Hyundai · Accent · 2002
1
Recall
134
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2002 Hyundai Accent has 1 recall and 134 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: power train (19 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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).
Remedy Status
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.
I GOT THIS CAR IN 2015 AND IT KEEP FAILING THE STATE OF OHIO VECHICLE INSPECTION E-CHECK TEST AND THE SAME CODE KEEPS COMING UP..... P1401..... WHY... IT FAIL ON JAN 16,2019 AND IN 2017 JAN.19.17 I SPENT $398.52 AND HAD GAS TANK FILLER NECK AND CANISTER VENTVALVE REPLACE.....AND AGAIN SAME CODE 2019 "P1401..HELP THKS. (XXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I AM A POLICE OFFICER, CRASH RECONSTRUCTIONIST, AND CHILD SEAT TECHNICIAN. I WAS INVOLVED IN INVESTIGATING A SERIOUS INJURY CRASH IN WHICH A CHILD WAS IN A DOREL JUVENILE GROUP, SCENERA NEXT CONVERTIBLE SEAT. THE SEAT BROKE AND FAILED TO MAINTAIN ITS INTEGRITY. THERE WAS A VERY LARGE CRACK DOWN THE SIDE FRAME, AND THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE SEAT BROKE OUT FROM WHERE THE HARNESS STRAPS COME THROUGH. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A CHILD SEAT BREAK EVEN A FRACTION AS MUCH AS THIS SEAT DID, THE SEAT AND CHILD WERE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE BY PARAMEDICS PRIOR TO MY SEEING THE SEAT. SO I DON'T KNOW ANY DETAILS BEYOND THE FACT IT WAS INSTALLED FORWARD FACING AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. *TT *BF *TR *DT*JB
HAVING THE VEHICLE STATIONARY, I JACKED IT UP TO DO SOME BRAKE WORK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS (AS WELL AS VARIOUS FRAME PARTS UNDERNEATH) ARE EXTREMELY RUSTY. WHEN LOWERING THE VEHICLE USING A FLOOR JACK (AFTER DOING THE REPAIR) THE LOWER CONTROL BROKE. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE THIS HAPPENED IN MY YARD ON MY PROPERTY. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY 84,000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE CONTACT BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY, AND THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM AND VERTEBRATES IN THE BACK, INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.
THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH NO INJURIES OR MAJOR DAMAGE. DRIVING 25 MILES PER HOUR ON SMALL ROAD WHEN CONTROL ARM FAILED AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL.
WHEN PUTTING GAS IN THE CAR, THE FUEL PUMP CLICKS OFF EVERY 10 CENTS OR SO AS IF THE TANK IS FULL BUT IT IS NOT. SOMETIMES THE GAS OVEN RUNS BACK OUT OF THE TANK AS IF IT IS OVERFILLED AND RUNNING OVER, BUT IT IS NOT. I LIVE IN NJ, WHICH IS ONE OF THE TWO STATES THAT HAVE FULL SERVICE GAS STATIONS. AND GAS STATION ATTENDANTS CONSTANTLY TELL ME THAT THEY ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM SPECIFICALLY WITH HYUNDAI'S ALL THE TIME! THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE ALSO SEEN THIS WITH BRAND NEW HYUNDAI MODELS AS WELL, SO IT'S NOT A PROBLEM THAT HAS IMPROVED OVER THE YEARS SINCE MY DATED 2002 MODEL. EVEN THE SERVICE TECH AT MY LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WAS ALL TOO FAMILIAR WITH THIS DEFECT WIDELY KNOWN WITH HYUNDAI'S WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM. HE ALSO QUOTED ME A PRICE AROUND $600, WHICH HE SAID FROM HIS EXPERIENCE AS A TECHNICIAN DOESN'T GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM TO BE FIXED. THERE ARE CASES OF THE PROBLEM COMING BACK AFTER THE REPAIR IS DONE! I CONTACTED HYUNDAI WITH MY CONCERNS AND TO SPECIFICALLY ASK WHY THIS WIDELY KNOWN DEFECT WAS NOT RECALLED AND I DID NOT GET A REAL ANSWER TO MY QUESTION. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS PROBLEM FOR SOME TIME. AND LOOKING AT SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED, PLUS THE PEOPLE I'VE TALKED TO (INCLUDING HYUNDAI EMPLOYEES), THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS COMMON PROBLEM, BUT REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT AS A DEFECT AND FIX THE ISSUE. VERY FRUSTRATING.
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HEARD SOMETHING SCRAPPING AND VEHICLE QUIT MOVING HAD TO BE PUSHED OUT OF A DANGEROUS CURVE INTO A PARKING LOT ALL TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK OUT AS THE TOW TRUCK LIFTED IT ONTO IT'S BED. HAD TO PAY FOR THE TOW TRUCK, AND HAD ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 DAYS. IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE COMPANY I BOUGHT IT FROM HAS LEFT ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE SINCE THE 6TH DAY OF MAY, AND REUSE TO FIX IT WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT, AND THEY ALSO KEPT MY $800 DOWN PAYMENT.
