FaultScore

FaultScore report

2020 Hyundai Accent problems

Owners have filed 17 complaints about the 2020 Hyundai Accent with NHTSA between 2020 and 2025. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 25 of 28 worst.

C

FaultScore 43/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Hyundai Accent.

How this is worked out

The numbers

17

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 9 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure not reported
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 9
Against the median year of the Hyundai Accent. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
29.4% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — not reported
Too few complaints recorded a mileage to measure this.

How 2020 compares with every other Hyundai Accent

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2020 Hyundai Accent

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 4 23.5%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Fuel & Propulsion 2 11.8%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 11.8%

Median failure at 103,300 miles

Body & Structure 2 11.8%

Median failure at 34,250 miles

Airbags 2 11.8%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 6,000 mi

Other & Unspecified 1 5.9%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Seats 1 5.9%
Seat Belts 1 5.9%
Steering 1 5.9%
Electrical System 1 5.9%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 25.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 2 50.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles 1 25.0%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Oct 2020 peak 3 Aug 2025

NHTSA investigations into the 2020 Hyundai Accent

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

RQ22003 Opened 8 Aug 2022 Closed 26 May 2023 SEAT BELTS:FRONT

Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture

On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) based on 3 incidents alleging front seat belt pretensioners that may rupture during deployment, on model year (MY) 2020-2022 of various Hyundai and Kia Models, resulting in 3 injuries (note: one incident occurred outside the U.S. and its territories).Between October 2021 and March 2023, Hyundai and Kia have filed the following 11 safety recalls for pretensioner rupture: NHTSA Recall No. 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-123, 22V-127, 22V-218, 22V-354, 22V-447, 22V-458, 22V-816, 23V-094, and 23V-210.Hyundai/Kia have...

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Hollywood, FL Fire

ENGINE

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, smoke was emitting from the vehicle. The contact was inside her residence and noticed the smoke from her window. Unknown if the air bags deployed. The contact stated that the fire spread to another parked vehicle and caused structural damage to the building. The fire department and police department were called. Unknown if a police report was filed. The fire department filed a report. The vehicle was parked at the residence. The contact notified her insurance company and declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11664017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Cloud, MN Crash 1 injured

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

As I went to take a turn the vehicles electric power steering went out causing loss of control of the vehicle. The electric power steering is faulty and others should know about this major safety defect. Again What Exactly Happened was as I was turning the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn then all of a sudden it turned extremely easy, "more than normal" and caused loss of control of the vehicle resulting in a head on collision that injured me and left me with fractured ribs and Sternum.

NHTSA complaint #11423368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles VAN Alstyne, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY NEAR DALLAS TX. AS SHE SLOWED FOR AN UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION ZONE SHE WAS REAR-ENDED BY BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PROPELLING HER INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND FURTHER TO THE RIGHT ENDING UP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS WITH FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. NOBODY AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2020 WILL DISCUSS THE ISSUE NOR AM I ABLE TO CONTACT ANY BREATHING PERSON AT HYUNDAI CORPORATE TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11366144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

Broken Arrow, OK

SEATS

Airbag light turned on my dashboard and when I took it to the dealership -regional Hyundai in broken arrow in Oklahoma I was told by the rep that helped me that there is a defect in the passenger airbag and that it would cost me about 1700.00 usd to fix it. If I chose not to fix it then if I get into a car wreck the passenger airbag would deploy, this is a risk hazard for lives and there is no reason why a fairly new car, 2020 should have issues with the airbags. This is a potential risk that passengers should not experience in the case of an unfortunate wreck

NHTSA complaint #11681215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Broken Arrow, OK

AIR BAGS

Airbag light turned on my dashboard and when I took it to the dealership -regional Hyundai in broken arrow in Oklahoma I was told by the rep that helped me that there is a defect in the passenger airbag and that it would cost me about 1700.00 usd to fix it. If I chose not to fix it then if I get into a car wreck the passenger airbag would deploy, this is a risk hazard for lives and there is no reason why a fairly new car, 2020 should have issues with the airbags. This is a potential risk that passengers should not experience in the case of an unfortunate wreck

