Hyundai · Accent · 2016
0
Recalls
99
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2016 Hyundai Accent has no recalls and 99 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: engine (20 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.
Frontal Crash Test

Side Crash Test

Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
12.4% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
I got into an accident and my airbags did not go off... my face hit the steering wheel and my hand is broken because the airbags didn't deploy
The engine failed and requires a full engine replacement. The vehicle is currently at ALM Hyundai West, 1990 Thornton Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122, and is available for inspection upon request. Hyundai Motor America has already approved the engine replacement under a goodwill authorization, implicitly confirming the failure is manufacturer-related. The engine failure left the vehicle undrivable, forcing me to operate rental vehicles and arrange multiple tows across three dealerships over nearly two years. An engine failure at under 100,000 miles on a well-maintained vehicle poses a direct safety risk a sudden engine failure while driving at highway or city speeds could result in loss of vehicle control, creating a serious risk of collision for the driver and other road users.Yes. The engine failure has been confirmed by three separate authorized Hyundai dealerships: Ed Voyles Hyundai (Marietta, GA), AutoNation Hyundai (Columbus, GA), and ALM Hyundai West (Lithia Springs, GA). Hyundai Motor America's own goodwill approval of a full engine replacement on July 18, 2025 further confirms the failure.Yes. The vehicle has been inspected by three authorized Hyundai dealerships acting on behalf of the manufacturer. Hyundai Motor America's corporate team reviewed and approved the engine replacement as a goodwill repair. All inspection and repair documentation is on file and available upon request.
I was driving up a hill on interstate 8 in California and all of a sudden i heard a bang under the hood and see sparks and flames and my hyundai was on fire right there on the freeway. No clue why.
Engine is failing, oil leaking in the engine that messed up my catalytic converter and O2 sensors now it’s just sluggish , doesn’t accelerate properly, doesn’t idle nearly .
The vehicle made a loud catastrophic noises stopped running and couldn’t be restarted. Towed car to dealership where it was inspected and denied coverage based on owner not original owner. This 1.6L Gamma GDI Engine is part of the larger Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II (Case No. 8:18-cv-02223). The settlement provides a 15-year/150,000-mile extended warranty for said engine.
The Emergency brake light, ABS light, and esc light all come on while driving & speedometer goes to 0. The speedometer also stops tracking mileage when these lights come on. This used to happen on & off, but now it’s almost permanent. Hundreds are reporting the same exact issue online, but mechanics cannot figure out what the problem is. Me and countless others have taken the vehicle to mechanics multiple times with no resolve and thousands of dollars worth of diagnostics that are incorrect and don’t resolve the issue. It is dangerous because we don’t know how fast we’re going, and we don’t know if your abs, emergency brakes, & esc are all working properly. This issue is impacting Hyundai Accents years 2015, 2016, & 2017 based on the multiple threads & posts online. I think it’s related to electrical issues too because my windshield wipers & blinkers will randomly malfunction while this is happening. A random online user said that it is a “SMART Junction Box” issue that needs to be replaced. Please look into this and issue a recall because thousands of people are spending thousands of hard-earned dollars with no resolve.
The passenger seat airbag seat sensor does not work properly. The sensor wiring gets loose making the airbag system not work. It’s a common problem in this make and model. So I don’t understand why it hasn’t been recalled yet.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
The report does not specify the exact component that failed, but the fire originated under the hood of the 2016 Hyundai Accent. The vehicle and related documentation, including the fire department report, insurance claim, and incident photos, are available for review. The fire under the hood posed a serious safety risk as it occurred while the vehicle was in motion on a busy highway. Fortunately, the driver evacuated safely, but the incident could have resulted in injury or more severe consequences of both driver and other drivers traveling. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Due to the extent of the damage caused by the fire, it is unlikely that the issue can be reproduced or thoroughly examined. The vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic since the incident. The incident was inspected by Chesterfield Fire & EMS (Report No. [XXX]), Chesterfield Police Department arrived on the scene, and an insurance claim is in process. About a week prior to the fire, oil indicator light would flash on and off periodically, unusual noise began, and the engine light came on. At the earliest convenience, the car was taken to a shop for inspection and consultation - with no life threatening concerns or mechanical damages reported. The day of and right before the fire, there was a loud noise and immediate smoke. The exact timing of the believed ignition of the fire started around [XXX] with the fire in full flames by [XXX] on [XXX].
