IllustrationCONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WILL STALL WHILE DRIVING, AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE.*JB
2002 Hyundai Accent
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Accent years
Owner complaints for the 2002 Hyundai Accent are substantially higher than the model-year median of 64.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Accent years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
210–25K
1925–50K
1950–75K
1075–100K
4100–150K
3150K+
76 reports with mileage · 58 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
26 crash reports2 fire reports18 injury reports
What owners actually said
134 reportsCONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR TO HER NEW VEHICLE, AN ODOR/CHEMICAL ODOR BLASTED AT HER, WHEN SHE ASKED THE SALESMAN ABOUT THE ODOR HE INFOMRED HER THAT WAS JUST A NEW CAR SMELL, HOWEVER THE ODOR NEVER WENT AWAY EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE BEING AIRED OUT DAILY, THE DEALER NEVER RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER REQUESTED TO TU…
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CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR TO HER NEW VEHICLE, AN ODOR/CHEMICAL ODOR BLASTED AT HER, WHEN SHE ASKED THE SALESMAN ABOUT THE ODOR HE INFOMRED HER THAT WAS JUST A NEW CAR SMELL, HOWEVER THE ODOR NEVER WENT AWAY EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE BEING AIRED OUT DAILY, THE DEALER NEVER RESOLVED THE PROBLEM, CONSUMER REQUESTED TO TURN VEHICLE BACK IN, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT IF THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED IN ON A TRADE CONSUMER WOULD GET $2000 LESS THAT WHAT SHE PAID FOR IT, POSSIBLE FUEL SYSTEM PROBLEM, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SMELL MADE HER DIZZY AND NAUSEATED.*JB
A "CLUNKING" NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DURING APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED BRAKE DRUMS WERE NOT ROUNDED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FOUR DAYS LATER, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED. CRASH OCCURRED ON DECEMBER …
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A "CLUNKING" NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DURING APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED BRAKE DRUMS WERE NOT ROUNDED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FOUR DAYS LATER, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED. CRASH OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 5, 2001 WHEN VEHICLE REAR-ENDED A STOPPED CAR WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH. *AK *TT
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD "BUCK" DURING ACCELERATION WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM REVERSE INTO THE DRIVE GEAR. ALSO, STATES VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN TRANSMISSION "BUCKED". DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. THEN, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH MANUFACTURER, DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMI…
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AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD "BUCK" DURING ACCELERATION WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM REVERSE INTO THE DRIVE GEAR. ALSO, STATES VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN TRANSMISSION "BUCKED". DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. THEN, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH MANUFACTURER, DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK *JB
Official recalls
102V167000 · Structure:frame And Members
Jun 25, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE 3-DOOR HATCHBACK EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CRITERION IN THE STANDARD MIDWAY ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD SUPPORT PILLAR (A-PILLAR).
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN OCCUPANT'S HEAD THAT CONTACTS THE A-PILLAR DURING A CRASH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INCREASED RISK OF A HEAD INJURY AS A RESULT OF THIS CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW ENERGY MANAGEMENT BRACKETS TO SUPPORT THE A-PILLAR COVERS AND INCREASE THE ENERGY ABSORBING PERFORMANCE OF THE A-PILLAR IN THE RELEVANT AREA. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.