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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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2011
TiresWheels

I WAS TURNING A CORNER GOING TO WORK AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE POPPED. I CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME TAKE CARE OF THE VEHICLE. ONLY TO LEARN THAT THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE, WHEN I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE SALESPERSON IF THERE WAS ONE HE STATED YES. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERS. THE DEALER THEN TELLS ME TH…

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I WAS TURNING A CORNER GOING TO WORK AND THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE POPPED. I CALLED THE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME TAKE CARE OF THE VEHICLE. ONLY TO LEARN THAT THERE WAS NO SPARE TIRE, WHEN I SPECIFICALLY ASKED THE SALESPERSON IF THERE WAS ONE HE STATED YES. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERS. THE DEALER THEN TELLS ME THAT I MUST HAVE HIT SOMETHING BECAUSE THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRE HAD A HOLE IN IT. HOWEVER, I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING NOR RUB A CURB. THEY ARE NOT STANDING BEHIND THE WARRANTY OF THE TIRES AND NOTIFIED ME THAT THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE ARE DISCONTINUED. I ASKED WHY THEY WERE DISCONTINUED AND GOT THE RUN AROUND.. I ASKED IF DEFECTIVE AND NO RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10441470

1,800 miles · Sep 16, 2011
Steering

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IN A 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT SCHOOL ZONE, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL MY CAR ON WHAT COINCIDENTALLY WAS A CURVY ROAD AFTER HAVING JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN. THEREFORE AS I HAD JUST BEGUN TO PICK UP SPEED, HAVING TO FOLLOW A CURVE ABOUT 500 YARDS THEREAFTER, MY STEERING WHEEL REMAINED IN …

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WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IN A 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT SCHOOL ZONE, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL MY CAR ON WHAT COINCIDENTALLY WAS A CURVY ROAD AFTER HAVING JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN. THEREFORE AS I HAD JUST BEGUN TO PICK UP SPEED, HAVING TO FOLLOW A CURVE ABOUT 500 YARDS THEREAFTER, MY STEERING WHEEL REMAINED IN THE POSITION I HAD PLACED IT IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE CURVE, LOCKING IMMEDIATELY AFTER. IN LOSING CONTROL OF MY CAR, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO TRY TO SHIFT MY STEERING WHEEL BUT AS IT DIDN'T BUDGE, I HIT ABOUT 2 OR 3 CONCRETE MEDIAN BLOCKS, AT ABOUT 15 MPH. THE CONCRETE BLOCKS WERE LINED ALONG A CURVY ROAD THAT WAS BLOCKING OFF AN UNEVEN FIELD OF GRASS THAT MY CAR DRIFTED INTO; LUCKILY, THERE WAS A SEWAGE MANHOLE JOLTING OUT FROM THE GROUND THAT MANAGED TO SLOW DOWN MY CAR BEFORE I MANAGED TO PULL THE EMERGENCY BREAK. LUCKILY, AS I CONTINUE TO EMPHASIZE ON MY LUCK, BECAUSE THAT IS SIMPLY HOW I FEEL, IF THIS WOULD'VE OCCURRED IN ANY OTHER SCENARIO SUCH AS AN EXPRESSWAY, OR ANY HIGH TRAFFIC VIA, THERE COULD'VE BEEN SEVERAL CASUALTIES INCLUDING MY OWN. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10425707

202 miles · Aug 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS AFTER HAVING…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL RAIL PRESSURE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY TWO DAYS AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS SHIPPED TO CALIFORNIA FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 202.

NHTSA ODI #10417934

Official recalls

2

23V651000 · 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

1

AQ23002 · 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.