NHTSA complaint #11681215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 26,500 miles N. Ft Myers, FL

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HANDLE:EXTERIOR

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the exterior passenger's front and rear door handles detached while attempting to open the doors. The contact was able to reattach the door handles for the front and rear passenger doors. The contact stated that the interior door handle also detached. The contact had to roll down the window and use the exterior door handles to exit the vehicle. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 26,500. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint #11680188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hollywood, FL Fire

ENGINE

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, smoke was emitting from the vehicle. The contact was inside her residence and noticed the smoke from her window. Unknown if the air bags deployed. The contact stated that the fire spread to another parked vehicle and caused structural damage to the building. The fire department and police department were called. Unknown if a police report was filed. The fire department filed a report. The vehicle was parked at the residence. The contact notified her insurance company and declared the vehicle a total loss. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11664017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I purchased my 2020 Hyundai Accent from Shirlie Slack Mitsubishi, in Fredericksburg, Virginia on [XXX]. It wasn't long after purchasing that I began experiencing difficulties with it. The car will shut off when it comes to a complete stop or even if I s for a brief moment to switch gears, for example when parallel parking. Some days it would happen less often, maybe once or twice per trip then other days it would happen every time I came to a complete stop, shutting off in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway even. Because of my warranty through my dealership and Hyundai, I cannot take it anywhere else to have work done on it. Therefore I have been to this Hyundai for this issue three separate times now. The West Broad Hyundai in Richmond, Virginia. I even tried taking it to a different Hyundai in Richmond and they denied me, saying that I was already in the system at the West Broad location, and that I had to take it there. I have yet to see improvement after having it serviced any of the times. In fact one time after picking it up from Hyundai the problem occurred on my way way home. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11624896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

ENGINE

I purchased my 2020 Hyundai Accent from Shirlie Slack Mitsubishi, in Fredericksburg, Virginia on [XXX]. It wasn't long after purchasing that I began experiencing difficulties with it. The car will shut off when it comes to a complete stop or even if I s for a brief moment to switch gears, for example when parallel parking. Some days it would happen less often, maybe once or twice per trip then other days it would happen every time I came to a complete stop, shutting off in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway even. Because of my warranty through my dealership and Hyundai, I cannot take it anywhere else to have work done on it. Therefore I have been to this Hyundai for this issue three separate times now. The West Broad Hyundai in Richmond, Virginia. I even tried taking it to a different Hyundai in Richmond and they denied me, saying that I was already in the system at the West Broad location, and that I had to take it there. I have yet to see improvement after having it serviced any of the times. In fact one time after picking it up from Hyundai the problem occurred on my way way home. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11624896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I purchased my 2020 Hyundai Accent from Shirlie Slack Mitsubishi, in Fredericksburg, Virginia on [XXX]. It wasn't long after purchasing that I began experiencing difficulties with it. The car will shut off when it comes to a complete stop or even if I s for a brief moment to switch gears, for example when parallel parking. Some days it would happen less often, maybe once or twice per trip then other days it would happen every time I came to a complete stop, shutting off in bumper to bumper traffic on the highway even. Because of my warranty through my dealership and Hyundai, I cannot take it anywhere else to have work done on it. Therefore I have been to this Hyundai for this issue three separate times now. The West Broad Hyundai in Richmond, Virginia. I even tried taking it to a different Hyundai in Richmond and they denied me, saying that I was already in the system at the West Broad location, and that I had to take it there. I have yet to see improvement after having it serviced any of the times. In fact one time after picking it up from Hyundai the problem occurred on my way way home. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11624896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 103,300 miles Luna Pier, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that the cruise control button had fractured. While driving with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 103,300.

