Known Recalls

Model year record

1996 Hyundai Accent

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 142 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V341000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
46,828
Reported to NHTSA
2002-12-20
Owners notified
2003-06-10

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. DURING WINTER MONTHS, LARGE QUANTITIES OF SALT ARE USED TO DE-ICE ROADS. THIS ROAD SALT COULD RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS.

Safety risk

SEVERE CORROSION COULD RESULT IN PERFORATION AND POTENTIAL FRACTURE OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM. IF THIS FRACTURE OCCURS, THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY REMAINS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS THROUGH THE FORWARD LOWER CONTROL ARM PIVOT POINT AND THROUGH THE STRUT ATTACHMENT TO THE UPPER WHEELHOUSE. REDUCED CONTROL OF THE FRONT WHEEL LOCATION INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON JUNE 10, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V245000

Suspension: front: springs: coil springs

Component
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Vehicles affected
64,967
Reported to NHTSA
1998-10-06
Owners notified
1998-11-25

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF THE FRONT COIL SPRING BREAKS, IT CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROM ITS SEATED POSITION, AND CAN CONTACT A TIRE. TIRE DAMAGE CAN RESULT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING GUIDE TO PREVENT A BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING AND DAMAGING A TIRE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V026000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor

Component
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Vehicles affected
74,965
Reported to NHTSA
1997-02-26
Owners notified
1997-04-28

Defect description

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V113000

Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm

Component
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm
Manufacturer
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Vehicles affected
23,070
Reported to NHTSA
1996-07-01
Owners notified
1996-08-03

Defect description

THROUGH CONTACT WITH ROAD HAZARDS AND CURBS, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION.

Safety risk

THE SHIFTED LOCATION CAN RESULT IN IMPROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MEMBER ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT TO THE UNDERBODY.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Air bags: frontal18—
Power train: automatic transmission17—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower arm10103,000 mi
Tires6—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch5—
Structure: body: door5—
Suspension: front5120,000 mi
Suspension: front: springs: coil springs598,000 mi
Air bags4—
Visibility: windshield4—
Exterior lighting: turn signal3—
Unknown or other3—
Electrical system: ignition2—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline2—
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery2—
Power train: clutch assembly2—
Power train: clutch assembly: pedal/hand lever(motorcycle)2—
Power train: manual transmission274,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components2—
Steering226,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm2—
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint2190,300 mi
Suspension: front: macpherson strut2—
Visibility: glass, side/rear2—
Visibility: power window devices and controls2—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor2—
Electrical system: starter assembly1—
Electrical system: starter assembly: relay1—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly1—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control1—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor116,805 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner1—
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.1—
Exterior lighting: tail lights1—
Parking brake: conventional1—
Power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)1—
Power train: manual transmission: shift pattern indicator1—
Seat belts1—
Seat belts: front1—
Seat belts: front: retractor1—
Seat belts: front: webbing1—
Seat belts: rear/other1—
Service brakes, hydraulic1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: pedals and linkages1—
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1—
Structure: body1—
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments158,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint1—
Tires: tread/belt1—
Vehicle speed control1—
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices1—
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1—

The 1995 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 1997 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.