The instrumental panel suddenly malfunctioned the abs, airbag, and check engine lights illuminated, and the speedometer dropped to zero. The instrumental panel returned to normal, but the mileage range reset to 0. This was while I was traveling on a highway going 70mph. While it did not cause an accident this time, it was very upsetting. Further it is concerning that there was a recall on the 2014 Hyundai Accent for wiring issues that could cause a fire in the engine also referred to as an intermittent. We had the car inspected and nothing was found to be wrong with the battery/alternator or starter and nothing we could do in regular maintenance to ensure the safety of this vehicle. Note the mileage of this vehicle is 108k which is interesting considering the powertrain warranty was for 100k miles.
Component/System Failure: The component that has malfunctioned is the engine. This issue is critical and affects the vehicle's overall performance. The malfunctioning engine is available for inspection upon request, and I am willing to facilitate this inspection to substantiate my claim. Safety Risk: The engine's failure poses a significant safety risk, including potential engine stalling or loss of power while driving, which could lead to accidents or collisions. The ongoing issue has compromised my safety and that of other road users. Confirmation of the Problem: The problem has been confirmed by [Dealership Name/Independent Service Center]. They have verified the engine issue and noted it in their service records. I can provide documentation from this service center upon request. Inspection by Manufacturer or Others: The vehicle has been inspected by [Dealership Name] and Hyundai Motor America (HMA) corporate. The problem was also discussed with Hyundai representatives, including Amanda, who is aware of the issue and the relevant maintenance records. There has been no inspection by police or insurance representatives related to this specific issue. Warning Lamps, Messages, or Symptoms: Prior to the engine failure, there were several warning lamps and messages indicating engine problems. These symptoms first appeared on [Date of First Warning], giving preliminary notice of the impending failure. Despite these warnings, the necessary repairs or goodwill intervention were not provided. Given the seriousness of the situation and the impact on my daily life, including the necessity to use rental cars, take time off work, and travel extensively, I request the following: Immediate Approval of Goodwill Repair: Reassess and approve the goodwill repair for the engine issue based on the accurate maintenance records provided. Compensation for Inconvenience: Compensation for time off work, rental car costs, travel expenses, and emotional distress caused by this situation.
My 2016 Hyundai accent engine has all of sudden stop working and i have explained to multiple shops and my insurance that i was deployed for a whole year and the car was driving fine and once I came back it just wouldn’t crank. Two Hyundai shops informed me that the engine is locked up but neither shop provided a thorough investigation as to why this has happened. There were two-three major hurricanes in Texas where it was stored while I was deployed in Kuwait and Iraq from march 2023- march 2024 as well as another hurricane in Georgia where i am currently located now which happened September 2024. The engine is locked with no explanation as to how and a Hyundai representative by the name of don who provided the goodwill repair on July 09 2024 and i had it towed to Hyundai in Marietta and they looked and provided the same explanation that the engine is locked and to get it replaced with no detailed reasoning why. My safety has been at risk due to driving across states and town to get this vehicle serviced properly and causing mental anguish and depression as I am not able to get to where I need to go everyday which is causing friction in relationship and I am missing important events. I emailed the CEO Randy Parker and his executive assistant Amanda has done nothing but further deny the goodwill with no explanation on how, why, what, when. No, the problem was not confirmed as again it was no detail reasoning behind how the engine locked when it was working fine before returning from overseas. The vehicle was inspected by the local Hyundai dealerships in Killeen Texas and another in Marietta, GA and only inspected by one adjuster recently on October 10, 2024. There was no check engine illuminated in the car once I returned from overseas as it has not been driven much. There is still no check engine light illuminated even after all the shops checking. To make this right, I would like for Hyundai (HMUSA) to honor the goodwill REPAIR and or REPLACEMENT of the engine.