NHTSA complaint #11584531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Lafayette, IN

STEERING

Power steering went out

NHTSA complaint #11527232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bay Shore, NY

SEAT BELTS

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA complaint #11482188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Worth, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

My vehicle does the same thing as NHTSA ID Number: 11423521 and now I know not to bother taking it in for service for this issue. I was validated when I read that complaint as I have and continue to experience the same non-responsive issue when I accelerate from a complete stop ever since the vehicle was purchased 2020 February. This form asks for a specific date but there is no specific date. It happens every time I drive the vehicle. The issue can be erratic and I never know when I can or can’t depend on the vehicle’s acceleration and live in fear of causing a wreck or worse inuring / killing someone else. I get honked at all the time from impatient drivers insisting I pull out while I wait to make sure there is more than enough time to pull out and accelerate safely. Impatient drivers be hanged and pay attention to your own driving.

NHTSA complaint #11471122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Worth, TX

ENGINE

My vehicle does the same thing as NHTSA ID Number: 11423521 and now I know not to bother taking it in for service for this issue. I was validated when I read that complaint as I have and continue to experience the same non-responsive issue when I accelerate from a complete stop ever since the vehicle was purchased 2020 February. This form asks for a specific date but there is no specific date. It happens every time I drive the vehicle. The issue can be erratic and I never know when I can or can’t depend on the vehicle’s acceleration and live in fear of causing a wreck or worse inuring / killing someone else. I get honked at all the time from impatient drivers insisting I pull out while I wait to make sure there is more than enough time to pull out and accelerate safely. Impatient drivers be hanged and pay attention to your own driving.

NHTSA complaint #11471122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Worth, TX

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My vehicle does the same thing as NHTSA ID Number: 11423521 and now I know not to bother taking it in for service for this issue. I was validated when I read that complaint as I have and continue to experience the same non-responsive issue when I accelerate from a complete stop ever since the vehicle was purchased 2020 February. This form asks for a specific date but there is no specific date. It happens every time I drive the vehicle. The issue can be erratic and I never know when I can or can’t depend on the vehicle’s acceleration and live in fear of causing a wreck or worse inuring / killing someone else. I get honked at all the time from impatient drivers insisting I pull out while I wait to make sure there is more than enough time to pull out and accelerate safely. Impatient drivers be hanged and pay attention to your own driving.

NHTSA complaint #11471122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 42,000 miles Atlanta, GA

STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD

The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving approximately 55-60 mph, the hood was released without warning and cracked the front windshield. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

NHTSA complaint #11423899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Freehold, NJ

ENGINE

I owned a 2017 Elantra and now I own a 2020 Accent. Both cars had the same on and off problem. When I am at an intersection and have to step on the gas to get thru the intersection quickly, when I step on the gas nothing happens. I have to pump the gas several times to get going. In the old days we called this vapor lock. This has happened numerous times but last week it almost got me killed. A car was coming from the lane to my right and I stepped on the gas and got about half way thru the intersection and the car just stopped and I was almost hit broad side. I called the service manager at my local Hyundai dealership in Freehold, NJ and ask if other people have had the same problem. He said yes but their is nothing they can do about it. It is something built into the Hyundai cars. This is unacceptable. There has to be something that can be done. When I took my 2017 Elantra into the dealership, the service manager said to leave the car, but if it does do it when they take it out for a test drive, there is nothing they can do.

NHTSA complaint #11423521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Saint Cloud, MN Crash 1 injured

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

As I went to take a turn the vehicles electric power steering went out causing loss of control of the vehicle. The electric power steering is faulty and others should know about this major safety defect. Again What Exactly Happened was as I was turning the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn then all of a sudden it turned extremely easy, "more than normal" and caused loss of control of the vehicle resulting in a head on collision that injured me and left me with fractured ribs and Sternum.

NHTSA complaint #11423368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles VAN Alstyne, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

MY GRANDDAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY NEAR DALLAS TX. AS SHE SLOWED FOR AN UPCOMING CONSTRUCTION ZONE SHE WAS REAR-ENDED BY BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PROPELLING HER INTO THE GUARD RAIL AND FURTHER TO THE RIGHT ENDING UP IN THE RIGHT LANE OF THE FREEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS WITH FRONT AND REAR DAMAGE AND THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. NOBODY AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2020 WILL DISCUSS THE ISSUE NOR AM I ABLE TO CONTACT ANY BREATHING PERSON AT HYUNDAI CORPORATE TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11366144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.