2010 Hyundai ACCENT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Hyundai ACCENT has 119 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is brakes problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: as soon as i got on the freeway, the steering wheel, brake, and accelerator locked up. i managed to make it down the ramp to the side of the freeway. i put on the emergency brake because, the car kept rolling. i attempted to turn the car off but, the key was stuck in the ignition. the car was sti.

7 crash reports 6 injuries

119

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.5x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BRAKES

23 complaints

19%

• AS SOON AS I GOT ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE, AND ACCELERATOR LOCKED UP. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT DOWN THE RAMP TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE, THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT, THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS STI
• MY HYUNDAI IS NEW WITH ONLY 7K MILES. BRAKES REPEATEDLY GRIND WITH A CRUNCHING NOISE IN SNOWY CONDITIONS TO POINT WHERE I HAVE DIFFICULTY STOPPING VEHICLE. PULLS TO RIGHT AND STEERING WHEEL SHAKES TO POINT WHERE YOU CAN SEE IT MOVING FROM A DISTANCE. FEELS LIKE PEDAL IS LOCKING AND BRAKES ARE NOT WO
• PURCHASED A NEW 2010 HYUNDAI ACCENT 11/17/09 IN JAN. AND FEB. 2010 WHEN SNOW WAS ON THE GROUND THE BRAKES WOULD THUD OR GRIND AND NOT STOP THE CAR. I CALLED RICK CASE HYUNDAI AND THEY SAID THAT'S WHAT ABS BRAKES DO TRY AND PUMP THEM WHEN STOPPING. AT THIS TIME THERE WAS ONLY 250 MLS ON THE CAR. THIS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“AS SOON AS I GOT ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE, AND ACCELERATOR LOCKED UP. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT DOWN THE RAMP TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE, THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT, THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS STI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

19 complaints

16%

• I CONTINUALLY NOTICED THAT THE AIR VENTS EXPRESS A VERY SMELLY ODOR. WHETHER IT IS THE AIR CONDITIONER OR THE HEATER- MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER RESIDUE AND TO RUN MY FAN ON VENT TO GET RID OF THE MOISTURE BUILDUP. I HAVE DONE THIS FOR A COUPL
• I SIMPLY PULLED THE SUN VISOR DOWN, IT MADE A STRANGE NOISE AND WILL NO LONGER STAY UP, GREATLY IMPAIRING/OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OUT THE WINDSHIELD. THE LIGHT ALSO STOPPED WORKING. CAR IS ONLY AT 30,000 - ALWAYS HAVE HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. *TR
• THE SUN VISORS BREAK AT THE HINGE AND DROP DOWN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S FACE OBSTRUCTING VIEW. I HAVE OWNED 1 ELANTRA AND 2 ACCENTS SINCE 2005. HYUNDAI REFUSES TO DEAL WITH THIS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I CONTINUALLY NOTICED THAT THE AIR VENTS EXPRESS A VERY SMELLY ODOR. WHETHER IT IS THE AIR CONDITIONER OR THE HEATER- MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER RESIDUE AND TO RUN MY FAN ON VENT TO GET RID OF THE MOISTURE BUILDUP. I HAVE DONE THIS FOR A COUPL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

LIGHTING

17 complaints

14%

• MY WIFE LEFT FOR WORK TUESDAY MORNING AND DURING HER COMMUTE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS QUIT. SHE PROBABLY PANICKED A LITTLE BUT DISCOVERED SHE COULD PULL THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER IN WHICH CAUSED THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS TO WORK. SHE GOT TO WORK THAT WAY AND LAST NIGHT I LOOKED AT IT.
• AS I WAS STOPPED IN A LINE OF CARS TO DROP MY DAUGHTER OFF AT SCHOOL A WOMAN TAPPED ON MY WINDOW AND TOLD ME THAT I HAVE NO BRAKE LIGHTS AND THAT SHE ALMOST REAR-ENDED ME BECAUSE OF IT. I WENT HOME AND CHECKED THE FUSES AND THE BULBS; ALL WERE FINE. AFTER SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I LEARNED THAT THERE
• BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING. APPEARS TO BE PROBLEM WITH BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR OTHER YEAR MODELS. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“MY WIFE LEFT FOR WORK TUESDAY MORNING AND DURING HER COMMUTE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS QUIT. SHE PROBABLY PANICKED A LITTLE BUT DISCOVERED SHE COULD PULL THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER IN WHICH CAUSED THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS TO WORK. SHE GOT TO WORK THAT WAY AND LAST NIGHT I LOOKED AT IT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

