RecallMyCar

1996 Hyundai Accent Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1996 Hyundai Accent, and owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
101
owner complaints to NHTSA
17 / 2
complaints citing a crash / fire
25–28
MPG combined (EPA)

4 safety recalls for the 1996 Hyundai Accent

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 02V341000 Reported 46,828 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

    On certain passenger vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, wisconsin, and the district of columbia.…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front lower control arms and, if necessary, will replace one or both front lower control arms if structural damage has occurred. Owner notification will begin on june 10, 2003. Owners who take…

  2. Coil springs (suspension)

    NHTSA 98V245000 Reported 64,967 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the following "salt belt" states: connecticut, delaware, illinois, indiana, iowa, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, west virginia, and wisconsin.…

    Remedy: Dealers will install a spring guide to prevent a broken coil spring from contacting and damaging a tire.

  3. Motor (visibility)

    NHTSA 97V026000 Reported 74,965 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    The windshield wiper motor circuit breaker electrical contacts were contaminated during assembly.

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the contaminants from the windshield wiper motor circuit breaker contacts.

  4. Suspension: lower arm

    NHTSA 96V113000 Reported 23,070 vehicles potentially affected HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

    Through contact with road hazards and curbs, the lower control arm assembly can shift from its original position.

    Remedy: Dealers will reinforce the lower control arm member assembly attachment to the underbody.

101 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1996 Hyundai Accent have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA; 17 describe a crash and 2 describe a fire. Reports cite 14 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 86,362 miles. Complaints peaked in 1998 with 18 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 hyundai accent. The contact stated that while the driver was traveling 65 MPH, the lower control arm failed, the tire turned sideways into the fender and the vehicle dropped”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 2, 2011 · Suspension

“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 hyundai accent. While driving 15 MPH, the contact lost control of the vehicle and it stopped suddenly. The suspension split in half due to corrosion and the lower control ar”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 26, 2007 · Suspension

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1996 Hyundai Accent (Accent (Sporty)). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined25–28 mpg
City / Highway22–24 / 30–33
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 1.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd

Compare Hyundai Accent model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Hyundai Accent model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1991 Hyundai Accent02
1993 Hyundai Accent01
1995 Hyundai Accent5142
1996 Hyundai Accent4101
1997 Hyundai Accent255
1998 Hyundai Accent147
1999 Hyundai Accent161
2000 Hyundai Accent492
2001 Hyundai Accent2112
2002 Hyundai Accent1134
2003 Hyundai Accent037
2004 Hyundai Accent033
2005 Hyundai Accent149
2006 Hyundai Accent343
2007 Hyundai Accent388
2008 Hyundai Accent1101
2009 Hyundai Accent2101
2010 Hyundai Accent187
2011 Hyundai Accent138
2012 Hyundai Accent2153
2013 Hyundai Accent1141
2014 Hyundai Accent179
2015 Hyundai Accent270
2016 Hyundai Accent0102
2017 Hyundai Accent068
2018 Hyundai Accent119
2019 Hyundai Accent131
2020 Hyundai Accent412
2021 Hyundai Accent416
2022 Hyundai Accent217

Checking a specific 1996 Hyundai Accent

How do I know if my 1996 Hyundai Accent has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1996 Hyundai Accent; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Hyundai dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V341000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Hyundai models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.