car 2002 in Arizona. About 2009 when the check engine light came on and when filling the car with gas the pump would stop after less than .25 gallons pumped. It takes greater than 20 minutes to fill the tank and many times the auto shut off fails and I end up being sprayed gasoline. This is a personal safety issue as well as an enviromental hazard. There are many similar complaints about this issue, but it is repeatedly ignored. What will get this addressed, some one being seriously injured after being doused with gasoline?
- NHTSA ID
- 11607837
- Incident
- Aug 1, 2009
ALL CARS AND TRUCKS WITH YELLOW FOGGY HEADLAMP LENSES SHOULD BE RECALLED ? WHEN THEY WERE GLASS AND ONLY $ 5.00 THEY DIDN'T TURN YELLOW . THAT IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AT NITE. !! YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT DOING YOUR JOB KEEPING US SAFE!
- NHTSA ID
- 11254093
- Incident
- Sep 9, 2010
- Mileage
- 3 mi
I GOT THIS CAR IN 2015 AND IT KEEP FAILING THE STATE OF OHIO VECHICLE INSPECTION E-CHECK TEST AND THE SAME CODE KEEPS COMING UP..... P1401..... WHY... IT FAIL ON JAN 16,2019 AND IN 2017 JAN.19.17 I SPENT $398.52 AND HAD GAS TANK FILLER NECK AND CANISTER VENTVALVE REPLACE.....AND AGAIN SAME CODE 2019 "P1401..HELP THKS. (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- NHTSA ID
- 11184030
- Incident
- Jan 16, 2019
- Mileage
- 67,000 mi
I AM A POLICE OFFICER, CRASH RECONSTRUCTIONIST, AND CHILD SEAT TECHNICIAN. I WAS INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATING A SERIOUS INJURY CRASH IN WHICH A CHILD WAS IN A DOREL JUVENILE GROUP, SCENERA NEXT CONVERTIBLE SEAT. THE SEAT BROKE AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ITS INTEGRITY. THERE WAS A VERY LARGE CRACK DOWN THE SIDE FRAME, AND THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE SEAT BROKE OUT FROM WHERE THE HARNESS STRAPS COME THROUGH. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CHILD SEAT BREAK EVEN A FRACTION AS MUCH AS THIS SEAT DID, THE SEAT AND CHILD WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE BY PARAMEDICS PRIOR TO MY SEEING THE SEAT. SO I DON'T KNOW ANY DETAILS BEYOND THE FACT IT WAS INSTALLED FORWARD FACING AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. *TT *BF *TR *DT*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 11090344
- Incident
- Apr 7, 2018
HAVING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY, I JACKED IT UP TO DO SOME BRAKE WORK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS (AS WELL AS VARIOUS FRAME PARTS UNDERNEATH) ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY. WHEN LOWERING THE VEHICLE USING A FLOOR JACK (AFTER DOING THE REPAIR) THE LOWER CONTROL BROKE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED IN MY YARD ON MY PROPERTY. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 84,000 MILES.
- NHTSA ID
- 11048416
- Incident
- Nov 18, 2017
- Mileage
- 84,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CONTACT BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND VERTEBRATES IN THE BACK, INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.
- NHTSA ID
- 11014131
- Incident
- Jun 2, 2017
THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO INJURIES OR MAJOR DAMAGE. DRIVING 25 MILES PER HOUR ON SMALL ROAD WHEN CONTROL ARM FAILED AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.
