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Hyundai

2021 Hyundai ACCENT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2021 Hyundai ACCENT has 22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 97. The most common issue is wheels problems (36% of all complaints), specifically: the car seems to have sort of an alignment problem. steering keeps going to the left and i constantly have to pull steering to the right. even with both have on steering wheel the car goes to the left lane. if i make a left turn the steering seems to want to stay to the left and i get the feeling th. There are 4 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 2 injuries

22

Total Complaints

4

Recalls Issued

4/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 6)

WHEELS

8 complaints
36%
  • The car seems to have sort of an alignment problem. Steering keeps going to the left and I constantly have to pull steering to the right. Even with both have on steering wheel the car goes to the left lane. If I make a left turn the steering seems to want to stay to the left and I get the feeling th
  • The studs and the lug nuts have consistently cross-threading and corrosion issues in a barely-year-old vehicle. I have had to visit the dealer twice to have this problem fixed and paid out of pocket. This started to happen ever since my last service at a Hyundai dealership. I suspect that this is be
  • The studs and the lug nuts have consistently cross-threading and corrosion issues in a barely-year-old vehicle. I have had to visit the dealer twice to have this problem fixed and paid out of pocket. This started to happen ever since my last service at a Hyundai dealership. I suspect that this is be
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

The car seems to have sort of an alignment problem. Steering keeps going to the left and I constantly have to pull steering to the right. Even with both have on steering wheel the car goes to the left lane. If I make a left turn the steering seems to want to stay to the left and I get the feeling th

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (4)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER02/12/2021

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Accent vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.

Risk: Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 213.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2021 Hyundai ACCENT

Live EIA prices
Per year
$1,372
Per month
$114
Per mile
11.4¢
MPG
35
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$1,656/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,171/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2021 Hyundai ACCENT

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,654
Full coverage / month
$138
Liability only / year
$598
vs US avg
-1%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x
× theft risk1.00x
× safety rating0.98x
× vehicle age1.05x
= Full coverage estimate$1654

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Hyundai ACCENT Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
24 months
Transmission fluid
60K mi
Engine coolant
60K mi
Spark plugs
90K mi
Cabin air filter
15K mi
Engine air filter
30K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
60K mi

Turbo engines (1.6T, 2.0T) need premium fuel and more frequent oil (some owners service at 5,000 miles).

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Hyundai New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
5 yr / 60K mi
Powertrain
10 yr / 100K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
10 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
7 yr / unlimited mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / unlimited mi

10 years/100K powertrain warranty is transferable only to first purchaser after initial owner

These are the terms for a new Hyundai. If you're buying a used 2021 ACCENT, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Hyundai dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

WHEELS(~50K mi)
$500
SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
STEERING(~50K mi)
$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 22 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • WHEELS: The car seems to have sort of an alignment problem. Steering keeps going to the left and I constantly have to pull steering to the right. Even with both have on steering wheel the car goes to the left lane. If I make a left turn the steering seems to want to stay to the left and I get the feeling th

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • SEATS/RESTRAINTS: The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ENGINE: Engine compartment fire. Vehicle towed to Hyundai dealer in Bremerton wa

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ELECTRICAL: My 2021 Hyundai accent has randomly not started a in more than 10 different times. The lights go on and you can hear it trying to start but it never catches to actually start. It’s under warranty but the dealer says if they can’t see it when it’s happening then they can’t fix anything. I bought a ne

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 4 recalls have been completed — free at any Hyundai dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

At a Glance

Complaints
22
Recalls
4
Fire reports
1
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
2
Segment avg
97

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2021 Hyundai ACCENT