Accent (3rd)
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
Hyundai Accent Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Show 1 additional engine variant with limited data
DOHC GDI GAMMA
1.6LView details
Complaint Breakdown
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Hyundai Accent, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent
On a used 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the transmission and drivetrain (98), the airbags and driver-assist systems (78) and the brakes (48). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 98 owner complaints on the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent about the transmission and drivetrain.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 78 owner complaints on the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- On an empty road, brake firmly from 40 mph with a light grip on the wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 48 owner complaints on the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent about the brakes.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 43 owner complaints on the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent about the engine.
- With the engine cold, check the coolant level and color, then watch the temperature gauge on the drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 40 owner complaints on the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent about the cooling system.
Recalls (5)
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 3,011 MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 ELANTRA, TUCSON, SONATA, AZERA AND ACCENT VEHICLES. A MALFUNCTIONING STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED OR MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ILLUMINATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS RELEASED. A DEFECTIVE STOP LAMP SWITCH MAY ALSO AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKE-TRANSMISSION SHIFT INTERLOCK FEATURE SO THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO BE SHIFT OUT OF THE "PARK" POSITION. IT MAY ALSO CAUSE THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) MALFUNCTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE, AND IT MAY NOT DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 201, "OCCUPANT PROTECTION IN INTERIOR IMPACT." DURING TESTING, THE 3-DOOR HATCHBACK EXCEEDED THE PERFORMANCE CRITERION IN THE STANDARD MIDWAY ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD SUPPORT PILLAR (A-PILLAR).
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 1.5 LITER OR 1.6 LITER ENGINES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, NEBRASKA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY THROTTLE OPENING FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME DURING EXTREMELY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES (BELOW APPROXIMATELY -5 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH HIGH HUMIDITY), MOISTURE IN THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER BLOWBY GASES CAN FREEZE AND BLOCK THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) VALVE AND HOSE. IF THE PCV HOSE FREEZES, COMBUSTION CHAMBER GASES ARE FORCED THROUGH THE BREATHER HOSE INTO THE AIR INTAKE HOSE AND THEN INTO THE THROTTLE BODY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT WHICH COVERS THE BALL JOINT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR DRIVE ARM AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DRAG LINK CAN STICK TO THE SURFACE OF THE DRIVE ARM. IF THE RUBBER BOOT STICKS AND THE WIPER MOTOR IS TURNED ON, BINDING OF THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE DRIVE ARM AND DRAG LINK RESULTS, CAUSING THE BALL JOINT CONNECTION TO DISENGAGE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE PROTECTIVE RUBBER BOOT WHICH COVERS THE BALL JOINT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR DRIVE ARM AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER DRAG LINK CAN STICK TO THE SURFACE OF THE DRIVE ARM. IF THE RUBBER BOOT STICKS AND THE WIPER MOTOR IS TURNED ON, BINDING OF THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE DRIVE ARM AND DRAG LINK RESULTS, CAUSING THE BALL JOINT CONNECTION TO DISENGAGE.
All Generations
Alternatives in Subcompact
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent complaints?
Owners have filed 451 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent. The systems they name most often are the transmission, the safety systems and the brakes.
Is the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 451 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent have?
NHTSA has 451 owner complaints on file for the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls covering some 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Hyundai Accent?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the transmission, the safety systems and the brakes, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
Does the Accent have NHTSA crash test ratings?
NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2000-2005 Hyundai Accent. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 451 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.