2012 Hyundai Accent Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Accent years
- Far more complaints than other years 1st of 28 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 out of 5 stars
Owners have filed 153 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Hyundai Accent. That is the most of any Accent model year in the database (28 years). The most reported problem area is engine (36 complaints, 24%), typically at around 89,000 miles. Complaints mention 13 crashes, 8 fires, 13 injuries. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
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- 153owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 13complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2012 Hyundai Accent problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 36 | 24% | 89,000 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 24 | 16% | 60,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 20 | 13% | 40,269 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 19 | 12% | 107,115 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 12% | 63,000 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 17 | 11% | 34,641 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 14 | 9% | 117,000 | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 7% | 63,385 | — | — |
| Steering | 9 | 6% | 40,537 | — | — |
| Structure | 9 | 6% | 21,179 | — | — |
| Tires | 9 | 6% | 2,500 | — | — |
| Suspension | 7 | 5% | 68,500 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 3% | 78,315 | — | — |
| Wheels | 5 | 3% | 31,269 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 3% | 75,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 2% | — | — | — |
| Visibility/wiper | 3 | 2% | 65,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 1% | 22,102 | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 1% | 8,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1% | 9,279 | — | — |
| Firerelated | 1 | 1% | 80,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 1% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2012 Hyundai Accent recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip:control unit/modulePark outside
Problem: 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.
Risk: An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:electrical
Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Elantra and Sonata Hybrid, 2012 Accent and Veloster vehicles. The 12V accessory socket outlet may have been over-tightened during installation, possibly disabling the thermal fuse and allowing the outlet to overheat with prolonged use, such as by using the Tire Mobility Kit air compressor to inflate a tire.
Risk: An overheated accessory outlet increases the risk of fire.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Tire Mobility Kit accessory outlet plug with a direct-to-battery connection wire harness kit, free of charge. The recall began September 28, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 193.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires (AQ23002) — opened Nov 17, 2023, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
1. ABS warning 2.Nothing happened just got an OBD scan from autozone and the abs code came up 3.Not sure 4.No 5.Abs light is not lit on the dash
While traveling at highway speeds on [XXX] with three passengers, the vehicle suddenly suffered a catastrophic internal engine failure (severe rod knock), forcing an emergency deceleration in active traffic that put all occupants at risk of a rear-end collision. The sudden breakdown was immediately…
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the clutch pedal traveled to the floorboard and the low oil warning light illuminated. Due to the failure, the brakes failed to function properly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 67,822, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage…
Unknown. I think the abs module light appeared instantly on the dashboard. It's the anti-lock brakes that aren't working. I immediately contacted my hyundai dealership when i saw a brake light come up on my dashboard when i went to brake but i had none and the brakes went all the way to the floor…
Other Hyundai Accent years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 Accent | 17 | 2 |
| 2021 Accent | 16 | 4 |
| 2020 Accent | 12 | 4 |
| 2019 Accent | 31 | 1 |
| 2018 Accent | 19 | 1 |
| 2017 Accent | 68 | 0 |
| 2016 Accent | 102 | 0 |
| 2015 Accent | 70 | 2 |
| 2014 Accent | 79 | 1 |
| 2013 Accent | 141 | 1 |
| 2012 | 153 | 2 |
| 2011 Accent | 38 | 1 |
| 2010 Accent | 87 | 1 |
| 2009 Accent | 101 | 2 |
| 2008 Accent | 101 | 1 |
| 2007 Accent | 88 | 3 |
| 2006 Accent | 43 | 3 |
| 2005 Accent | 49 | 1 |
| 2004 Accent | 33 | 0 |
| 2003 Accent | 37 | 0 |
| 2002 Accent | 134 | 1 |
| 2001 Accent | 112 | 2 |
| 2000 Accent | 92 | 4 |
| 1999 Accent | 61 | 1 |
| 1998 Accent | 47 | 1 |
| 1997 Accent | 55 | 2 |
| 1996 Accent | 101 | 4 |
| 1995 Accent | 142 | 5 |
See all Hyundai Accent problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.
Similar Hyundai models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Hyundai Accent?
Owners most often report engine, electrical system, service brakes problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 36 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Hyundai Accent?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2012 Hyundai Accent a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Accent model years, the 2012 has far more complaints than most years, and NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.