Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Hyundai Accent, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train24
- Fuel system, gasoline17
- Air bags15
- Service brakes, hydraulic13
- Vehicle speed control12
- Engine and engine cooling12
- Suspension7
- Fuel/propulsion system7
- Visibility6
- Tires6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 29 injuries and 5 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 6 2002 Accent vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Hyundai Accent failed the safety check 2.77% of the time — 38% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 86,136 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Engines
The most common engines in 2002 Hyundai Accent cars on Dutch roads are the 1.5 petrol (66 kW, 89 hp) and 1.3 petrol (63 kW, 84 hp).
| Engine | Power | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 petrol | 66 kW 89 hp | 55 |
| 1.3 petrol | 63 kW 84 hp | 53 |
RDW Open Data (CC0): registered passenger cars and their fuel data · engine size rounded to 0.1 litre, net maximum power · versions with at least 20 cars
In the Netherlands
109 first registered in 2002 are on Dutch roads; 1% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde60
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen49
- Licht- donkerscheiding dimlicht onduidelijk30
- Ruitenwisserinstallatie geeft onvoldoende zicht28
- Stofhoes aandrijfas beschadigd en dicht niet af27
- Band(en) aanwezig met een profieldiepte van 1,6 t/m 2,5 mm27
- Band onvoldoende profiel24
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld20
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
164 cars built in 2002 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 296 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 291 of these cars first registered in 2002 took their annual MOT test. 58% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2002 the figure was 58%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 19.6% | 20.8% |
| Brakes | 15.1% | 13.6% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 13.7% | 9.7% |
| Suspension | 12.7% | 15.8% |
| Visibility | 8.2% | 7.7% |
| Tyres | 6.9% | 6.0% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In Finland
12 of these cars first registered in 2002 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 195,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
57 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 8.5–9.3 L/100 km (about 25–28 mpg US), CO₂ 196–214 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accent · Compact · Regular gasoline | 9.6 | 7.2 | 8.5 |
| Accent · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.0 | 7.0 | 8.6 |
| Accent · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.8 | 7.3 | 9.2 |
| Accent · Compact · Regular gasoline | 10.8 | 7.4 | 9.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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).
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Hyundai told its dealers about the 2002 Hyundai Accent: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 635826 | SUBJECT REGARDING CHANGE TO CABLELESS TYPE SPEEDOMETER. *TT |
| 633916 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0722 - PULSE GENERATOR - B INSPECTION AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS. *JG |
| 633870 | AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE PULSE GENERATOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0717 AND P0722 - REVISED. *JG |
| 633849 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE BELLHOUSING COVER. *JG |
| 633819 | SUBJECT REGARDING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE REPROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS FOR P0128. *JG |
| 633787 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH AND/OR DELAYED SHIFTS. *JG |
| 631420 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES LIST. *YH |
| 631408 | SUBJECT ON AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE HARSH OR DELAYED PARK REVERSE OR PARK DRIVE ENGAGEMENT. *YH |
| 10251285 | This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert and rail spring becoming partially separated on the inner side of the wiper blade, which could lead to poor wiping performance and/or possible scratching of the windshield glass. Follow the procedure in this bulletin to properly remove the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all new wiper blades. |
| 10247189 | This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services. |
| 10235566 | Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial fallout. In rare cases, the paint can become clouded under the PPF. These spots are the result of moisture trapped between the PPF and the paint. |
| 10230904 | This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation. |
| 10217258 | Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established a threshold for correcting load carrying capacity information indicated on tire placards when vehicle weight has been increased before retail sale. This limit is the lesser of 1.5% of GVWR or 100 pounds. If the total added weight exceeds the lesser of the limit, a label must be added to the driver-side B-pillar within 25mm (1 inch) of the original tire placard. |
| 10217251 | Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement. |
| 10196546 | Hyundai approves only the ATF, DCT gear oil and IVT gear oil specified in the vehicles owners manual. Use of other ATF may result in improper shift quality or other drivability conditions. Use of other DCT and IVT gear oil may result in reduced durability. Hyundai does not approve the use of any aftermarket ATF or gear oil additives. |
| 10190044 | This bulletin provides the service procedure for engine connecting rod bearing clearance testing. Perform the procedure outlined in this bulletin to fulfill the Bearing Clearance Test inspection requirements to determine next required steps. |
| 10190038 | This bulletin provides best practice recommendations when performing brake service procedures. |
| 10189989 | This bulletin provides the inspection procedure and repair guidelines for certain vehicles listed below. |
| 10183963 | This bulletin describes the procedure to inspect and identify fluid which may appear around the brake caliper area. |
| 10183960 | This bulletin provides tire vibration service procedures, including how to optimize vehicle vibration performance. For all wheel/tire balance claims, the Tire Balance Data Sheet must be fully completed including imbalance and Road Force Variation (RFV) data. The Data Sheet can be found at the end of this bulletin. |
| 10178175 | This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to moisture accumulation in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. The TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes, or during normal driving operation. |
| 10176182 | This bulletin provides information on tire maintenance best practices and procedures for dealers and customers to maximize tire life and performance. |
| 10176178 | This bulletin describes the general guidelines to help disinfect and protect vehicle exterior/interior surfaces using recommended safe chemical products. |
| 10174808 | This bulletin provides information on identifying dealer stock vehicles with either: A Battery SOC alert - low Battery State of Charge (SOC) at or below 50%. A 30 Day alert - vehicle has not started and reported an SOC in 30 days. |
| 10174807 | The automatic transmission warranty repair policy authorizes in-dealership repairs of the following components for both OEM (new) and remanufactured automatic transmissions: |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)