- NHTSA ID
- 10907041
- Incident
- Sep 13, 2016
- Mileage
- 63,200 mi
WHEN PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR, THE FUEL PUMP CLICKS OFF EVERY 10 CENTS OR SO AS IF THE TANK IS FULL BUT IT IS NOT. SOMETIMES THE GAS OVEN RUNS BACK OUT OF THE TANK AS IF IT IS OVERFILLED AND RUNNING OVER, BUT IT IS NOT. I LIVE IN NJ, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TWO STATES THAT HAVE FULL SERVICE GAS STATIONS. AND GAS STATION ATTENDANTS CONSTANTLY TELL ME THAT THEY ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY WITH HYUNDAI'S ALL THE TIME! THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE ALSO SEEN THIS WITH BRAND NEW HYUNDAI MODELS AS WELL, SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT HAS IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS SINCE MY DATED 2002 MODEL. EVEN THE SERVICE TECH AT MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THIS DEFECT WIDELY KNOWN WITH HYUNDAI'S WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM. HE ALSO QUOTED ME A PRICE AROUND $600, WHICH HE SAID FROM HIS EXPERIENCE AS A TECHNICIAN DOESN'T GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. THERE ARE CASES OF THE PROBLEM COMING BACK AFTER THE REPAIR IS DONE! I CONTACTED HYUNDAI WITH MY CONCERNS AND TO SPECIFICALLY ASK WHY THIS WIDELY KNOWN DEFECT WAS NOT RECALLED AND I DID NOT GET A REAL ANSWER TO MY QUESTION. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED, PLUS THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO (INCLUDING HYUNDAI EMPLOYEES), THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS COMMON PROBLEM, BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A DEFECT AND FIX THE ISSUE. VERY FRUSTRATING.
- NHTSA ID
- 10870634
- Incident
- May 24, 2016
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
AIR BAGS
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may rupture during deployment, and have caused serious injuries and fatalities. Please see attached announcement, provided by NHTSA, for more details.
AIR BAGS
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and underwent airbag replacement using non-genuine parts. These dangerous inflators have ruptured during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to metal fragments entering the vehicle cabin. To date, Hyundai is aware of three people who have died while driving a Hyundai vehicle with one of these substandard replacement airbag inflators that deployed in what likely would have been a survivable crash. NHTSA has issued a public advisory urging vehicle owners and service professionals to have vehicles inspected if there is reason to believe that a non-genuine replacement airbag may have been installed. Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, prior airbag deployments, or unknown repair histories may present a higher risk. NHTSA strongly cautions against self-inspection by vehicle owners and recommends inspection by trained technicians.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.
VISIBILITY; VISIBILITY/WIPER
This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, which could lead to poor wiping performance and/or possible scratching of the windshield glass. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to properly remove the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all new wiper blades.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
STRUCTURE:BODY
Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped between the PPF and the paint.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 16 | 2 | 0 | 54.5 |
| 2021 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 55.2 |
| 2020 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 63.4 |
| 2019 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 50.5 |
| 2018 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 56.1 |
| 2017 | 68 | 0 | 0 | 49.8 |
| 2016 | 99 | 0 | 0 | 42.8 |
| 2015 | 69 | 2 | 1 | 61.9 |
| 2014 | 79 | 1 | 1 | 55.2 |
| 2013 | 140 | 1 | 1 | 53.6 |
| 2012 | 153 | 2 | 1 | 58.4 |
| 2011 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 41.6 |
| 2010 | 87 | 1 | 0 | 40.6 |
| 2009 | 101 | 2 | 0 | 50.4 |
| 2008 | 101 | 1 | 0 | 43.4 |
| 2007 | 88 | 3 | 1 | 56.6 |
| 2006 | 43 | 3 | 1 | 52.0 |
| 2005 | 49 | 1 | 0 | 46.9 |
| 2004 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 47.2 |
| 2003 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 46.6 |
| 2002Viewing | 134 | 1 | 0 | 46.9 |
| 2001 | 112 | 2 | 0 | 54.9 |
| 2000 | 92 | 4 | 0 | 55.8 |
| 1999 | 61 | 1 | 0 | 51.1 |
| 1998 | 47 | 1 | 1 | 48.6 |
| 1997 | 55 | 2 | 3 | 59.0 |
| 1996 | 101 | 4 | 3 | 63.0 |
| 1995 | 142 | 5 | 4 | 66.1 |
| 1994 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.