I HAD JUST GOTTEN OFF INTERSTATE 76 AT ROUTE 14 AFTER DRIVING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 70 MPH. I CAME DOWN THE RAMP AND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL LOCKED UP. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON INTERSTATE 76. THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY HEAVY WITH SEMI'S ALL AROUND ALONG WITH REGULAR TRAFFIC. I COME TO FIND OUT THE FRONT LEFT LOWER CONTROL ARM COLLAPSED ALLOWING THE TIRE TO COME BACK AGAINST THE LEFT FENDER WHEEL WELL. IT PULLED THE CAR TO THE LEFT AND I SLID OFF THE RAMP ONTO THE BERM AFTER TRYING TO STEER HARD TO RIGHT. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED. I'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE JULY 14, 2014. I COME TO FIND OUT THE RIGHT ARM HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, IT HAD 80,362 MILES. IN TODAYS WORLD, THAT IS LOW MILES. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHEN I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, SOMEONE COULD HAVE GOTTEN KILLED. HOW MANY MORE ARE RUNNING AROUND LIKE THIS. THE BALL JOINTS APPEAR TO BE GOOD BUT THE CONTROL ARM RUSTED OUT TO THE POINT OF WEAKNESS AND COLLAPSED. THE CAR DOESN'T EVEN HAVE 100,000 MILES ON IT. THEY NEED TO RECALL ALL OF THESE CARS AND HAVE THE CONTROL ARMS INSPECTED. YOU CANNOT CONTROL THE CAR EVEN AT 10 MPH. *TR
I GOT AN ALIGNMENT AND ALL NEW TIRES. I WAS PULLED IN THE GARAGE TO FIND OUT THERE WAS RUST HOLES IN THE FRONT END OF THE FRAME BELOW THE ENGINE. I LOOKED UP RECALLS AND THERE HAD BEEN OVER 500,000 COUNTS OF DAMAGE TO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT YEARS AND MODELS. NONE OF WHICH INCLUDED MINE. I LIVE IN NY STAGE WHERE ROADS ARE HEAVILY SALTED FOR SAFETY. THE CAR HAS 158,000 MILES ON IT AND SHOULDN'T HAVE 6 INCH HOLES IN THE FRAME. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY TO GET MY FRAME REBUILT WHEN THIS SHOULD BE TAKEN CARE OF BY HYUNDAI. I WAS TOLD BY MULTIPLE PEOPLE TO CONTACT YOU IF THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T DO ANYTHING. I RESEARCHED ENOUGH TO ALSO FIND OUT IT WAS REQUIRED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX ANY PROBLEM RELATING TO THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE REFUELING THE VEHICLE, FUEL WOULD LEAK FROM THE FILLER NECK ONTO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 92,000.
PULLED INTO THE PARKING LOT. I WENT TO PUT IT IN PARK, BUT THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE. I WAS GOING FORWARD IN DRIVE AT THE TIME. IT STARTED GOING IN REVERSE. NO MATTER WHAT GEAR I TRIED, IT WOULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE. I COULDN'T TURN OFF THE CAR. I KEPT TRYING TO PUT IT IN PARK AND EVENTUALLY IT WORKED. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM ON LINE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. *TR
I WAS ON A SIDE STREET, THANK GOD. ON MY WAY TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I HEARD A HORRIBLE SCRATCHING, METAL CRUNCHING NOISE. I HAD A HARD TIME STEERING WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT MY CAR JUST STOPPED. I LOOKED, AND MY TIRE WAS SIDEWAYS, THE RIGHT LOWER CONTROL ARM ROTTED AND BROKE, THE AXLE CAME OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION. I SPOKE TO HYUNDAI AND THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I RECENTLY LOST MY JOB AND WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS. IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND CAUSED A HUGE ACCIDENT, DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO TURN MY WHEEL. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS PLEASE. THERE WAS A RECALL DUE TO THIS SAME EXACT REASON AND IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *JS
WHILE I HAVE FELT THAT I HAVE BEEN LEADING UP TO THE PROBLEM THAT I AM ABOUT TO LIST FOR OVER A YEAR WITH WHINING IN THE FRONT LEFT TIRE/BRAKE AREA. I AM GETTING READY FOR MY FOURTH BRAKES ON MY ACCENT IN THE PAST 18 MONTHS. FINALLY IN MAY OF THIS YEAR (2013) I STARTED NOTICING THAT WHEN I WOULD PRESS IN THE CLUTCH THE CAR WOULD SLOW AS IF THE BRAKES WERE BEING PRESSED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO OUR SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING AND BRAKES, BRAKE LINES, MASTER CYLINDER, OR AS THE MECHANIC SAYS:, "WE HAVE REPLACED EVERYTHING THAT WE KNOW TO REPLACE OR REPAIR FOR THIS PROBLEM". WELL TODAY, 08/15/2013 I MANAGED TO GET MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN WRECKED, I AM THE SECOND OWNER, MY SISTER-IN-LAW AND HER HUSBAND WERE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED IN INDIANAPOLIS OFF OF THE LOT BY THEM. *TR
MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS VEHICLE. YOU CAN'T PUT GAS INTO IT WITHOUT THE PUMP STOPPING APPROXIMATELY EVERY .25 GALLONS. IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND IT IS DIFFICULT TO PASS INSPECTION. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY HYUNDAI SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. IT COMES UP AS A 1401 FOR EMISSIONS TESTING
THE GAS TANK WILL NOT ACCEPT FUEL AT A REASONABLE FLOW FROM A PUMP. IT TRIPS THE SHUT OFF EARLY. SOMETIMES FUEL SPLASHES OUT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. MANY HYUNDAI CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. FROM RESEARCH, I FOUND THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS: 1) CHARCOAL BITS IN THE VENT LINES FROM THE CARBON CANISTER- ONE OWNER CUT OPEN THE CANISTER AND FOUND A FOAM FILTER LIKE IN A WINDOW A/C THAT WAS DAMAGED BY GAS ALLOWING CARBON TO GO INTO THE VENT LINES CLOGGING THEM AND NOT ALLOWING THE TANK TO VENT. INCOMPATABLE MATERIAL USED. 2) FAULTY CHECK VALVE AT THE INLET OF THE GAS TANK DOES NOT OPEN FULLY WHEN REFUELING CAUSING GAS TO BACK UP THE FILLER NECK. 3) DEFECTIVE "SAMPLING PUMP". THIS IS IN THE VENT SYSTEM BETWEEN THE FUEL FILLER PIPE AND THE REAR BUMPER. PUMP DOES NOT OPERATE WHEN IT SHOULD. 4) SMALL FILLER TUBE. GAS PUMP NOZZLES IN THE UK HAD TO BE CHANGED TO A SMALLER SIZE SO THAT THERE COULD BE SOME VENTING. THE VENT LINES IN MY CAR SEEM CLEAR. I AM CHANGING THE CHECK VALVE, AND I WILL SEE IF THIS IMPROVES THE SITUATION. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT THE HYUNDAI DEALERS DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM AND WHAT CAUSES IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,012 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,100.UPDATED 11/01/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE PUMP WOULD STOP FUELING AFTER 0.5 GALLONS OF GAS. THE CANISTER WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER THEN SUGGESTED TO CHANGE THE DMTC PUMP. IF THE RUBBER PIPE CONNECTED TO THE CANISTER IS REMOVED THE VEHICLE CAN THEN BE FUELED AS NORMAL. UPDATED 11/02/2012 *JS
MY 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT "CLICKS OFF" REPEATEDLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL THE VEHICLE. GASOLINE POOLS IN THE CHAMBER BETWEEN THE FUEL DOOR AND THE GAS TANK CAUSING A SERIOUS HAZARD. FUEL SMELLS ARE FREQUENTLY OBSERVED WITHIN THE CAR AFTER FUELING AND FOR A PERIOD OF DAYS AFTERWARD. THE "CHECK ENGINE" REMAINS ILLUMINATED INDICATING A FUEL LINE SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD THE SYSTEM CHECKED BY A FULL SERVICE AUTOMOTIVE FACILITY AND THEY HAVE REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS WITH NO SUCCESS IN REMEDYING THE PROBLEM. HAVE SUGGESTED POSSIBLY REPLACING THE ENTIRE FULL LINE, GAS TANK, ETC BUT HAVE INDICATED THIS IS LIKELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SUCH. AT THE CURRENT TIME IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT MORE THAN A FEW OUNCES OF GASOLINE INTO THE CAR AT ANY ONE TIME AND FAILURE TO CLOSELY MONITOR THE CHAMBER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REFUEL CAN LEAD TO GASOLINE OVERFLOW AND SPILLS. I HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS AS TO THE SAFETY OF FUELING THIS CAR ON A WEEKLY BASIS AS WELL AS THE RISK OF FIRE HAZARD SHOULD ANY TYPE OF REAR-END COLLISION OCCUR WITH THIS VEHICLE. FROM MY RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR OF HYUNDAI, INCLUDING AT LOW MILEAGE POINTS. CONCERNED THAT HYUNDAI HAS NOT ADDRESSED WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE FOR SAFETY. *TR
MY HYUNDAI ACCENT 02 REFUSES TO FUEL UP CONTINUALLY SHUTTING OFF AT THE PUMP 1/4 GAL AT BEST, TWENTY MINUTES TO FILL, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM,,, THE FUMES CAN NOT VENT PROPERLY AND FORCES AIR BACK UP THE FILLER NECK OF THE GAS TANK AND SPRAYS GAS ALL OVER. THIS IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF BUT ALSO DANGEROUS TO EVERY PERSON IN THE AREA. I FEEL THIS IS A DANGER TO EVERYONE AND NEEDS TO B ADDRESSED. *TR
DRIVER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION DUE TO LOWER CONTROL ARM SEPARATING IN HALF. LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CV JOINT DRIVE SHAFT, FENDER AND ROCKER PANEL DAMAGED. PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE SHOWING DEFECT. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER INSPECTED NOR REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2002 Hyundai Accent has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 134 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Hyundai Accent.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2002 Hyundai Accent.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2002 Hyundai Accent are power train (19 reports), fuel system, gasoline (15 reports), air bags (14 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2002 Hyundai Accent. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.