Hyundai Accent 2006–2011
3rd generation (MC)
NHTSA data through 12 August 2026597 complaints, 489 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 32,000 and 82,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 10%
- 8,000
- 25%
- 32,000
- Median
- 62,000
- 75%
- 82,000
- 90%
- 101,803
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 51 | 10.4% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 38 | 7.8% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 29 | 5.9% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 40 | 8.2% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 38 | 7.8% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 36 | 7.4% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 48 | 9.8% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 67 | 13.7% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 51 | 10.4% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 30 | 6.1% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 23 | 4.7% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 5 | 1.0% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 13 | 2.7% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 2 | 0.4% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 6 | 1.2% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 5 | 1.0% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 4 | 0.8% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 2 | 0.4% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 1 | 0.2% |
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 597 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006–2011 Hyundai Accent, and 489 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 32,000 and 82,000 miles. The median is 62,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the airbag system (24.5% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), visibility/wiper (9.9% of complaints, typically around 57,000 miles), the exterior lighting (9.4% of complaints, typically around 64,000 miles).
2 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Airbag system70,000median 70,000 miles, middle half 29,000 to 92,000
- Visibility/wiper57,000median 57,250 miles, middle half 35,000 to 75,000
- Exterior lighting64,000median 63,705 miles, middle half 43,000 to 77,000
- Electrical system60,000median 60,500 miles, middle half 45,000 to 77,000
- Brakes76,000median 76,200 miles, middle half 50,000 to 88,000
- Engine65,000median 64,713 miles, middle half 40,000 to 90,000
- Visibility equipment59,000median 59,146 miles, middle half 32,000 to 75,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag system | 146 | 24.5% | 70,000 | 29,000–92,000 |
| Visibility/wiper | 59 | 9.9% | 57,000 | 35,000–75,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 56 | 9.4% | 64,000 | 43,000–77,000 |
| Electrical system | 49 | 8.2% | 60,000 | 45,000–77,000 |
| Brakes | 46 | 7.7% | 76,000 | 50,000–88,000 |
| Engine | 33 | 5.5% | 65,000 | 40,000–90,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 31 | 5.2% | 59,000 | 32,000–75,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 27 | 4.5% | 78,000 | 37,000–95,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 16 | 2.7% | 35,000 | 7,000–100,000 |
| Body structure | 16 | 2.7% | 39,000 | 8,000–80,000 |
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 62,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The airbag system accounts for 24.5% of complaints (146 reports, 122 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 29,000 and 92,500 miles.
Visibility/wiper accounts for 9.9% of complaints (59 reports, 50 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,250 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 75,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 9.4% of complaints (56 reports, 44 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 63,705 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 43,000 and 77,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 8.2% of complaints (49 reports, 40 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 60,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 45,000 and 77,000 miles.
The brakes account for 7.7% of complaints (46 reports, 36 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 76,200 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 88,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 5.5% of complaints (33 reports, 24 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 64,713 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 90,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2008 model year drew the most — 135 complaints — while 2006 drew the fewest at 49. The median year sits at 116.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 2 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the exterior lighting (2). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 597 complaints filed against this generation, 52 reported a crash; 4 reported a fire; 48 reported an injury; 1 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 8.7% 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 32,000 and 82,000 miles, with a median of 62,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the airbag system and visibility/wiper are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. Visibility/wiper in particular shows a median failure mileage of 57,250, 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 2006–2011
Timing belt driven engine with CVVT; belt and tensioner service is the dominant maintenance-related failure. No large-scale systemic defect campaign specific to this generation in the US.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 49 | 45 |
| 2007 | 113 | 94 |
| 2008 | 135 | 111 |
| 2009 | 128 | 109 |
| 2010 | 119 | 93 |
| 2011 | 53 | 37 |
Recalls (2)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 15V566000 | 2015-10-21 | Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch |
| 13V113000 | 2013-04-22 | Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch |
What owners reported
I have a 2006 manual transmission Hyundai Accent (gls 4 dr 5 speed) with 36,000 miles. On a trip to vermont, i was driving up rt 7 mountains and accelerating uphill when my manual transmission jumped out of gear, revved up - i was in either third or fourth gear and put it back into gear - this happen around 6-8…
2006 · 36 miles · Transmission and driveline
2006 Hyundai Accent right rear caliper on 6/6/2009 brake locked up new brakes and pad put on at midas winterhaven, fl with the manager advising that brake pads disintegrated and manufacturing defect suggested i contact Hyundai which i did. On 10/192009 right rear brake makes grinding noise i took the vehicle home on…
2006 · 66 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
We purchased a 2006 Hyundai elantra 12/30/2005. Two days later the windshield wiper went out, the next day the other went. We called the dealership to make an appointment for service. The service guy told us to tighten the wiper down with a wrench. This worked for awhile but wipers went out intermittently. Took car in…
2006 · 500 miles · Visibility equipment
My sister and i were on our way to the store, full stop, my sister just got on the front passenger side, my sister noticed that the passenger airbag detection light on the dash remained in the "passenger air bag disengage" position even if my sister was sitting on the passenger seat. My car is not equipped with a…
2006 · 37,000 miles · Airbag system
Built from 489 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page