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Hyundai Accent: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Hyundai Accent problems by model year, from 833 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2019 (79%, 22 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (60%, 29 drivetrain complaints) and 2015 (50%, 23 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 9 Hyundai Accent years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 2 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (25%) and 2014 (32%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2014 (32%) to 2015 (50%), up 18 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2012 drew the most drivetrain complaints (45 of 243 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021 and 2022 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Hyundai Accent year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Accent | no elevated signal | 25% | 15 | 87 | 9/9 | 1 |
| 2011 Accent | elevated | 37% | 11 | 38 | 5/9 | 1 |
| 2012 Accent | elevated | 33% | 45 | 153 | 7/9 | 2 |
| 2013 Accent | elevated | 36% | 42 | 141 | 6/9 | 1 |
| 2014 Accent | no elevated signal | 32% | 21 | 80 | 8/9 | 1 |
| 2015 Accent | high | 50% | 23 | 70 | 3/9 | 2 |
| 2016 Accent | high | 49% | 35 | 101 | 4/9 | 0 |
| 2017 Accent | very high | 60% | 29 | 68 | 2/9 | 0 |
| 2018 Accent | too few to score | – | 8 | 19 | – | 1 |
| 2019 Accent | very high | 79% | 22 | 31 | 1/9 | 1 |
| 2020 Accent | too few to score | – | 4 | 12 | – | 4 |
| 2021 Accent | too few to score | – | 4 | 16 | – | 4 |
| 2022 Accent | too few to score | – | 4 | 17 | – | 2 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Hyundai Accent years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Hyundai Accent recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns across the Hyundai Accent years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
5 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2015 | 15V218000 | air bags: frontal | 2015 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V566000 | exterior lighting: brake lights: switch | 2010–2011 |
| Jul 2020 | 20V393000 | equipment: electrical | 2012 |
| Aug 2021 | 21V619000 | latches/locks/linkages: trunk lid: latch | 2019 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V651000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module | 2012–2015 |
What the free pages leave out on the Hyundai Accent
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Hyundai Accent
What are the worst years for the Hyundai Accent?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Hyundai Accent years are the 2019 (79% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2017 (60% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2015 (50% of relevant complaints, high). 7 of 9 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Hyundai Accent?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Hyundai Accent years are the 2010 (25%) and the 2014 (32%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Hyundai Accent have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 9 scored years, 243 of 603 relevant NHTSA complaints (40%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019.
Is the Hyundai Accent reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 9 Hyundai Accent years we score have an elevated complaint share and 2 do not. Pooled across those years, 40% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Hyundai Accent?
No. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns across the Hyundai Accent years we track, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.