IllustrationWHILE DRIVING I TURNED ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER AND NOTICED THAT WATER WAS COMING INSIDE INSTEAD OF ON THE OUTSIDE WHICH IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN I WAS DRIVING
2012 Hyundai Accent
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Accent years
Owner complaints for the 2012 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
230–25K
1325–50K
1650–75K
1775–100K
18100–150K
3150K+
90 reports with mileage · 63 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.
- Engine. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
13 crash reports8 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
153 reportsRPM ACCELERATES FROM TIME TO TIME, ONCE THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY PARKED. NEEDLES SHOOTS UP TO 5 VERY QUICK. ALSO, WHILE THE CAR IS OPERATING, IT SEEMS IT WANTS TO ACCELERATE. ITS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS IN THE DOWN POSITION AND DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE FULLY DISENGAGED POSITION. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE ENGINE STAYS REVED FOR UP TO 3 SECONDS AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL SLOWLY MOVE BACK UP. SOM…
Read full complaint
THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS IN THE DOWN POSITION AND DOESN'T IMMEDIATELY RETURN TO THE FULLY DISENGAGED POSITION. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME I PRESS DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, ESPECIALLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE ENGINE STAYS REVED FOR UP TO 3 SECONDS AFTER I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL SLOWLY MOVE BACK UP. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO PULL IT BACK UP TO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. OCCASIONALLY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WILL STAY ENGAGED EVEN AFTER I PRESS THE BRAKE, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD WHEN I RELEASE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUING PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN GETTING WORSE FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS....UPDATED 07/10/17 *BF ..UPDATED 08/09/17 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 08/29/2017*JS *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APP…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000.
I WAS DRIVING HOME WHEN THE DRIVER-SIDE DOOR HANDLE FELL APART. THE SILVER PLASTIC COATING WAS PEELING, BUT THE DOOR HANDLE SEEMED FINE OTHERWISE WHEN I GOT IN MY CAR TO DRIVE HOME. LUCKILY, I WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY, PULLING INTO MY GARAGE. THE CAR DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE OR LOCK AFTERWARDS. *TR
CAR WOULD NOT START. FOUND INFORMATION ONLINE REGARDING SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT A TRANSMISSION SHAFT SENSOR AND A QUICK FIX BY PLACING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND BACK TO PARK. USED THIS FIX AND CAR SUBSEQUENTLY STARTED.
FOR SOME REASON NOW SINCE MOVING MY DRIVER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE. ALSO THE MOTOR FOR THE WINDOWS IS ACTING LIKE IT DOESN'T WANT TO WORK I HAVE A HARD TIME CLOSING WINDOWS ONCE THEY ARE OUT DOWN. HELP.
TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED ON A SUNNY DAY IN NEIGHBORHOOD CAUSING MY CAR TO FISH TAIL AND FLIP OVER CAUSING LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.
MY SON IN LAW, DAUGHTER, SON, & GRANDSON WERE DRIVING IN THE RAIN & THE CAR HYDROPLANED CAUSING THE CAR TO GO OFF THE ROAD & HITTING A TREE KILLING MY SON IN LAW & SERIOUSLY INJURING MY SON. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR WAS TOTALED & NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD REV TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000-6,000 RPMS EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN ANOTHER GEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE FAILURE WAS TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITI…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE WOULD REV TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000-6,000 RPMS EVEN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED OR WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN ANOTHER GEAR. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE FAILURE WAS TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.
Official recalls
223V651000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Sep 22, 2023
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.
20V393000 · Equipment:electrical
Jul 2, 2020
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor to inflate a tire.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.
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
1AQ23002 · Hyundai And Kia Abs Module Fires
Opened Nov 17, 2023 · No close date supplied
Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.