2012 Hyundai ACCENT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2012 Hyundai ACCENT has 218 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: 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. appro. ⚠️ 17 fire reports filed.

17 fire reports 16 crash reports 16 injuries

218

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

40 complaints

18%

• 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. APPRO
• AFTER PULLING OUT FROM A STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WENT TO AN IDLE MODE, OIL LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN T
• 7/15/2012, WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A STOP OIL AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE EXPERIENCE SAME PROBLEM. SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING CORRECTED INSTANT PROBLEM. NO FAULT CODES STORED. DEALERSHIP REMOVED, CL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 7 fire reports

“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. APPRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

36 complaints

17%

• 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FAULTY BRAKE CALIPERS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD IN OCTOBER 2012, A SERVICE REPAIR SHOP, INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE LEFT REAR CALIPER HAD
• I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER WHO IS VERY EASY ON MY BRAKES, TO PREVENT WEAR. I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED AND HAD TO TURN, EVEN THOUGH I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP, I HAD TO SWERVE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE MY BRAKES ARE WORN DOWN AT 17K MILES??
• MY BRAKES HAD BEEN MAKING A NOISE. NOT REALLY LOUD BUT A SLIGHT GRIND. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED BRAKE PADS. I WAS GOING TO GET THEM DURING THE WEEKEND. I CAME TO A STOP AT LIGHT AND HEARD A POPPING/BANGING NOISE. I THEN COULD NOT MOVE. MY CAR WAS LOCKED UP. MY FATHER LOOKED AND THOUGHT IT WAS MAYBE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FAULTY BRAKE CALIPERS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD IN OCTOBER 2012, A SERVICE REPAIR SHOP, INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE LEFT REAR CALIPER HAD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

24 complaints

11%

• I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DURING THE DAY AND LOOKED DOWN AND MY HIGH BEAMS WERE ON. I WASN'T SURE WHY SINCE MY LIGHTS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. I TRIED PLAYING WITH THE LIGHTING SWITCH ON THE INSIDE OF MY CAR, AND IT FINALLY TURNED OFF AFTER FLASHING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF WITH THE SWITCH A FEW
• AFTER PULLING OUT FROM A STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WENT TO AN IDLE MODE, OIL LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN T
• 7/15/2012, WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A STOP OIL AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE EXPERIENCE SAME PROBLEM. SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING CORRECTED INSTANT PROBLEM. NO FAULT CODES STORED. DEALERSHIP REMOVED, CL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports

“I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DURING THE DAY AND LOOKED DOWN AND MY HIGH BEAMS WERE ON. I WASN'T SURE WHY SINCE MY LIGHTS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. I TRIED PLAYING WITH THE LIGHTING SWITCH ON THE INSIDE OF MY CAR, AND IT FINALLY TURNED OFF AFTER FLASHING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF WITH THE SWITCH A FEW”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

20 complaints

• I WAS WASHING MY 2012 ACCENT IN MAY OF 2013 AND I NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE DIRT ABOVE THE HATCHBACK WINDOW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT IT WAS A RUST SPOT COMING UP FROM UNDER THE PAINT AND CLEAR COAT. THERE WAS ONLY A SPOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NUMBER TWO PENCIL POINT. AS OF TODAY( 4-
• TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED ON A SUNNY DAY IN NEIGHBORHOOD CAUSING MY CAR TO FISH TAIL AND FLIP OVER CAUSING LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.
• RPM ACCELERATES FROM TIME TO TIME, ONCE THE VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY PARKED. NEEDLES SHOOTS UP TO 5 VERY QUICK. ALSO, WHILE THE CAR IS OPERATING, IT SEEMS IT WANTS TO ACCELERATE. ITS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I WAS WASHING MY 2012 ACCENT IN MAY OF 2013 AND I NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE DIRT ABOVE THE HATCHBACK WINDOW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT IT WAS A RUST SPOT COMING UP FROM UNDER THE PAINT AND CLEAR COAT. THERE WAS ONLY A SPOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NUMBER TWO PENCIL POINT. AS OF TODAY( 4-”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

18 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS; HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO
• WE PURCHASED A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT ON OCTOBER 19, 2011. FROM THE VERY FIRST DAY WE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WHERE THE BRAKES WOULD NOT BRAKE AT TIMES AND WOULD HAVE BOUTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. FROM THE FIRST DAY OF PURCHASE WE ADVISED THE HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND EVEN BROUGHT IN OUR VEHICLE TO BE L
• THIS IS MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED CAR- INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT OR FOR A FEW HOURS, THE THROTTLE WILL STICK EVEN AFTER THE GAS PEDDLE IS RELEASED. THIS STARTED WITH THE REVS RISING 500-1000 RPM WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PRESSED IN AND THE ACCELERATOR RELEASED. INITIALLY T

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS; HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 218 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: 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. APPRO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FAULTY BRAKE CALIPERS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD IN OCTOBER 2012, A SERVICE REPAIR SHOP, INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE LEFT REAR CALIPER HAD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD DURING THE DAY AND LOOKED DOWN AND MY HIGH BEAMS WERE ON. I WASN'T SURE WHY SINCE MY LIGHTS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION. I TRIED PLAYING WITH THE LIGHTING SWITCH ON THE INSIDE OF MY CAR, AND IT FINALLY TURNED OFF AFTER FLASHING THE HIGH BEAMS ON AND OFF WITH THE SWITCH A FEW
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: I WAS WASHING MY 2012 ACCENT IN MAY OF 2013 AND I NOTICED WHAT I THOUGHT TO BE DIRT ABOVE THE HATCHBACK WINDOW. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I NOTICED THAT IT WAS A RUST SPOT COMING UP FROM UNDER THE PAINT AND CLEAR COAT. THERE WAS ONLY A SPOT ABOUT THE SIZE OF A NUMBER TWO PENCIL POINT. AS OF TODAY( 4-
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)