Hyundai has officially discontinued the Accent, so the 2022 is the last to hit the market. It’s a fairly reliable car, but there are some models you would be better off avoiding. These are the Hyundai Accent model years with the worst problems.

The 2002 Hyundai Accent had several complaints about the engine

Car Complaints reports there are 13 owners who have issues with the 2002 model. The engine had four complaints lodged against it, and the worst was that it stalled. This received a severity score of 10 out of 10, and Car Complaints ranks this as “Really awful.” It costs owners $3,500 to fix it.

Other complaints about the engine included excessive oil consumption, misfiring on all four cylinders, and not turning over. This also has a severity rating of 10. 

The NHTSA provides further insights by reporting that 143 owners have sent in complaints about the 2002 Hyundai Accent. Several issues were lodged against the 2002 model, but the power train had to be the worst. Twenty-seven owners reported issues with it. The second-worst Hyundai Accent problem was the fuel system, with a total of 18 complaints. In third were the airbags, with 16 complaints.

There was one recall, which revolved around the A-pillars. Occupants whose heads hit the A-pillar in the event of a wreck could find themselves with some injuries.  

The 2004 Hyundai Accent had some complaints about the transmission

The 2002 model isn’t the only Accent with major problems. The 2004 also has some issues that aren’t easily overlooked.

According to Car Complaints, the 2004 model has 14 issues. The biggest is the transmission, which has 8 complaints lodged against it.

It is prone to failure and has a severity rating of 7.3 or “Pretty bad.” The typical repair cost is $2,250, and most owners report they had to replace the transmission. Other major problems which plague the 2004 Hyundai Accent are the engine, brake, and fuel system.

According to the NHTSA, there are 32 complaints against the 2004 model. The airbags had the most reports, with 10 people complaining. Second was the power train, with five complaints, and the steering had four. 

The 2012 Hyundai Accent also had engine issues

The 2012 model had its fair share of complaints among both critics and owners. It has several issues, but Car Complaints reports the engine has the most.

In total, there were 11 complaints, and most had to do with excessive fuel consumption. It has earned a severity rating of 6.0, or fairly significant. The real issue is that several owners never found a solution, and the two who did have to replace the entire engine. No data was provided as to how much this would cost to repair.

One owner reported that turning the engine off and turning it back on helped. Others reported that although it was still under warranty, Hyundai did little to help them, and seemed to think the excessive oil consumption was perfectly normal. 

The NHTSA flagged the 2012 model due to a safety concern, and reported the “rear passenger’s abdominal rib deflection was elevated.” This did not affect the star rating, but it’s worth noting, especially if you have passengers traveling in the back. There is an increased risk of lower spinal injury for anyone sitting there.

There is also one recall. This revolves around the 12V accessory socket outlet, which overheats. It’s believed this is due to over-tightening during installation, but if the socket is used too much, there is a risk of fire.

There are 116 complaints in total, and most revolve around the engine, which has 27 complaints. The second most complaints were for the airbags, and in third was the vehicle speed control. Even though the Hyundai Accent has some decent prices, especially given the fact that used cars are rather expensive at the moment, you may be better off purchasing another vehicle.