The airbag SRS light started to blink on and off and now stays on full time. I took the car to the dealership and they ran diagnostics and got code B1440 and B1774. They stated the entire passenger seat cushion must be replaced with the MAT sensor. This is a common problem per this website and there is no recall issued for some reason. Please investigate this issue as it was a common problem with earlier models 2006 through 2011 and later models are still having the same issue. This is a costly fix and it is suspicious that this sensor failed right after the warranty expired.
The car caught on fire while driving on the freeway for no reason, an explosion occurred.
The car was rented by a Turo host with defectuous brakes and worn-out tires. During 3 weeks and 3400 Mi, forward disk brakes produced a thud of metallic grinding without effective braking at each brake. Forward tires were measured 2/32" and 'Replace Tire' marking were noticed on the treads. Rear tires were measured 3/32" and 'Replacement Tire Monitor' marking were noticed on the treads. A rear tire exploded on a straight line, between 55 and 60 Mph, the burst fortunately did not cause any swerve and the vehicle was able to be stopped on a few meters. During the journey, the driver's seat belt sometimes unlocks unexpectelly, even if initial locking has been checked by pulling on the buckle.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a loud knocking sound coming from underneath the hood. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
At 100,000mi the piston rod bearings failed. We have kept up with oil changes, etc. so this is very strange. It seems to be a common problem with Hyundai GDi engines, but our engine (1.6L Non-turbo) is not part of the massive recall/lawsuit for this exact issue on 2.0L cars. Clearly the same design flaw exists for the 1.6L.
The car facing Air bag light ON few days ago. Mechanical Shop inspect the car the scan shows code B1490 ( PODA ( Passenger Occupant Detecting System) Sensor (Bladder) defect Contact the Hyundai Customer care to check if there is any extend warranty on the this part, they said NO, open case # 21683569
My car has had serious oil consumption issues. I cannot make it to recommended oil change date/milage before i am completely out of oil. This has been a reoccurring issue with Hyundai vehicles. I've been informed by serval mechanics it is unsafe to drive as the engine could blow while i am driving. Hyundai engines are notorious for this issue
This reports a recurring Safety Restraint System (SRS) airbag warning light issue for no apparent reason other than potentially defective components. Please investigate this! Any issues with the SRS system of a vehicle by default puts the safety of the vehicle's passengers at risk. The SRS airbag warning light first turned on randomly in June 2023 and remained on for a few weeks every time the car was on or being driven. (I am the second owner of the car, and this happened a year after purchase; I do not know if the original owners also had issues with this SRS warning light.) This SRS warning light turned itself off randomly a few weeks later. I had scheduled with a Hyundai Service Dept. to diagnose the issue for the price of $184.50 but ended up cancelling since the SRS light turned itself off 2 weeks before my appointment. The rough phone estimate by this Hyundai Service Dept. said that depending on if it is a sensor, control module, or something else, it could cost between $500 to $3000 to resolve. I was told that an issue with the SRS would not be investigated/covered by the manufacturer original warranty. (But SRS is a non-maintainable system so should work properly for the lifetime of the vehicle.) The SRS airbag warning light remained off until on Dec. 22, 2023, when it turned on again randomly. It stayed on again (anytime the car was on or being driven) for a few days then turned off randomly again. The SRS airbag warning light turned on again 1/26/24, then turned off on again on 1/29/24. It turned on AGAIN on 1/30/24 and is still on (2/1/24). This recurring SRS light issue indicates an urgent, underlying issue with the SRS system that has occurred randomly, without warning or reason, to my vehicle and to others with this vehicle according to this NHTSA web site. This SRS warning light issue suggests that the SRS system may not be working properly and could case the airbags to deploy incorrectly, or not deploy when needed, which is unacceptable.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2016 Hyundai Accent has 0 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 99 owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Hyundai Accent.
The 2016 Hyundai Accent received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2016 Hyundai Accent are engine (20 reports), air bags (16 reports), electrical system (9 reports).
NHTSA does not currently list any recalls on record for the 2016 Hyundai Accent. To verify the status of your specific vehicle, check nhtsa.gov/recalls with your VIN.
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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.