1997 Hyundai ACCENT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
69,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 31 complaints (16.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 16.1% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 9.7% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 9.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 5 |
| Air Bags | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 4 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 5; Air Bags: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 25 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 7 |
| 2001 | 12 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2000: 7; 2001: 12; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2007: 2; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10013897 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
CAR WAS RETURNED TO HYUNDAI UNDER WARRANTY IN JANUARY 2002. REPORTED TO HAVE A BAD TORQUE CONVERTER AND STARTER. BOTH REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LAST WEEK CAR WOULDNT START AGAIN. OUR MECHANIC DIAGNOSED SAME PROBLEM. WAS TOLD THAT IF CAR HAD BEEN PROPERLY DIAGNOSED AS HAVING EXTENSIVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED AND NOT PATCHED UP. HYUNDAI IS NOW REFUSING TO ABSORB COST SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. TORQUE CONVERTERS AND STARTERS DONT GO BAD YEARLY!!! HELP!!
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013897 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 740174 · 2001-01-30 (January 30, 2001)
CAR STALLS, RUNS ROUGH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER ON 9/17/99 FOR $8,068.96 INCLUDING FINANCE CHARGES. IT HAD 45,490 MILES. NOW IT HAS 68,841 MILES. THE DEALER SAID IT WOULD COST $1,600 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT TRADING IT IN, THEY TOLD ME THE VALUE OF THE CAR IS ONLY $2,000. HOW DID IT DEPRECIATE SO MUCH IN ONE YEAR? IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS CAR? IS THE DEALER REQUIRED TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION UP TO 100,000 MILES REGARDLESS OF WHETHER I BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740174 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8003447 · 2002-02-01 (February 1, 2002)
VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8003447 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10048246 · 2003-11-19 (November 19, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED WITHOUT ANY INDICATION REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10048246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10199394 · 2007-08-13 (August 13, 2007)
RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE HITTING ROTOR CRACKING THE ROTOR REPLACED ALL AFFECTED PARTS AT OUR OWN EXPENSE REPLACED COIL SPRING,ROTOR,BRAKE PADS. HYUNDAI SAYS THIS VEHICLE NOT IN THE RECALL EVEN THOUGH IT IS REGISTERED IN THE EFFECTED AREA OF THE RECALL THIS COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY LED TO CATASTROPHIC FAILURE IF IT HAD NOT BEEN DETECTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 73,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10199394 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10103241 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
THE SMELL OF FUEL PROMPTED THE CONSUMER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER SINCE THERE WAS A FUEL TANK RECALL. CONSUMER LOCATED A CRACK ON THE FUEL TANK. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA RECALL 00V314000. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10103241 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 880280 · 2001-02-09 (February 9, 2001)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A CITY STREET AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON DASHBOAD. ALSO, THERE WAS A GASOLINE SMELL AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 880280 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101835 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. ALSO, CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GUIDING ARM WAS VERY WEAK. THIS CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH THE STEERING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 729118 · 2000-08-25 (August 25, 2000)
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DRIVER'S SIDE IMPACT. PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FIRST. DRIVER, MY DAUGHTER STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED BURNING BOTH ARMS OF MY DAUGHTER. NO FRONTAL CONTACT AT ALL.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 729118 at NHTSA ↗