AI Damage2016 Hyundai Accent: common problems
Owners of the 2016 Hyundai Accent filed 102 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and air bags. The maker issued 65 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 102
- involving a crash
- 7
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 65
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 32% of all complaints
- 2 Air bags 29% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 11% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 7% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 6% of all complaints
- 8 Seats 5% of all complaints
- Engine: 33 complaints (32% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Air bags: 30 complaints (29% of all), 5 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Electrical system: 26 complaints (25% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 18.
- Steering: 11 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Service brakes: 8 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.6 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- automatic, 6-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 102 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 | 33 | 1 | 2 |
| Air bags | 30 | 5 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 26 | 0 | 18 |
| Steering | 11 | 1 | 6 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 1 | 3 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Structure | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Seats | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 14 |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 1 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
my face hit the steering wheel and my hand is broken because the airbags didn't deploy
Friday june 5,2020 I fainted behind the wheel and rear ended another driver and my airbags did not deploy which resulted in an slight head injury
My vehicle was involved in a collision yesterday that broke both headlights, buckled hood, knocked the engine in to the transmission, and busted the front fan and coolant. The airbags didn't deploy and neither did the seat belt lock.
All occupants were wearing seat belt restraints. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 9,800.
Engine failure on a vehicle under 100,000 miles creates a risk of sudden loss of power while driving. A failing catalytic converter & coil packs can cause overheating and potential fire risk.
The engine failed and requires a full engine replacement. The vehicle is currently at ALM Hyundai West, 1990 Thornton Rd, Lithia Springs, [ZIP], and is available for inspection upon request.
The speedometer also stops tracking mileage when these lights come on. This used to happen on & off, but now it’s almost permanent. Hundreds are reporting the same exact issue online, but mechanics cannot figure out what the problem is.
The instrumental panel suddenly malfunctioned the abs, airbag, and check engine lights illuminated, and the speedometer dropped to zero. The instrumental panel returned to normal, but the mileage range reset to 0. This was while I was traveling on a highway going 70mph.
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 569 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Accent has 38 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 102, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this…
- Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil…
Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition…
- Certain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model year Santa Fe…
Certain 2012 – 2017 model year Accent, 2012 – 2017 model year Azera, 2013 – 2018 model year Santa Fe Sport, 2013 – 2019 model year Santa Fe, and 2012 – 2017 model year Veloster vehicles may exhibit an intermittent…
- Some vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s) B1763 (OCS ECU…
Some vehicles listed below may exhibit an intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s) B1763 (OCS ECU Defect), and/or B1764 (OCS Mat Defect) may be stored. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage of the sensor for…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co…
- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding…
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety…
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the…
This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of…
- A class settlement against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) that had alleged that certain 2011 – 2022 model…
A class settlement against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) that had alleged that certain 2011 – 2022 model year Hyundai vehicles that were not equipped with an engine immobilizer (called the “Class Vehicles”) contain…
- This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with…
This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2.
- This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover…
This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of the rubber insert…
- Hyundai has launched an anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign (Campaign 993), combined…
Hyundai has launched an anti-theft software upgrade and window decal campaign (Campaign 993), combined with an anti-theft steering wheel lock campaign (Campaign P32), and anti-theft ignition cylinder protector campaign…
- Certain Hyundai vehicles may not be equipped with an immobilizer
This bulletin provides the service procedure to install a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and installation of two anti-theft decals on the front windows.
NHTSA lists 65 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Hyundai Accent?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, air bags, electrical system. Total complaints: 102. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (26%), airbag warning light (17%), knocking, grinding or other noise (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 Hyundai Accent?
NHTSA lists 65 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 2016 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 2016 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 2026-11-04.