Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Accent, most frequently naming the airbags, transmission and steering categories. 38 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 2001 | 1 | 1 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 2 |
| May 2004 | 1 | 3 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 4 |
| Oct 2004 | 2 | 6 |
| Nov 2004 | 2 | 8 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 9 |
| Mar 2005 | 2 | 11 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 12 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 13 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 14 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 15 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 16 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 17 |
| Oct 2006 | 2 | 19 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 20 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 21 |
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 22 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 23 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 24 |
| Feb 2011 | 1 | 25 |
| Sep 2012 | 1 | 26 |
| Jul 2014 | 1 | 27 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 28 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 29 |
| Aug 2015 | 1 | 30 |
| Nov 2015 | 1 | 31 |
| Aug 2016 | 1 | 32 |
| Apr 2018 | 1 | 33 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD AT REGULAR SPEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED NOW FOR THE THIRD TIME SINCE OCTOBER 2017. THE LATEST INCIDENT ON 4/23/2018.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, A SEVERE VIBRATION WAS FELT FROM THE REAR WHEELS. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND OBSERVED THAT THE REAR CONTROL ARM WAS SEVERELY CORRODED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000. UPDATED 10/06/16*LJ *TR
TAKATA RECALL ON 11/29/2015 DRIVING ON PENNSYLVANIA TURNPIKE GOING 60-65 MPH VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED. IMPACT TOTALED CAR. HOOD CRUMBLED UP, HEADLIGHT WITH COMPLETE HOUSING DESTROYED, RADIATOR SPILLED FLUID, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MY HEAD HIT WINDSHIELD. NO WEATHER ISSUES. ACCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND 12:30 PM. POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND CAR TOWED. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE AN UNKNOWN PART WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURNS ON THE ARM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. IT WAS UNKNOWN WHICH AIR BAG CAUSED THE INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
WIFE, 64,WAS DRIVING OUR ONE-OWNER 2004 HYUNDAI ACCENT GL ON PRIVATE ROAD APPROX 15 MPH WHEN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT OF ANY SORT TO VEHICLE. WIFE WAS BADLY BRUISED ON ARMS AND FACE AND WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED BY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER WHEN BAGS DEPLOYED. WE WERE FORTUNATE THAT SHE WAS NOT ON BUSY STREET OR ON INTERSTATE AS THIS WOULD HAVE CERTAINLY RESULTED IN A WRECK WITH SEVERE BODILY INJURY OR POSSIBLE DEATH. LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP (PERKINS MOTORS, COLORADO SPRINGS) REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING. HYUNDAI HQ CUSTOMER SERVICE COMMITTED TO "SENDING US A PACKET OF PAPERWORK TO BE FILLED OUT AND RETURNED TO THEM BY US AND THEY WOULD GET BACK TO US IN 6 TO 8 WEEKS ONCE IT WAS RECEIVED TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING." NO ONE FROM HYUNDAI HAS EXPRESSED ANY INTEREST IN SEEING THE VEHICLE OR RESPONDING TO A POTENTIALLY VERY HAZARDOUS VEHICLE. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR LACK OF ANY SENSE OF OBLIGATION TO SEE WHAT WENT WRONG AND HOW IT MIGHT BE AVOIDED IN THE FUTURE. THEIR ATTITUDE IS THAT IT'S OUR PROBLEM AND THE FACT THAT IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE DOESN'T CONCERN THEM IN THE SLIGHTEST. *TR
WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP THE DRIVER WAS DISTRACTED BY CHILDREN PLAYING IN STREET. THE DRIVER VEERED RIGHT STRIKING A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS TOTAL. *JS
AT 2,466 MILES, CAR PULLS TO RIGHT, AND IS DIFFICULT TO HOLD STEADY WHEN TURNING AT HIGH SPEEDS. TAKEN TO BURLINGAME HYUNDAI DEALER FOR REPAIR. TIRES WERE ROTATED. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. AT 4,782 MILES CAR WAS BROUGHT IN AGAIN FOR STEERING DIFFICULTY, FEELS LIKE THERE IS A TIRE GOING FLAT. FOUND THAT LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS BENT. TIRES ROTATED AGAIN, BENT WHEEL ON LEFT REAR, REPLACEMENT PART ORDERED. (UNDER WARRANTY) AT 5,393 MILES, CAR SHAKES AT ANY SPEED. BENT WHEEL WILL NOT BALANCE. REPLACEMENT PART SUPPOSEDLY PUT ON CAR. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. AT 25,616 MILES CAR TAKEN TO SAN FRANCISCO HYUNDAI FOR MULTI-POINT INSPECTION. DEALER RECOMMENDED 2 NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. AT 25,797 MILES, CAR TAKEN TO ANOTHER SERVICE CENTER FOR ALIGNMENT AND NEW TIRES. CUSTOMER WAS TOLD THAT ALL 4 TIRES WERE ROTTED AND ALIGNMENT WAS PERFORMED. CUSTOMER WAS TOLD FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO ALIGN THE CAMBER OR CASTER ON THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR. LEFT FRONT CAMBER WAS OUT OF SPECIFIED RANGE. (-0.9`) RIGHT REAR CAMBER WAS ALSO OUT OF SPECIFIED RANGE (-1.5`). AT 28,060 MILES CUSTOMER RETURNED TO OTHER SERVICE CENTER FOR 2 ADDITIONAL TIRES AND INSTALLATION OF 4 CAMBER KITS. AT THIS TIME IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE TIRES WOULDN'T BALANCE DUE TO WHEEL BEING BENT. SO THE BENT WHEEL WAS NEVER REPLACED BY THE DEALER! *TR
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 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.
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.
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.
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 |
| 2004Viewing | 33 | 0 | 0 | 47.2 |
| 2003 | 37 | 0 | 0 | 46.6 |
| 2002 | 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.