FaultScore

Hyundai Accent headlight problems

105 of the 2,760 complaints filed about the Hyundai Accent are about the lighting — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2010.

105

Complaints

4%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

2

Fires

Lights complaints by model year

1995 Accent 7 6.7%
1996 Accent 4 3.8%
1997 Accent 1 1.0%
1999 Accent 2 1.9%
2000 Accent 2 1.9%
2002 Accent 2 1.9%

Median failure at 37,500 miles

2003 Accent 1 1.0%

Median failure at 75,000 miles

2005 Accent 15 14.3%

Median failure at 56,500 miles

2006 Accent 3 2.9%

Median failure at 64,000 miles

2007 Accent 11 10.5%

Median failure at 64,213 miles

2008 Accent 11 10.5%

Median failure at 66,000 miles

2009 Accent 12 11.4%

Median failure at 68,500 miles

2010 Accent 17 16.2%

Median failure at 60,600 miles

2011 Accent 3 2.9%

Median failure at 40,720 miles

2012 Accent 1 1.0%

Median failure at 9,279 miles

2013 Accent 7 6.7%

Median failure at 72,000 miles

2016 Accent 3 2.9%

Median failure at 112,979 miles

2017 Accent 2 1.9%

Median failure at 22,000 miles

2018 Accent 1 1.0%

What owners said

2017 Hyundai Accent Williamsburg, VA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Side marker light in the passenger side (PS) headlight assembly IS NOT working. Headlight (high beam and low beam) and combination turn signal/parking light ARE working. First noticed Feb 2024. Malfunctioning marker light will cause vehicle to fail annual state safety inspection. Problem is not intermittent. Car hasn't been inspected by dealer or other shop, dealer wants $169 to inspect/troubleshoot. Owner evaluation, PS headlight assy, marker light bulb and socket are undamaged, there is no corrosion, car has not been in a crash, functioning bulb/socket from DS installed in PS did not function. Hyundai has issued (at least) 2 technical service bulletins for excessive moisture in headlight assys. Electrical circuit for malfunctioning light is internal to the light fixture. Since 2 of the 3 lights in the headlight assy ARE working, suggests the headlight assembly is at fault. I have yet to check if there is 12V at the wire harness plug on the pin that supplies electricity to the marker light.

NHTSA complaint #11577125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Hyundai Accent Maitland, FL Fire

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

The system that malfunctioned was the brake light(s) and/or electrical components which started a fire in the trunk of my car on 2 separate occasions. On one of the occasions, the top break light in my trunk apparently blew out without my knowledge, it wasn't until my two kids in the backseat started to smell smoke that I pulled over and tried to figure out where the smoke was coming from. When I opened my trunk, I noticed the top break light had burned through the encasement and the wiring was dangling in my trunk which caught a plastic bag on fire. On another occasion, it burned part of a brand-new rug before I caught it in time. I was told by two separate auto mechanics that for some reason the electrical current running through the wiring to the light bulbs is what caused it. When I brought it into Hyundai, they acted like it was no big deal. I recently got my oil changed at Valvoline this past week and they found another one of my brake lights had blown out (this time the right brake light), the auto mechanic at Valvoline told me that she has encountered a lot of blown-out lights in Hyundais versus other vehicle manufacturers and stated she believes it has something to do with the electrical components of the vehicle and an excess amount of electricity going through the electrical wiring to the light bulbs. My vehicle can be made available for inspection but it’s my fault for when I brought it in originally to Hyundai not to ask for the broken/melted pieces that they replaced. I do have the rug which was partially burned but do not have the plastic bag that was burned. Both my kids under 10 and myself were put at risk during these episodes. If I didn’t catch it in time on both occasions, my kids could've been severally injured by fire since they were closest to the trunk. It posed a distraction as well. The problem was confirmed by the Hyundai dealership in Winter Park, FL when I brought it in. There were no warnings, only noticed when we smelled smoke.

NHTSA complaint #11530141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Hyundai Accent Alturas, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I Dont no why but my Engine will randomly stall out even in the middle of making a.left or a right-hand turn and it's scary when I a.m. at an intersection intersection and I doll out then I have to shut my car off completely turn it back on and pump the gas. Till it starts . few days later my warning lights came on the meters and lights shot up quick and. Then the car shut down I was so freaked out my husband took it to the dealer ship they stated it was. A tire valve sensor they claimed to have checked all the fluids which i no was not the oil was burnt when i got out and checked old oil they want me to pay before they can repair but tire valve is not the #1 because i had another shop change. Out the stem these random occurrences happen today and warning lights still on. I read these sensor àre covered upto 100,000 miles.

