RoadVitals

2003 Hyundai Accent Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
37
Latest May 7, 2018
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
13
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jun 23, 2003

What this page shows

Our database holds 37 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Hyundai Accent. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 37 · page 1 of 2

Airbags
Filed May 7, 2018

WHEN I START MY CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF

NHTSA ID
11092223
Incident
Aug 10, 2016
Mileage
55,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 11, 2016

THE PASSENGER SEATBELT AIRBAG SENSOR WIRE WAS CAUGHT AND CUT IN NORMAL USE OF THE CAR, WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND SO WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A 3RD PARTY MECHANIC TO FIX IT. WHEN HE ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT PART THROUGH HYUNDAI, THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS ALTERATIONS WHICH FIX THE PROBLEM THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE. SO THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T FIX IT. WHEN IT IS BROKEN THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW THAT THERE IS A PASSENGER IN THE CAR AND SO THE AIRBAG WOULD NEVER GO OFF.

NHTSA ID
10854886
Incident
Apr 11, 2016
Mileage
12,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 10, 2015

I WAS GETTING ON INTERSTATE 95 & THE CAR JERKED BACK THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED SHIFT IN INTO GEARS & HAS NO REVERSE.

NHTSA ID
10809504
Incident
Dec 8, 2015
Mileage
61,870 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 16, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED ALSO, DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 12/03/15*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID
10764250
Incident
Apr 4, 2015
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,763.

NHTSA ID
10572968
Incident
Mar 15, 2014
Mileage
167,763 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 29, 2011

MY CAR WAS DRIVEN UNDER 70,000 MILES WHEN MY TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING OUT. I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD NIECE AT THE TIME LEAVING TO GO HOME. MY CAR STARTED VIOLENTLY THRUSTING FORWARD WITH ALL OF US IN THE CAR AND WAS JERKING VIOLENTLY. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CHILD IN THE CAR IN MARCH 2006. AS WE PULLED ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR DID THE SAME THING FOR THE FIRST 10 MILES AND WE WERE SURE WE WERE GOING TO DIE. BUT I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND LET IT COOL DOWN. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT MY PARENTS WE SERVICED THE VEHICLE WHICH I THINK HAD TO BE TOWED AND I WAS GIVEN A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION IN MARCH 2006. DURING THE FALL OF 2007 THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE GEARS WERE ACTING UP AS THEY WERE BEFORE AND THE CAR WAS VIOLENTLY THRUSTING FORWARD AND JERKING. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WHILE GOING TO WORK WITH MY STUDENTS. I REPORTED IT TO HYUNDAI MOTOR OF AMERICA AND TOOK IT IN FOR REPAIRS IN SEPTEMBER 2007. THEY INSTALLED A REFURBISHED TRANSMISSION AND TOOK CARE OF ANOTHER POWERTRAIN ISSUE AND INSTALLED A NEW ALTERNATOR. HOWEVER IN THE FALL OF 2008 THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WENT OUT AND I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO GET IT FIXED ALTHOUGH THE ALTERNATOR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER I TOOK MY HYUNDAI TO THE DEALER TO GET AN OIL CHANGE IN THE FALL OF 2010 I NOTICED THAT IT WAS ACTING STRANGE. NEEDLESS TO SAY MY TRANSMISSION WAS ACTING UP AGAIN AND I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH 3 OTHER CARS DUE TO IT'S VIOLENT THRUSTING AND STALLING IN NOVEMBER 2010, DECEMBER 2010, JANUARY 2011 AND FEBRUARY 2011. IN APRIL 2011 IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT YET AGAIN I HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI SINCE MY TRANSMISSION FAILS EVERY 10,000 TO 70,000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION GOES OUT EVERY 1-4YEARS WITH MY CAR SO IT IS CONSISTENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10398192
Incident
Mar 23, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 20, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT GL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL SHOT BACK OUT. SHE HAD TO CONSTANTLY STOP AND RESTART PUMPING GAS TO AVOID THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE BEGAN DECEMBER 2010 AND OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FUELED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,937.

NHTSA ID
10378007
Incident
Dec 3, 2010
Fuel system
Filed Nov 24, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL SPILLED OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IT TOOK 51 CLICKS TO FILL HIS TANK AND IT WAS NOT ECO-FRIENDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,250.

