1997 Hyundai ACCENT: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 10026636 · 2003-09-02 (September 2, 2003)
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT OR NONE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026636 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 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 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 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 10212307 · 2007-12-19 (December 19, 2007)
DEAR SIR I WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE SURPRISING ISSUE IN FRONT OF YOU RELATED TO HYUNDAI ACCENT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING FOR MORE THAN A YEAR NOW. I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR ON THE 401 EAST HIGHWAY, ONTARIO, CANADA ON 16TH DECEMBER 2007 AT 2.35 P.M. MY WIFE AND MY LITTLE ONE AND A HALF YEAR DAUGHTER WERE ALSO ACCOMPANYING ME. I WAS COMING FROM WINDSOR AND HEADING TOWARDS TORONTO. SUDDENLY THE AIR BAG OF THE DRIVER SEAT BLEW UP WITHOUT ANY COLLISION OF MY CAR WITH ANY THING. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH THAT I WAS DRIVING IN THE RIGHT LANE AND MANAGED TO BRING M…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10212307 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10406193 · 2011-06-13 (June 13, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOR LATCHES ON ALL FOUR DOORS OF THE VEHICLE WERE DETACHING. THE DRIVER SIDE DOORS AND LATCHES WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ENTER AND EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10406193 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
97V026000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
Reported: 1997-02-26 (February 26, 1997)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: THIS CONTAMINATION INTERFERES WITH THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT CONTINUITY AND PREVENTS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FROM OPERATING. INOPERATIVE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO REDUCED VISIBILITY DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V245000 · Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
Reported: 1998-10-06 (October 6, 1998)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN. DURING WINTER MONTHS, THE ROAD SALT USED TO DE-ICE ROADS CAN RESULT IN CORROSION THAT CAUSES PITS TO FORM ON THE LOWER COIL OF THE FRONT SPRINGS ALLOWING CRACKS TO DEVELOP. THIS CAN RESULT IN BREAKAGE OF THE LOWER SPRING COIL.
Consequence: IF THE FRONT COIL SPRING BREAKS, IT CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROM ITS SEATED POSITION, AND CAN CONTACT A TIRE. TIRE DAMAGE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING GUIDE TO PREVENT A BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING AND DAMAGING A TIRE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