NHTSA complaint #11447692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Hyundai Accent at 147,000 miles Belleview, WA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

The contact owns a 2005 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, a vehicle nearby informed the contact that the rear driver’s and passenger’s side brake lights were inoperable. The contact continued driving to the residence. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who inspected the vehicle and replaced the rear light bulbs however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,000.

NHTSA complaint #11418818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Hyundai Accent at 120,000 miles Kansas City, MO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

SEPTEMBER 2020 THE CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER SITTING FOR AWHILE, I RECENTLY HAD REPLACED THE BATTERY. ONCE I GOT THE CAR TO START, WHEN. I SLOWED THE CAR CUT OFF WHILE I WAS ON A BUSY STREET, IT'S NOT THE ALTERNATOR EVERYTHING WAS STILL ON IN THE CAR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED BEFORE THE CAR CUT OFF. GOT STARTED AGAIN, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE. I'VE REPLACED FUEL PUMP, CAM SHAFT SENSORS, NEW BATTERY. ANY TIME I DRIVE IT THE CAR CUTS OUT WHEN I AM AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CAR LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL MORE OFTEN THAN 3000 MILES. I FIND THAT I HAVE TO TOP MY OIL MONTHLY. MY CHECK ENGINE COMES ON RANDOMLY AND GOES OFF RANDOMLY. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO HYUNDAI REGARDING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, THEY STATED IT WAS A SENSOR ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #11397489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Hyundai Accent at 129,274 miles Aurora, CO

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY BRAKE LIGHTS WORK THEN THEY DONT I HAVE REPLACED FUSES BULBS I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CHECK THEY WAS WORKING YESTERDAY TODAY I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES LIGHT WASNT WORKING AFTER ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED. I WAS STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT. THIS ISNT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED

NHTSA complaint #11362312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Hyundai Accent at 22,000 miles Chapel Hill, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

AT APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES MY 2017 ACCENT'S BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NO LONGER WORK. MY TAIL LIGHTS ARE ON BUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE BRIGHTER WHILE BRAKING WILL NOT WORK. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE THE FUSE WITH AN IDENTICAL ONE, BOUGHT NEW LIGHT BULBS, AND WILL NOW BE TAKING IT INTO A DEALERSHIP. I BELIEVE IT IS THE BRAKE SWITCH THAT IS FAULTY BUT I AM UNSURE. UT THEY ARE BOOKED FOR WEEKS AND THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY/LEGAL ISSUE. RECALL NUMBER 131

NHTSA complaint #11348518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Hyundai Accent at 112,979 miles Fayetteville, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 45 MPH, SHE BECAME AWARE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HEADLAMP WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL AUTOZONE WHERE SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH THE HEADLAMP. MURFREESBORO HYUNDAI (2203 NW BROAD ST SUITE HYUNDAI, MURFREESBORO, TN 37129), WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,979.

NHTSA complaint #11320348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Hyundai Accent Pleasant View, TN

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

ALL THREE BRAKE LIGHTS WENT OUT. WE TRIED EVERY BASIC FIX BUT OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC SAYS POWER IS NOT GOING THROUGH THE CONTROL MODULE AND WE WILL NEED TO HAVE IT SPECIALLY REPAIRED BY A HYUNDAI PROFESSIONAL. WE RECIEVED A CITATION BECAUSE OUR BRAKE LIGHTS UNKNOWINGLY WENT OUT AND NONE OF THE OBVIOUS FIXES SUCH AS BULBS, FUSES, OR BRAKES SWITCH REPLACEMENT AMMENDED THE ISSUE. WE ARE AT A LOSS AS TO HOW TO FIX THIS BUT SAW RECALLS ON OTHER HYUNDAI MODELS BUT NOT THIS ONE. WE ARE THINKING THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM. THIS HAS LITERALLY RUINED OUR LIVES. WE 100% DEPEND ON THIS VEHICLE AND NOW WE HAVE NOTHING.

