2003 Hyundai ACCENT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
35,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 37 complaints (21.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 16.2% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 8.1% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 8.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 8 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 8; Air Bags: 6; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Power Train: 3; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 7 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 9; 2005: 7; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 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 10079858 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY BLOWN. *MR THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD BEEN THERE SINCE APRIL 19, 2004. THERE HAVE BEEN 12 SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079858 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090870 · 2004-09-12 (September 12, 2004)
TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN LOW GEARS WITH LOW ACCELERATION. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DOES NOT CONTINUE INTO HIGH GEAR AND ENGINE RUNS AT HIGH RPM. NO PARTS REPAIRED DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10057214 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
VEHICLE IS LOW TO THE GROUND AND STALLS WHEN THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE TOUCHES THE GROUND. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. ALSO, CONSUMER BELIEVED TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT BY MANUFACTURER AND POINTED OUT THAT VEHICLE USES 13 INCH DIAMETER TIRES COMPARED TO THE OTHER MODELS, BUT DIFFERENT TYPE, WHICH USES A 14 INCH DIAMETER TIRE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057214 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174081 · 2006-11-22 (November 22, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ROADS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10174081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026383 · 2003-07-01 (July 1, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAS FIXED THE WHOLE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095276 · 2004-10-06 (October 6, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH.CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314911 · 2010-02-28 (February 28, 2010)
2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. RIGHT HEADLIGHT DOESN'T WORK. I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT TWO OR THREE TIMES, HOWEVER IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. WIRING HARNESS IS IN A POSITION THAT THE WIRE IS TOO TIGHT AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED OR REPAIRED. NOT SUFFICIENT SLACK IN WIRING HARNESS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10398192 · 2011-04-29 (April 29, 2011)
MY CAR WAS DRIVEN UNDER 70,000 MILES WHEN MY TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING OUT. I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD NIECE AT THE TIME LEAVING TO GO HOME. MY CAR STARTED VIOLENTLY THRUSTING FORWARD WITH ALL OF US IN THE CAR AND WAS JERKING VIOLENTLY. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THE CHILD IN THE CAR IN MARCH 2006. AS WE PULLED ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR DID THE SAME THING FOR THE FIRST 10 MILES AND WE WERE SURE WE WERE GOING TO DIE. BUT I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND LET IT COOL DOWN. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT MY PARENTS WE SERVICED THE VEH…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10398192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10367766 · 2010-11-24 (November 24, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL SPILLED OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IT TOOK 51 CLICKS TO FILL HIS TANK AND IT WAS NOT ECO-FRIENDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,250.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10367766 at NHTSA ↗