2002 Hyundai Accent

Typical pattern

16.8% of complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Accent came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2002 vehicle — around the middle of the 230 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 2.8 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (25 complaints), typically at 2.5 yr or about 54,854 miles.

Complaints: 143
Median age at failure: 2.8 yr
Median mileage: 40,000 n=86
Crash / fire / tow: 20.3% of reports
Safety recalls: 1

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

02V167000 2002-06-25

Structure:frame and members

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).

AN OCCUPANT'S HEAD THAT CONTACTS THE A-PILLAR DURING A CRASH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INCREASED RISK OF A HEAD INJURY AS A RESULT OF THIS CONDITION.

In owners’ own words

Power train mileage not reported 0 mo in service

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD "BUCK" DURING ACCELERATION WHEN VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM REVERSE INTO THE DRIVE GEAR. ALSO, STATES VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A "CLUNKING" NOISE WHEN TRANSMISSION "BUCKED". DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND COULD NOT REPRODUCE PROBLEM. THEN, AFTER CONSULTATION WITH MANUFACTURER, DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION. *AK *JB

Power train mileage not reported 6 mo in service

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. INTERMITTENTLY THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN GEARS BRAKING THE VEHICLE CREATING WHEEL SPIN. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME AT 350 MILES. THE DEALER AS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM

Power train mileage not reported 5 mo in service

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 5 TIMES BETWEEN 18FEB AND 3JUN OF 2002. I AM VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE FILLED OUT ALL INFORMATION TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, AS THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR SERVICE. IF YOU NEED ANY ADDITIONAL INFO, PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CALL OR EMAIL ME AT CATHICAT1@YAHOO.COM.O SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 2 mo in service crash / fire / tow

A "CLUNKING" NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE DURING APPLICATION OF BRAKES. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DETERMINED BRAKE DRUMS WERE NOT ROUNDED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. FOUR DAYS LATER, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR BEFORE BRAKE SYSTEM ACTIVATED. CRASH OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 5, 2001 WHEN VEHICLE REAR-ENDED A STOPPED CAR WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH. *AK *TT

Other Accent model years

How to read this

This is what owners reported, not a reliability rating. People file with NHTSA about alarming failures, not routine ones, and complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold.
Failure ages come from the incident date on each complaint, populated on about 83% of records. Mileage is shown where reported — NHTSA’s 2021 system change cut mileage capture to roughly 15%, so it thins out sharply after MY2020.
Every rank compares this vehicle only against others of the same model year. A 2025 car has not had time to accumulate five-year failures, so comparing early-failure share across years is meaningless.
Fourteen make-months distorted by media storms and mass recalls — Toyota in February 2010 ran 11× normal volume across 33 models — are excluded.
Recalls are manufacturer actions and authoritative; complaints are not. A recall listed here may already have been performed on any individual car. Check a specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2002 Hyundai Accent

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

In owners’ own words

Other Accent model years

How to read this