NHTSA ID
10367766
Incident
Apr 6, 2010
Mileage
18,250 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 15, 2010
Crash reported

FRONT CRASH ..NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SIDE IMPACT CRASH ... NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TWO SEPARATE CRASHES WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO VEHICLE BUT NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT . *TR

NHTSA ID
10336423
Incident
Jul 17, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2010

2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. RIGHT HEADLIGHT DOESN'T WORK. I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT TWO OR THREE TIMES, HOWEVER IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. WIRING HARNESS IS IN A POSITION THAT THE WIRE IS TOO TIGHT AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED OR REPAIRED. NOT SUFFICIENT SLACK IN WIRING HARNESS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314911
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 15, 2009
Crash reported2 injuries reported

NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS AFTER RUNNUNG INTO FREEWAY CONCRETE EMBANKMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10258720
Incident
Feb 14, 2009
Mileage
28,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 1, 2008

2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT, 85K MILES OIL PAN LEAKS, RUSTED THROUGH HOLE (DEALER CONFIRMED), LOST 3 QT OIL WITHIN 2500 MILES. PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. *TR

NHTSA ID
10223069
Incident
Mar 31, 2008
Mileage
83,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system+1 more
Filed Oct 14, 2007

HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~ALTAIR1972M/SCREW_HYUNDAI.MHT. 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. ORIGINAL POSTING WAS 3395 CHARACTERS. MUST CUT TO 2000. DID NOT GET THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE TO THE GALLON. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IF YOU FLOORED IT, AND NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT, TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT. I REPORTED PROBLEMS. THEY WERE ABLE TO FIX TRANSMISSION SLIP SIMPLE DIAGNOSTIC. COMPUTER PROBLEM. ACCELERATOR STICKING COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED AND THEY HAD TO GIVE ME BACK THE CAR IN DEATH TRAP CONDITION. MY BRO IN LAW'S 16 YO BRO CHECKED IT OUT. FOUND MAT WAS CATCHING THE ACCEL. 2 FREEHOLD HYUNDAI TECHS COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT A 16 YEAR OLD COULD. FYI, NHTSA COMPLAINTS LIST HAS BOTH COMPLAINTS FROM SOMEONE ELSE. OVER TIME NOTICED THAT AT WAY MARK, CAR IS SHOWING LESS AND LESS MILEAGE @ SAME AMOUNT OF GAS. WAS 190 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. TODAY AROUND 160. FLASH FORWARD A FEW YEARS. HAD SOME TROUBLE WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD DROP DOWN TO 0 AND THEN NOT MOVE. I WOULD SMACK THE DASHBOARD, HARD, AND IT WOULD CATCH AND BEGIN TO MOVE, BUT CALIBRATED TO NEW SPEED I WAS GOING WHEN I HIT IT AND IT TOOK. AT STOP I'D HEAR CLICK, CLICK AS IT RECALIBRATED ITSELF TO CORRECT SPEED WHEN IT TRIED TO GO PAST 0. TOOK IT IN NEAR IT'S 57K MARK FOR THE PRE 60K INSPECTION. FH DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND NOTHING. A FEW DAYS LATER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND THE TACH WAS DOING THE SAME THING. TOOK PICS. CALLED FH AND ASKED IF THIS SPEED AT RPM WAS EVER POSSIBLE IN THIS CAR. IT WAS NOT. DEMANDED REPLACEMENT OF GAUGES. HOWEVER, WHEN THE FAILED AFTER 7 DAYS TO FIND THE PROBLEM, THEY WIPED DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. THEY PULLED OUT THE GAUGE CLUSTER, WIGGLED THE WIRES, AND DID SOMETHING WITH THE SENSOR. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH HYUNDAI MOTOR CORP. CALLED THEM LATER IN THE WEEK TO TELL THEM FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING. TOOK MORE PICS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10205619
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
Transmission
Filed Jun 15, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PULLED AND PUSHED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF

NHTSA ID
10193473
Incident
Mar 22, 2006
Mileage
62,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 28, 2006
Crash reported

