U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Hyundai ACCENT problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

153 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

60,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 90 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 153 complaints (23.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	37	24.2%
Transmission and shifting	10	6.5%
Steering behavior	9	5.9%
Electrical and battery issues	8	5.2%
Engine operation	7	4.6%
Fuel system concerns	4	2.6%

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.

Engine

Electrical System

Service Brakes

Unknown Or Other

Air Bags

Vehicle Speed Control

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Fuel/Propulsion System

Engine: 36; Electrical System: 22; Service Brakes: 20; Unknown Or Other: 19; Air Bags: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 14; Fuel/Propulsion System: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 23; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 17; 100,000 to 149,999: 18; 150,000 and above: 3

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 63 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.

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2011: 3; 2012: 7; 2013: 9; 2014: 13; 2015: 8; 2016: 8; 2017: 8; 2018: 12; 2019: 15; 2020: 18; 2021: 4; 2022: 9; 2023: 13; 2024: 17; 2025: 6; 2026: 3

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 10 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 9 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 10498681 · 2013-02-13 (February 13, 2013)

2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FAULTY BRAKE CALIPERS AND SEEKS REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *SMD IN OCTOBER 2012, A SERVICE REPAIR SHOP, INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE RIGHT REAR BRAKE PAD WAS COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE TURNED. THE LEFT REAR CALIPER HAD NOT STUCK AND THE BRAKE PAD STILL HAD LOTS OF WEAR LEFT ON IT. THE NEXT DAY, THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER T HE REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, BECAUSE THE RIGHT…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10498681 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10558041 · 2013-12-31 (December 31, 2013)

I AM A VERY CAUTIOUS DRIVER WHO IS VERY EASY ON MY BRAKES, TO PREVENT WEAR. I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME WHEN A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY STOPPED AND HAD TO TURN, EVEN THOUGH I HAD PLENTY OF SPACE TO STOP, I HAD TO SWERVE IN FRONT OF ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE MY BRAKES ARE WORN DOWN AT 17K MILES??? SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE BRAKES IN A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. EVEN IF I FLOOR THE BRAKE PEDAL I DON'T STOP AND HEAR GRINDING NOISES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10558041 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10626461 · 2014-08-19 (August 19, 2014)

7/15/2012, WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A STOP OIL AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE LOST POWER. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, VEHICLE EXPERIENCE SAME PROBLEM. SHUTTING VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING CORRECTED INSTANT PROBLEM. NO FAULT CODES STORED. DEALERSHIP REMOVED, CLEANED AND RE-INSTALLED THROTTLE BODY AND SUGGESTED USING ONLY EXXON, MOBILE OR SHELL GASOLINE. 7/17/2014, WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, OIL AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND VEHICLE STALLED. WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,102 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626461 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10794373 · 2015-11-17 (November 17, 2015)

THIS IS MANUAL TRANSMISSION EQUIPPED CAR- INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY AFTER THE CAR HAS SAT OVERNIGHT OR FOR A FEW HOURS, THE THROTTLE WILL STICK EVEN AFTER THE GAS PEDDLE IS RELEASED. THIS STARTED WITH THE REVS RISING 500-1000 RPM WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PRESSED IN AND THE ACCELERATOR RELEASED. INITIALLY THIS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PRESSED IN, NOT WHILE THE CAR WAS DRIVING IN GEAR. RECENTLY, IF THE GAS PEDAL IS RELEASED IN NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE CAR WILL CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE FORWARD WHILE IT IS IN GEAR. THE EFFECT LASTS FOR 1-…

Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10794373 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10425707 · 2011-09-16 (September 16, 2011)

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR IN A 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT SCHOOL ZONE, MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL MY CAR ON WHAT COINCIDENTALLY WAS A CURVY ROAD AFTER HAVING JUST MADE A RIGHT TURN. THEREFORE AS I HAD JUST BEGUN TO PICK UP SPEED, HAVING TO FOLLOW A CURVE ABOUT 500 YARDS THEREAFTER, MY STEERING WHEEL REMAINED IN THE POSITION I HAD PLACED IT IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE CURVE, LOCKING IMMEDIATELY AFTER. IN LOSING CONTROL OF MY CAR, MY INITIAL REACTION WAS TO TRY TO SHIFT MY STEERING WHEEL BUT AS IT DIDN'T BUDGE, I HIT ABOUT 2 OR 3 CONC…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425707 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10563233 · 2014-02-06 (February 6, 2014)

HELLO MY NAME IS[XXX], I HAVE 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT AND THE STEERING ON THIS CAR IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUSLY STUPID AND LAME AND FRUSTRATING. WHEN YOU DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY YOU GOTTA CONSTANTLY KEEP TURNING THE WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT TO KEEP THE CAR RUNNING STRAIGHT. I HAVE READ SOMEWHERE THAT THIS CAR IS WITH ELECTRIC STEERING OR SOMETHING... I'M NOT FAMILIAR BUT THERE IS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM. I HAVE READ IN THE FORUMS THAT IT COULD BE STEERING COLUMNS... BUT I THINK HYUNDAI SUPPOSE TO COME OUT WITH A RECALL. I HAVE CALLED THEM …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10563233 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10454043 · 2012-04-04 (April 4, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE CONTINUOUSLY AS A RESULT TO WATER SPILLAGE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR DUE TO THE WATER SPILLAGE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG SEAT SENSOR ASSEMBLY REMAINED UNAVAILABLE SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2011. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OF THE POTENTIAL SAF…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454043 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10611389 · 2014-07-17 (July 17, 2014)

AFTER PULLING OUT FROM A STOP VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND WENT TO AN IDLE MODE, OIL LIGHT AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED BUT NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED AND EVERYTHING WORKED FINE. VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HYUNDAI DEALERSHIP AND THE TECH EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM DURING TEST DRIVE. VEHICLE DID NOT STORE A DTC ERROR CODE TO DEALERSHIP CALLED TECH LINE WHO ADVISED TO REMOVE AND CLEAN THROTTLE BODY. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 1 1/2 DAYS FOLLOWING REPAI…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,189 miles reported. Look up ODI 10611389 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11193719 · 2019-04-03 (April 3, 2019)

ON SATURDAY MARCH 23, 2019 I WAS DRIVING MY 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS TRAVELING IN THE LEFT HAND LANE, ON CRUISE CONTROL, GOING ABOUT 73 MPH. A SEMI-TRUCK IN THE RIGHT HAND LAND A FEW HUNDRED YARDS IN FRONT OF ME MOVED OVER INTO MY LANE DUE TO A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AHEAD, SO I ATTEMPTED TO TURN OFF MY CRUISE CONTROL TO SLOW DOWN FOR THE MERGING SEMI-TRUCK. I APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT MY CAR DID NOT TURN OFF CRUISE-CONTROL OR SLOW DOWN, BUT INSTEAD ACCELERATED. I ATTEMPTED AGAIN TO HIT THE BRAKES TO TURN OFF CRUISE CONTROL, BUT AGAIN …

Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11193719 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11374511 · 2020-11-13 (November 13, 2020)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DORAL HYUNDAI (10285 NW 12TH ST, DORAL, FL 33172) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN…

Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11374511 at NHTSA ↗