CSR

Hyundai · NHTSA safety record

2021 Hyundai Accent

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

16

Complaints

0

Crashes

1

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Accent have filed 16 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2021 and July 2025. The most complained-about system is the seat belts, named in 6 of them (38%).

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

22V354000 · May 19, 2022

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
The risk
An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
The remedy
Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioner(s) with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 229. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall numbers 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-218, and 22V-123 for Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles. All Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles already repaired under the previous recalls will need to have the new remedy completed.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 230,233 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:COLUMN

22V311000 · May 6, 2022

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Accent vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.
The risk
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 226.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 2 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

22V069000 · February 9, 2022

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.
The risk
An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 219. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-796. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 354 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

21V937000 · December 2, 2021

The defect
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Accent vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.
The risk
Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 213.

Hyundai Motor America · up to 76 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.

Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture

RQ22003

Closed recall query · opened August 8, 2022 · closed May 26, 2023 · led to recall 23V094000

the seat belts

On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) based on 3 incidents alleging front seat belt pretensioners that may rupture during deployment, on model year (MY) 2020-2022 of various Hyundai and Kia Models, resulting in 3 injuries (note: one incident occurred outside the U.S. and its territories).Between October 2021 and March 2023, Hyundai and Kia have filed the following 11 safety recalls for pretensioner rupture: NHTSA Recall No. 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-123, 22V-127, 22V-218, 22V-354, 22V-447, 22V-458, 22V-816, 23V-094, and 23V-210.Hyundai/Kia have stated that the abnormal deployment of the pretensioners is due to over-pressurization of the pretensioner pipe that can cause metal fragments to enter the vehicle occupant compartment, which can result in injury to vehicle occupants.The various makes/models covered by the above recalls include approximately 405,900 certain 2020-2022 Hyundai Accent, 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra and Elantra HEV, 2021-2022 Hyundai Santa Fe HEV, 2022-2023 Hyundai Santa Fe PHEV, 2020-2022 Hyundai Venue, 2021-2023 Genesis G80, 2023 Genesis G80 EV, 2023 Genesis G90, 2023 Genesis GV60 EV, 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, 2021-2023 Genesis GV80, 2021-2022 Kia Sorento HEV, and 2022 Kia Sorento PHEV.In response to ODI's investigation, in December 2022, Hyundai notified ODI that they would be conducting testing to validate subject vehicle seat belt pretensioners. This evaluation included sled testing and software testing which was performed by Hyundai and its suppliers. The tests were intended to evaluate pretensioner deployment characteristics based on the unique deployment signature of the subject and peer vehicles. ODI met with representatives from Hyundai on several occasions during the investigation to discuss testing progress and data. As a result of the testing, Hyundai was able to simulate the pretensioner failures. It was determined by Hyundai during testing, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment in the event of a crash which can cause metal fragments to enter the vehicle occupant compartment.Hyundai thus notified ODI of their decision to proceed with a safety recall, to expand the scope of the previous safety actions.In view of the recall actions taken by Hyundai and Kia, ODI concerns have been addressed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 16.

SEAT BELTS 6 38%
WHEELS 5 31%
ENGINE 4 25%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 2 13%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 6%
STEERING 1 6%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 7.

2021 2022 2025
2021 to 2025

In owners' own words

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

STEERING

1 injured

The car seems to have sort of an alignment problem. Steering keeps going to the left and I constantly have to pull steering to the right. Even with both have on steering wheel the car goes to the left lane. If I make a left turn the steering seems to want to stay to the left and I get the feeling the car is going to flip over. It's like there is a gap in the steering wheel. A miscommunication between the steering and front axle kind of. They tried to fix it three times without any success, and now they are ignoring me, they don't answer my calls. I only drive it to work because I have to. The dealer says it's not that bad. Well maybe it's not that bad to drive it around the block but to

NHTSA complaint 11431287, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

fire

Engine compartment fire. Vehicle towed to Hyundai dealer in Bremerton wa

NHTSA complaint 11456438. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed; however, the contact was informed there was no fault found with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11670511. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Hard time stopping and controlling the vechile

NHTSA complaint 11656989. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
The contact leased a 2021 Hyundai Accent through Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power for about 5 seconds while accelerating and decelerating through traffic. The contact stated that he was able to duplicate the failure five times and related the failure to the engine; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact returned the vehicle to Enterprise Rent-A-Car and `informed them about the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11617490. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS
During a tire swap, another lug nut broke off while trying to remove it. This issue has occurred before, and it seems that the faulty lug nut problem is still present. The car has only been serviced at Hyundai dealerships, and the tires were last rotated during a service at an authorized Hyundai dealership before this incident. The affected lug nut this time was on the front passenger side.

NHTSA complaint 11588250. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
My 2021 Hyundai accent has randomly not started a in more than 10 different times. The lights go on and you can hear it trying to start but it never catches to actually start. It’s under warranty but the dealer says if they can’t see it when it’s happening then they can’t fix anything. I bought a new battery with dealer recommendations but I still hace they problem. I only have 25,300 miles on this 2 year old car.

NHTSA complaint 11556330. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS
This is the fourth lugnut/stud that has failed. This time it was during routine maintenance at an authorized dealership during tire rotation.

NHTSA complaint 11518462. 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
2020 12 4
2019 29 1
2018 19 1
2017 68 0
2016 99 0
2015 69 2
2014 79 1
2013 140 1
2012 153 2 1
2011 38 1
2010 87 1

Other 2021 Hyundai models

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