2020 Hyundai Accent Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Aug 17, 2025 · 12 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Accent years
Far fewer complaints than other years 28th of 28 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
4 out of 5 stars

Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Hyundai Accent. That ranks 28th out of 28 Accent model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine (4 complaints, 33%). Complaints mention 2 crashes, 1 fire, 2 injuries. There are 4 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Hyundai Accent
2017 Hyundai Accent (RB4 MY17) Active hatchback. Photographed in Fremantle, Western Australia , Australia.. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: EurovisionNim, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2020 Hyundai Accent problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Engine4
Air Bags2 · ~6,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion System2
Structure2 · ~34,250 mi
Vehicle Speed Control2 · ~103,300 mi
Electrical System1
Seat Belts1
Seats1
Steering1
Unknown or Other1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Engine433%———
Air Bags217%6,000——
Fuel/propulsion System217%———
Structure217%34,250——
Vehicle Speed Control217%103,300——
Electrical System18%———
Seat Belts18%———
Seats18%———
Steering18%———
Unknown or Other18%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2021, with 3 complaints
2020: 1202012021: 3202132022: 2202222023: 1202312024: 2202422025: 320253

n = 12 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2020 Hyundai Accent recalls (4)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Seat belts:front; seat belts:pretensionerMay 19, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V354000 · 230,233 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.

Fix: 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.

Seat belts:front; seat belts:pretensionerApr 1, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V218000 · 6,240 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.

Risk: Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 31, 2022. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 223. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.

Seat belts:pretensioner; seat belts:frontFeb 9, 2022 · NHTSA campaign 22V069000 · 354 vehicles

Problem: 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.

Risk: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.

Fix: 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.

Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latchAug 6, 2021 · NHTSA campaign 21V619000 · 348,158 vehicles

Problem: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.

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

  • Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture (RQ22003) — opened Aug 8, 2022, closed May 26, 2023, led to recall 23V094000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Airbag light turned on my dashboard and when I took it to the dealership -regional Hyundai in broken arrow in Oklahoma I was told by the rep that helped me that there is a defect in the passenger airbag and that it would cost me about 1700.00 usd to fix it. If I chose not to fix it then if I get…

Air Bags · received Aug 17, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11681215

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the exterior passenger's front and rear door handles detached while attempting to open the doors. The contact was able to reattach the door handles for the front and rear passenger doors. The contact…

Structure · received Aug 12, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11680188

The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, smoke was emitting from the vehicle. The contact was inside her residence and noticed the smoke from her window. Unknown if the air bags deployed. The contact stated that the fire spread to another parked…

Engine · received May 30, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11664017

I purchased my 2020 Hyundai Accent from Shirlie Slack Mitsubishi, in Fredericksburg, Virginia on [XXX]. It wasn't long after purchasing that I began experiencing difficulties with it. The car will shut off when it comes to a complete stop or even if I s for a brief moment to switch gears, for…

Electrical System · received Nov 13, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11624896

The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that the cruise control button had fractured. While driving with the cruise control engaged, the vehicle unintendedly accelerated. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed…

Vehicle Speed Control · received Apr 22, 2024 · NHTSA complaint 11584531

Other Hyundai Accent years

← 2019 Accent · 2021 Accent →

See all Hyundai Accent problems by year, every Hyundai model, or the Hyundai VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2020 Hyundai Accent?

Owners most often report engine, air bags, fuel/propulsion system problems. The top one, engine, accounts for 4 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2020 Hyundai Accent?

Yes, 4 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2020 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 2020 has far fewer 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.