CSR
Check a VIN

Look up

About

Hyundai · NHTSA safety record

2013 Hyundai Accent

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

140

Complaints

16

Crashes

9

Fires

23

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2013 Hyundai Accent have filed 140 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2012 and May 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 34 of them (24%). The typical failure was reported at 45,000 miles, the median across the 69 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 1 recall covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (1)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

23V651000 · September 22, 2023

Park outside until repaired

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
The risk
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 1,649,478 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires

AQ23002

Still open audit query · opened November 17, 2023

the hydraulic brakes

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 140.

ENGINE 34 24%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 23 16%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18 13%
SERVICE BRAKES 18 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16 11%
AIR BAGS 14 10%
POWER TRAIN 12 9%
STEERING 8 6%
SUSPENSION 8 6%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8 6%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7 5%
STRUCTURE 7 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2023 at 24.

2012 2023 2026
2012 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES

6 injured · crash · towed

I was driving and I tried to stop and couldn’t and someone ran the stop sign and I hit them and totalled my car and I just got off the phone with the investigator and they said it was due to my abs. And I seen the abs light on my dash and when I took it to bridgt breaks they told me it was fine

NHTSA complaint 11554379. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed · 55,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN THE STOP LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SPUN AND COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD, NECK, SHOULDER, BACK, HIP, AND KNEE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED LEFT ANKLE, HEAD, RIGHT ARM, WRIST, HAND, BACK, NECK, AND CHEST INJURIES. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED NECK, BACK, PELVIS, ANKLE, AND HEAD INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO

NHTSA complaint 11111223, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

3 injured · crash · towed · 113,000 miles

MY DAUGHTERS WERE IN A THREE CAR ACCIDENT ON 13 JUNE 2019. THEY WERE REAR ENDED WHICH CAUSED THEM TO HIT ANOTHER CAR IN THE REAR; NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THEY SUFFER FROM NECK PAINS, SHOULDER PAINS, BACK PAINS, AND HEADACHES. WHY INSTALL AIRBAGS IF THE ARE GOING TO BE NO USE DURING AN ACCIDENT?!? I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN HYUNDAI!!!

NHTSA complaint 11221000. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHORTLY AFTER STOPPING AND PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PARKED VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT ALTHOUGH THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ERRONEOUSLY WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUFFERED INJURIES TO BOTH KNEES AND TO THE NECK DURING THE CRASH. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 10649677. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

fire

My parked, unoccupied 2013 Hyundai Accent spontaneously caught fire while turned off in my driveway. This vehicle is included in Hyundai Safety Recall 251 (NHTSA Campaign Number 23V651000) for a defective Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module that causes an electrical short circuit and engine compartment fires when parked. The local fire department responded to extinguish the blaze. The vehicle is a total loss. The local Hyundai dealership currently possesses the vehicle and has refused to take responsibility, claiming they "cannot find the issue," despite this being a federally recognized safety hazard. I am filing this complaint to trigger a manufacturer accountability review, as the

NHTSA complaint 11739389, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS
I suddenly jammed my breaks to avoid an accident and my seat belt came undone. I flew foward in my seat. Now the seat belt (driver) comes undone every time I have a sudden stop.

NHTSA complaint 11705755. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
My 2013 Hyundai Accent with 130K miles is experiencing excessive oil consumption. I'm replacing 1.5+ quarts per month to keep it at the full mark on the dipstick. After some research, it appears that lawsuits and Technical Service Bulletins have been issued to address the concerns, but the dealer says my vehicle does not qualify for these warranty/goodwill repairs. TSB 23-EM-008H, as an example, seems to apply to my vehicle. Can this be investigated please? I believe this vehicle qualifies for warranty/goodwill repairs and/or engine replacement.

NHTSA complaint 11694030. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
The incident started August 15, 2025, I was driving my car and the traction light came on I stopped and turned it off. I proceeded to drive it after that and came home. Then I noticed my brake lights were constantly on so I took a piece of cardboard and folded it in a few folds and put it between the brake pedal and the brake switch it turned it off. I then proceeded the next day to drive my car it was doing fine until my caliper seized on my rotor and left me stuck on the side of the road, I then called a mobile mechanic he came out replaced the caliper on the left front driver side it still did not unseize my rotor for my caliper to move freely so he installed a new master cylinder it

NHTSA complaint 11689391, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
Stuck in deep snow long ride share gig service high mileage 247924

NHTSA complaint 11655694. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

TIRES
Fast fraud lease agreement during initial payment part removed void out 10 min window no re-entry

NHTSA complaint 11655699. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Hyundai Accent

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 16 2 —
2021 16 4 —
2020 12 4 —
2019 29 1 —
2018 19 1 —
2017 68 0 —
2016 99 0 —
2015 69 2 —
2014 79 1 —
2012 153 2 1
2011 38 1 —
2010 87 1 —

Other 2013 Hyundai models

Sonata 1,903 Elantra 1,310 Santa FE 605 Veloster 420 Tucson 266 Santa FE Sport 197 Genesis 126 Azera 112

Every Hyundai on this site — 201 vehicles, 276 recall campaigns and 3 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst