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2012 Hyundai AccentProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 153 owner complaints about the 2012 Hyundai Accent, most often about the engine. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-651 the manufacturer reports only 25% of affected cars repaired.

2012 Hyundai Accent
36
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.7× the Accent median · #4 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 25%Owner complaints15331 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage89kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 8, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2012 Hyundai Accent has problems

153 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine367
Electrical system243
Service brakes204
Vehicle speed control182
Air bags1711
Service brakes, hydraulic141
Fuel/propulsion system101
Tires90
Structure92
12 other systems433

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2012 Hyundai Accent recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

25%repaired · 2026 Q2

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module

Park outside

Recall 23V-651 · Sep 22, 2023 · 1,649,478 vehicles · 411,914 repaired

Risk. An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Hyundai.

Mileage at failure

When do engine problems start?

89kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 23 engine complaints. 61% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
4under 30k miles14under 100k miles9100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2012 vs. every other Accent year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Accent median. How we score

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2012 Hyundai Accent safety ratings

2012 Hyundai Accent 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

★★★★★Overall rating
  • Rollover: 4 stars (12.4% risk)
  • Stability control: Standard
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2012 Hyundai Accent, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Hyundai and Kia ABS Module FiresAQ23002 · still open
    Open
In owners' words

What Accent owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

While traveling at highway speeds on [XXX] with three passengers, the vehicle suddenly suffered a catastrophic internal engine failure (severe rod knock), forcing an emergency deceleration in active traffic that put all occupants at risk of a rear-end collision. The sudden breakdown was immediately…
Complaint 11740739 · May 28, 2026
UNKNOWN. I THINK THE ABS MODULE LIGHT APPEARED INSTANTLY ON THE DASHBOARD. IT'S THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES THAT AREN'T WORKING. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED MY HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP WHEN I SAW A BRAKE LIGHT COME UP ON MY DASHBOARD WHEN I WENT TO BRAKE BUT I HAD NONE AND THE BRAKES WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR…
Complaint 11685552 · Sep 7, 2025
On the [XXX], my 2012 Hyundai Accent caught fire in the engine compartment and engulfed in flames. Right before the fire started, smoke came out of the air vents into the car, causing me to become stifled and choke for several minutes. Smoke was also coming out of the hood. At that point, I lifted…
Complaint 11657658 · Apr 29, 2025

Own a 2012 Accent?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.