NHTSA complaint #11289154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Hyundai Accent at 150 miles Waterbury, CT

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

FOR SOME REASON MY BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES IT DOES IT THEN IT STOPS AND ACTS NORMAL THEN IT DOES IT AGAIN MEANWHILE IM ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE STERRING WHEEL I HAD IT CHECKED A COUPLE TIMES AND EVERYTHING SEEMS FINE IT HAS FLUIDS BUT IT GETS STUCK WHILE IM DRIVING AND NOT ABLE TO MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL IT GETS LOCKED WHILE IM DRIVING IT HAPPENS ALOT WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS STARTS ACTING UP I COULD BE IN A HIGHWAY OR I CAN BE IN THE STREETS ITS STARTING TO ANNOY ME

NHTSA complaint #11255751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Hyundai Accent at 150 miles Waterbury, CT Crash

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

TAKATA RECALL.. FOR SOME REASON MY BRAKE LIGHTS TURN ON WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES EVERYTIME THAT HAPPENS MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS ON ME IVE HAD TO CHANGE MY DISK AND CALIBER ON MY CAR IN ONLY A WEEK 3 TIMES BECAUSE FOR SOME REASON ITS BEEN SCRATCHING MY BRAKES AND ROTORS AND IT MESSED UP A BRAND NEW ROTORS AND CALIBER MY CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WEEK NOW BECAUSE IM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE NOT EVEN THE MECANIC KNOWS WHATS WRONG WITH IT (THIS IS THE LINK TO IMAGES (HTTPS://PHOTOS.APP.GOO.GL/3XCWPXP4T7QRVPLQ8)

NHTSA complaint #11255752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Hyundai Accent Rowlett, TX Crash 1 injured

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION YESTERDAY THAT BROKE BOTH HEADLIGHTS, BUCKLED HOOD, KNOCKED THE ENGINE IN TO THE TRANSMISSION, AND BUSTED THE FRONT FAN AND COOLANT. THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND NEITHER DID THE SEAT BELT LOCK. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED WITH HIS LIP, NOSE AND FOREHEAD BUSTED BECAUSE THE SAFETY FEATURES DIDN'T WORK ON THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11145123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Hyundai Accent at 149 miles East Bend, NC

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

WHEN I GOT THE CAR FROM THE CAR LOT THE TOLD SUMBIT RECALL THAT THEU DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO WITH A LAMP SWITCH

NHTSA complaint #11124045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Hyundai Accent at 72,000 miles Neptune, NJ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

OCCASIONALLY, WHEN GOING TO USR MY VEHICLE, I WILL TRY TO UNLOCK THE CAR WITH MY FOB AND NOTICE IT WON'T RESPOND. UPON STARTING MY VEHICLE, THE ENGINE TURNS OVER BUT MY ELECTRONICS DON'T FULLY ACTIVATE. MY CLOCK IS OFF, THE RADIO DOESN'T TURN ON, AND I CAN'T USE THE DOME LIGHTS. HOWEVER, MY DASHBOARD INFORMATION PANEL DOES DISPLAY MY ODOMETER, FUEL, AND TEMP GAUGE, AND I CAN SCROLL THROUGH THE DISPLAY OPTIONS, BUT THEY HAVE ALL RESET. MY TELLTALE WARNING LIGHTS COME ON BRIEFLY LIKE A NORMAL START, AND WHEN THEY GO AWAY MY TPMS TELLTALE REMAINS FLASHING, INDICATING IT'S NOT GETTING A SIGNAL FROM MY TIRES. FINALLY, THOUGH MY ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IS RUNNING, I CAN'T PUT MY VEHICLE IN GEAR. MY ONLY FIX HAS BEEN TO LET THE VEHICLE SIT WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING FOR ANY WHERE BETWEEN 2 AND 20 MINUTES, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, AND RETRY. ONCE IT FINALLY DECIDES TO TURN ON NORMAL, THE CLOCK WILL DISPLAY, ALTHOUGH RESET, MY TPMS NO LONGER DISPLAYS, AND I CAN GET INTO GEAR. TIME SITTING SEEMS TO NOT EFFECT IT BECAUSE IT CAN SIT FOR DAYS AND WORK NORMAL OR HOURS AND ACT UP. MY ONLY POSSIBLE EXPLANATION SEEMS TO INVOLVE THE WEATHER AFTER GETTING VERY COLD OR EXCESSIVE PRECIPITATION, BUT EVEN THAT ISN'T NECESSARILY GOING TO GUARANTEE THIS PROBLEM. IT MAY JUST BE PURE RANDOMNESS AND IT DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT AT ALL.