I WAS TAKING MY KIDS OUT OF TOWN FOR THE HOLIDAY, WE STOPPED AT A REST AREA IN INDIANA, LEFT REST STOP PROCEEDED TO PROPER SPEED HIT A DEER AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR IS A WRECK AND BEYOND REPAIR, SEEKING A LAWYER TO SEE WHAT POSSIBLE ACTIONS CAN BE TAKEN. COULD'VE LOST MY KIDS BECAUSE OF THE AIRBAGS DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10174513
Incident
Nov 23, 2006
EngineSteering
Filed Nov 22, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ROADS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
10174081
Incident
Nov 22, 2006
Airbags
Filed Oct 11, 2006
Crash reported2 injuries reported

IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT APPROX. 35 MPH OUR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN OUR 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT 2DR HATCHBACK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AFTERWARDS WITH SEVERE BRUISING AND SWELLING. WE STILL HAVE BACK PAINS AND STOMACH PAINS FROM THE IMPACT. THE INSURANCE CO. IS STILL INVESTIGATING THE FAULT, BUT DON'T SEEM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIR BAG FAILURE. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI USA AND THEY'VE SENT ME A PACKAGE SO THEY CAN LEARN ABOUT AND INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10170573
Incident
Sep 4, 2006
Airbags
Filed Jul 21, 2006
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A LARGE COMMERCIAL TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH VEHICLE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VOLKWAGEN SERVICE DEALER, WHERE THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THERE WAS NO POLICE REPORT FILED.

NHTSA ID
10163050
Incident
Jun 30, 2006
Engine
Filed Nov 22, 2005

MY 2003 HYUNDIA ACCENT ALREADY HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE EMIISION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE SECOND FAILURE ONLY SHOWED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN SHOWED ALL SYSTEMS NORMAL AGIAN. EACH FAILURE WAS FOUND BY DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP BUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE COMPUTER KEPT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT BUT THE SECOND TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON ONLY FOR A FEW SECONDS, ALMOST LIKE THE CAR WAS PRGRAMMED TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10143457
Incident
Oct 9, 2005
Mileage
29,161 mi
Seat belts
Filed Oct 20, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY SON WAS DRIVING A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH WITH A FULL SIZE PICK-UP TRUCK. DURING THE CRASH THE SEAT BELT BROKE AND HE WAS THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR RESULTING IN INJURY. HYUNDAI'S INVESTIGATOR CHECK THE CAR AND SAID THE SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN CUT BY EMS. WE CHECKED WITH EMS AND THEY SAID IT IS THEIR POLICY NOT TO CUT SEAT BELTS. THEY ALSO SAID NOBODY CUT OUR SEAT BELT. THIS WAS A NEW CAR WITH APPROXIMATELY 2,500 MILES AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. *NM

NHTSA ID
10140390
Incident
Jan 7, 2003
Mileage
2,500 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 13, 2005

CONSUMER VEHICLE JERKS INTO HIGHER GEARS. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND DRAGS. *TS THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A LOUD NOISE WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A FAST JERKING MOTION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10141002
Incident
Oct 1, 2005
Airbags
Filed Jun 4, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A TWO-LANE ROAD IN PHOENIX. A VEHICLE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON THE SAME ROAD WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET. THE VEHICLE (A FORD EXPLORER) TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME AND CAUSED ME TO COLLIDE WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THAT VEHICLE. MY CAR (HYUNDAI ACCENT) WAS HIT ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE I HIT HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE, YET ITS AIRBAGS DID DEPLOY. I WENT TO THE ER WITH CHEST AND NECK PAINS. THE X-RAYS SHOWED SWELLING TO MY NECK AND A BRUISED UPPER CHEST. THE CAR WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY A CLAIMS ADJUSTER.

NHTSA ID
10124198
Incident
May 27, 2005
Mileage
36,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 9, 2005

THE KEY WILL TURN IN THE IGNITION , BUT THE ENGINE FAILS TO TURN OVER. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE ECM CHIP WAS REPLACED. THE ECM CHIP WAS REPLACED TWICE, AND I CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
10113713
Incident
Feb 20, 2004
Mileage
14,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 22, 2005

WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO MODULE INSTALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10112830
Incident
Jan 10, 2005
Mileage
29,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 7, 2005

THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR SPINDLE OR CARRIER ASSEMBLY FAILED. *NM *JB

NHTSA ID
10111550
Incident
Feb 1, 2005

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.

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