AI Damage1997 Hyundai Accent: common problems
Owners of the 1997 Hyundai Accent filed 55 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 55
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 27% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 24% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 20% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 13% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 15 complaints (27% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 13 complaints (24% of all).
- Air bags: 11 complaints (20% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 7 complaints (13% of all).
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (11% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 55 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 15 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 11 | 6 | 0 |
| Suspension | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
While stopping, was rearended by another vehicle and pushed forward, air bags did not deploy. Driver injured and vehicle was totaled. Consumer states that the front end of the vehicle was completely smashed.
Both the passenger side and driver side airbags failed to deploy. Soon thereafter, the engine light became illuminated. After taking to farrish in manassas, virginia, it was reported that the computer indicated that I the engine was out of time. The timing belt was replaced and did not cure the problem.
Consumer's vehicle rear ended another vehicle at 20 mph, and the air bags did not deploy. Dealer has not been contacted.
Vehicle took off backwards when ignition switch was turned on, and hit another car. Incident occurred again, and dealer is aware of the problem. Repair work was done.
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.
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…
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,078 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 14% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Accent has 66 complaints (31 years in the data). This year has 55, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
- Accent 1995142 sources
- Accent 1996101 sources
- Accent 199847 sources
- Accent 199961 sources
- Accent 200092 sources
- Accent 2001112 sources
- Accent 2002134 sources
- Accent 200337 sources
- Accent 200433 sources
- Accent 200549 sources
- Accent 200643 sources
- Accent 200788 sources
- Accent 2008101 sources
- Accent 2009101 sources
- Accent 201087 sources
- Accent 201138 sources
- Accent 2012153 sources
- Accent 2013142 sources
- Accent 201479 sources
- Accent 201570 sources
- Accent 2016168 sources
- Accent 2017128 sources
- Accent 201886 sources
- Accent 2019100 sources
- Accent 202081 sources
- Accent 202167 sources
- Accent 202255 sources
- Accent 99996 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Hyundai Accent?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, air bags. Total complaints: 55. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (9%), airbags did not deploy (7%), warning lights, check engine (5%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1997 Hyundai Accent?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1997 Hyundai Accent from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1997 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.