Hyundai Accent 2000–2005
2nd generation (LC)
NHTSA data through 12 August 2026587 complaints, 302 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 25,000 and 78,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 10%
- 9,287
- 25%
- 25,000
- Median
- 50,000
- 75%
- 78,000
- 90%
- 110,825
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 31 | 10.3% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 35 | 11.6% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 30 | 9.9% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 34 | 11.3% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 20 | 6.6% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 21 | 7.0% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 34 | 11.3% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 25 | 8.3% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 19 | 6.3% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 11 | 3.6% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 10 | 3.3% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 11 | 3.6% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 5 | 1.7% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 3 | 1.0% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 5 | 1.7% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 5 | 1.7% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 1 | 0.3% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 587 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000–2005 Hyundai Accent, and 302 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 25,000 and 78,000 miles. The median is 50,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (17.0% of complaints, typically around 52,000 miles), the airbag system (14.0% of complaints, typically around 36,000 miles), the hydraulic brake circuit (7.7% of complaints, typically around 25,000 miles).
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline52,000median 51,900 miles, middle half 27,000 to 72,000
- Airbag system36,000median 36,000 miles, middle half 22,000 to 66,000
- Hydraulic brake circuit25,000median 25,000 miles, middle half 12,000 to 40,000
- Engine and its cooling system39,000median 38,701 miles, middle half 22,000 to 71,000
- Throttle and speed control35,000median 35,000 miles, middle half 18,000 to 55,000
- Electrical system41,000median 41,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 96,000
- Visibility equipment49,000median 49,000 miles, middle half 10,000 to 101,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 100 | 17.0% | 52,000 | 27,000–72,000 |
| Airbag system | 82 | 14.0% | 36,000 | 22,000–66,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 45 | 7.7% | 25,000 | 12,000–40,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 44 | 7.5% | 39,000 | 22,000–71,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 36 | 6.1% | 35,000 | 18,000–55,000 |
| Electrical system | 32 | 5.5% | 41,000 | 10,000–96,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 30 | 5.1% | 49,000 | 10,000–101,000 |
| Suspension | 30 | 5.1% | 88,000 | 77,000–114,000 |
| Fuel system | 30 | 5.1% | 58,000 | 46,000–70,000 |
| Body structure | 25 | 4.3% | 84,000 | 64,000–114,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 50,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 17.0% of complaints (100 reports, 50 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,900 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,777 and 72,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 14.0% of complaints (82 reports, 44 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 36,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,000 and 66,000 miles.
The hydraulic brake circuit accounts for 7.7% of complaints (45 reports, 13 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 25,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 12,000 and 39,900 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 7.5% of complaints (44 reports, 23 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 38,701 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 22,000 and 71,069 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 6.1% of complaints (36 reports, 15 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 35,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 18,000 and 55,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 5.5% of complaints (32 reports, 19 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 41,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 10,000 and 96,500 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2002 model year drew the most — 163 complaints — while 2004 drew the fewest at 40. The median year sits at 95.
Recalls and what they cover
No recall campaigns covering this generation appear in NHTSA's post-2010 recall file. That is not the same as an absence of problems — recalls address safety defects specifically, and many of the complaints above concern faults that are expensive or annoying without meeting that threshold.
Reported severity
Of the 587 complaints filed against this generation, 120 reported a crash; 23 reported a fire; 114 reported an injury; 11 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 20.4% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 25,000 and 78,000 miles, with a median of 50,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the airbag system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The airbag system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 36,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Engine 2000–2005
Alpha II timing belt service interval; crank position sensor and ignition coil failures causing stalling are the most commonly reported items.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 115 | 47 |
| 2001 | 148 | 50 |
| 2002 | 163 | 88 |
| 2003 | 45 | 22 |
| 2004 | 40 | 29 |
| 2005 | 76 | 66 |
What owners reported
Changing gears when the gear shift let go . I had no more gears couldn't drive. Turns out the shifter rod goes into the transmission and is held in place with a shear pin. Shear pin broke i had to replace transmission pins are not supposed to break according to a Hyundai mechanic. But lately they have had a few…
2000 · 102 miles · Transmission and driveline
I have a Hyundai Accent gl model 2000. The vehicle has run so far 44000 miles. I travel every day on freeway 405 for my work from northridge to culver city. This car has chronic power problems. Even when i press the gas, car does not pick up as expected. In other words, the car cannot be driven smoothly. I have…
2000 · 17,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
I bought my Accent in 2001 at 1 year old, it had 11,000 miles on it. It now has less than 30,000 on it. You advertise 100,000 miles. You don't say it is the driver you warranty. I now seem to have a lot of things wrong with my car that should have been found when i had my check up in the spring. I want to know why i…
2000 · 29,000 miles · Wheels
I have a Hyundai Accent 2000 3 door hatchback in may had to have the entire fuel system flushed out $500 called Hyundai before i repaired said that item was not part of a current campaign for my VIN number however similar problems have been reported by numerous parties. August 1, 2005 three days after roadside…
2000 · 39,000 miles · Fuel system
Built from 302 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page