NHTSA complaint #11082483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Hyundai Accent Eastlake, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

AUTO LIGHTS CONTINUE TO STAY ON CAUSING THE BATTERY TO DIE

NHTSA complaint #11081383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Hyundai Accent at 101,651 miles Redding, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

REGARDING NHTSA REFERENCE # 1088179: MY AIR BAG LIGHT STARTED STAYING ON AROUND FEBRUARY 2017. I MADE APPOINTMENT ON PHONE WITH ONLY HYUNDAI CERTIFIED SERVICE DEALER NEAR MY HOME 3-2017AND DROVE TO CHICO (70 MILES AWAY). THEY SAID IT MUST BE BATTERY AND CHARGED ME FOR A NEW BATTERY. I CALLED THEM AROUND APRIL 1, 2017 TELLING THEM LIGHT WAS STILL COMING ON AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO BUY A WHOLE NEW SEAT AND SYSTEM, NO SAFETY ISSUE RECOGNIZED BY HYUNDAI, THEREFORE I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO ENTIRE COST REGARDLESS OF SAFETY ISSUES. I CALLED HYUNDAI USA WHICH GAVE ME A CASE # 1012618 BUT SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON FILE WITH HYUNDAI AND I COULD FILE A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. I AM SENDING THEM A COPY OF WHAT I AM FILING WITH YOU. I LOOKED UP OTHER HYUNDAI ACCENT 2007 COMPLAINTS AND HYUNDAI SAID THERE'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE A RECALL. A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR AGREED TO REPLACE ITEMS FOR MY PAID INVOICE AMOUNT ENCLOSED. I'M FILING THIS NOW BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO BE A STATISTIC FOR SEAT BELT FAILURE OR FAULTY AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MAYBE HELP SOMEONE ELSE.

NHTSA complaint #11057154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Hyundai Accent at 170,000 miles Pasadena, CA

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE. BRAKE LIGHTS DIDN'T ILLUMINATE. VEHICLE TOWED TO LOCAL GARAGE, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE. 30 MINUTES AND $80.00 LATER THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED. HYUNDAI HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS OF THEIR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCHES, BUT EACH TIME THE APPLY THE RECALL TO A VERY NARROW SELECTION OF MODELS, OF WHICH THIS AFOREMENTIONED VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. STRANDING A 19 Y/O GIRL IN A DARK PARKING LOT AT 9:30 AT NIGHT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A LESS FAVORABLE OUTCOME. HOW MANY OTHER UNFORTUNATES SUFFER BECAUSE OF A FAILURE ON THE PART OF HYUNDAI TO STEP UP AND FIX AN INEXPENSIVE PART.

NHTSA complaint #11031938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Hyundai Accent at 103,000 miles Sahuarita, AZ

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE RIGHT TURN SIGNAL FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WHEN EVER I FLIP UP THE TURN SIGNAL TO MAKE A RIGHT HAD TURN THE HIGH BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS GO ON. THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS NOW. WHEN THE TURN IS COMPLETED AND THE TURN SIGNAL GOES OFF THE LOW BEAMS GO BACK ON. AS MENTIONED THIS FIRST STARTING EVERY SO OFTEN AND HAS DETERIORATED TO THE PINT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10903319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Hyundai Accent at 81,592 miles Mount Vernon, OH

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BREAK LIGHT RECALL - LOCATION MOUNT VERNON, OHIO - DATE 12-12-2015 I WAS DRIVING TO A CHRISTMAS EVENT AND WAS PULLED OVER BY A STATE HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER DUE TO MY BREAKLIGHTS BEING OUT. I PULLED OVER IN THE NEAREST PARKING LOT AND HAD MY BOYFRIEND LOOK AT IT. HE SAID THERE IS A LITTLE SWITCH BEHIND THE BREAK AREA THAT WAS STUCK. HE FLICKED IT A FEW TIMES AND IT CAME LOOSE AND STARTED WORKING. I AM GLAD THE OFFICER LET ME KNOW BEFORE I GOT INTO I-71 TRAFFIC. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10811689 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2011 Hyundai Accent at 19,850 miles Biloxi, MS

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V566000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING), THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER FIVE TIMES SINCE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 19,850.

NHTSA complaint #10810863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Hyundai Accent problems