12 complaints

10%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE IGNITION, BATTERY AND PROBLEMS WITH STALLING. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURES AT THE BATTERY CABLE, THE IGNITION WIRING SYSTEM AND THE FRONT SUSP
• I TOOK THE CAR TO HAVE THE BRAKES DONE. THE SHOP DID AN INSPECTION AND FOUND ALL BRAKE LIGHTS NOT WORKING TRACING IT TO THE BRAKE LIGHT PEDAL SWITCH. I CONTACTED HYUNDAI AND THEY STATED THE 2010 ACCENT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN BUT 2009 ARE, EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME PART? I TOOK IT TO M
• THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH BECAME DEFECTIVE INTERMITTENTLY, APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES AGO. IT HAS NOW FAILED COMPLETELY. APPARENTLY I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.AUTOBLOG.COM/2013/04/03/HYUNDAI-KIA-RECALLING-1-6M-MORE-MODELS-FOR-FAULTY-BRAKE-SWITCH/ THIS IS A SERIOUS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE IGNITION, BATTERY AND PROBLEMS WITH STALLING. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURES AT THE BATTERY CABLE, THE IGNITION WIRING SYSTEM AND THE FRONT SUSP”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

11 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE IGNITION, BATTERY AND PROBLEMS WITH STALLING. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURES AT THE BATTERY CABLE, THE IGNITION WIRING SYSTEM AND THE FRONT SUSP
• ABOUT THE COOLING SYSTEM OF THE ENGINE,HOW I CAN FOLLOW UP THE ENGINE TEMP. WITHOUT TEMP.GAUGE THIS BAD DESIGN ,IT SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE ENGINE CLOSE TO BURNING UNTIL THE ALARM INDICATOR DISPLAYED. SO, WE NEED SOLUTION FROM THE OWNER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THANKS, *TR
• I CONTINUALLY NOTICED THAT THE AIR VENTS EXPRESS A VERY SMELLY ODOR. WHETHER IT IS THE AIR CONDITIONER OR THE HEATER- MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER RESIDUE AND TO RUN MY FAN ON VENT TO GET RID OF THE MOISTURE BUILDUP. I HAVE DONE THIS FOR A COUPL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

LIGHTING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 119 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BRAKES: AS SOON AS I GOT ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL, BRAKE, AND ACCELERATOR LOCKED UP. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT DOWN THE RAMP TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. I PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BECAUSE, THE CAR KEPT ROLLING. I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT, THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CAR WAS STI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
VISIBILITY: I CONTINUALLY NOTICED THAT THE AIR VENTS EXPRESS A VERY SMELLY ODOR. WHETHER IT IS THE AIR CONDITIONER OR THE HEATER- MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER RESIDUE AND TO RUN MY FAN ON VENT TO GET RID OF THE MOISTURE BUILDUP. I HAVE DONE THIS FOR A COUPL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
LIGHTING: MY WIFE LEFT FOR WORK TUESDAY MORNING AND DURING HER COMMUTE THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, BOTH HIGH AND LOW BEAMS QUIT. SHE PROBABLY PANICKED A LITTLE BUT DISCOVERED SHE COULD PULL THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER IN WHICH CAUSED THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS TO WORK. SHE GOT TO WORK THAT WAY AND LAST NIGHT I LOOKED AT IT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THE IGNITION, BATTERY AND PROBLEMS WITH STALLING. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURES AT THE BATTERY CABLE, THE IGNITION WIRING SYSTEM AND THE FRONT SUSP
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)