2002 Hyundai ACCENT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
134 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
45,128 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 76 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 134 complaints (12.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 16.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 19 | 14.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 15 | 11.2% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 6.0% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 3.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.7% |
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 | 17 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 14 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Suspension | 5 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 17; Fuel System, Gasoline: 14; Air Bags:Frontal: 11; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Suspension: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 58 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 25 |
| 2003 | 20 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2001: 2; 2002: 25; 2003: 20; 2004: 25; 2005: 5; 2006: 9; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 5; 2010: 10; 2011: 6; 2012: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 2; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 19 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 15 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 10009253 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THE SPINDLES WERE BROKEN, THE BRAKE LINE FAILED AND THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK, BUT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM. *JB *TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009253 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009508 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)
THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DUE TO AN EASY RELEASE OF THE PARKING BRAKE LEVER. *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010487 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
TRANSMISSION CLUNK FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE, ALSO WHEN MAKING A TURN DOWN A SMALL HILL WILL SLIP AND BUCK. DEALER REPLACED INTERNAL SOLENOID 3 WEEKS AGO TO RESOLVE, SEEMED TO WORK, HOWEVER PROBLEM IS BACK. WILL BE TAKING BACK TO DEALER AS SOON AS TIME PERMITS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010487 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082885 · 2004-07-28 (July 28, 2004)
TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 54,000 MILES, IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO HIGH GEAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082885 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062179 · 2004-03-14 (March 14, 2004)
ABOUT: 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT PROBLEM HAPPENS SHORT TIME AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR HAS A SUDDEN LARGE LOSS OF POWER, OVERDRIVE CUTS OUT. PROBLEM MAY PERSIST FOR A DAY OR TWO THEN GO AWAY AND COME BACK SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE GOING AWAY. SITUATION: MY WIFE WAS CROSSING A STREET AND COULD NOT GET OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. SHE JUST BARLEY ESCAPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES IN 14,000 MILES OF DRIVING. IT NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE GAS TANK IS FILLED. DEALER INDICATES THAT THIS IS ON PURP…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062179 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297566 · 2009-12-30 (December 30, 2009)
2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT 2 DR SEDAN THERE IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM WHERE GAS BEING PUMPED INTO THE CAR IS BEING REJECTED BY THE FUEL SYSTEM AND SPITTING BACK OUT OF THE FUEL PIPE WITHOUT TRIGGERING THE GASOLINE PUMP SHUT OFF. THE FUEL HAS ON MANY OCCASIONS SPIT BACK ON THE PERSON FILLING THE CAR WITH GASOLINE. PER THE HYUNDAI DEALER AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED OR REQUESTED. THE PROBLEM IS A CHARCOAL FUEL FILTER CANISTER THAT CONTAINS A BAG OF CHARCOAL THAT HAS BURST WHEREBY THE CHARCOAL PIECES ARE BL…
Owner-reported narrative. 66,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297566 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083000 · 2004-07-30 (July 30, 2004)
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AND STALLING ON HIGHWAYS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. TUNE UP AND ALL OTHER ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE WITH NO IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10083000 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10083954 · 2004-07-26 (July 26, 2004)
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2002 HYUNDAI ACCENT. *MR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR, BRAKE HOSE AND PADS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FLUID WAS NOT RETURNING TO THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING THE PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE PADS WEAR OUT. THERE WAS A SHIMMY FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, THE TECH FOUND BOTH FRONT BRAKE ROTORS DISC WARPED, THE TRANSMISSION HAD A DELAY SHIFTING, THE WHEELS WERE OUT OF BALANCE, THE FRONT CALIPERS HAD FROZEN IN THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, THE PADS STUCK IN THE HOLDERS DUE TO THE RUST BUILD UP AND NOISE COULD BE HEARD AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10083954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 764726 · 2002-07-25 (July 25, 2002)
THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENT THAT CONTROLS THE TRANSMISSION, BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I AM NOW BEING TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET A RECONDITIONED ONE IN, BUT I CAN GET A BRAND NEW ONE IN OCTOBER. BOTH THE DEALER AND HYUNDAI HAVE BEEN TOTALLY UNCONCERNED THAT I NEED THIS CAR TO MAKE A TRIP TO HELP MY DISABLED FAMILY MEMBERS IN OHIO. I HAVE NOW ASKED FOR A LOANER VEHICLE TO MAKE THE TRIP. AND I AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM ON THAT. I AM FOLLOWING THE STEPS NECESSARY IN CASE I NEED TO PROCEED WITH A LAW…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 764726 at NHTSA ↗