1997 Hyundai Accent Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 1997 Hyundai Accent most often describe air bags that did not deploy in collisions or deployed unexpectedly, and engine stalling or hesitation while driving. Repeated engine or starting repairs that did not fix the problem, and transmission shifting or drivetrain faults, also appear in the complaints. Most complaints were filed between 1998 and 2004, and mileage is rarely listed.

1. 1
   Engine cooling

   Repeated engine repairs that did not fix the problem

   • 25 complaints (45%)
   • median 66,950 mi at 8.6 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2011

   Owners describe the same engine or starting problem returning after the dealer replaced parts such as starters, a timing belt, coil packs, crank sensors, spark plugs, and vacuum lines. A complaint says the engine was replaced under warranty more than once, and another describes sludge found in the engine after a PC valve was replaced, which the dealer called a clogged system not covered by warranty. Some complaints say the car went back to the shop repeatedly and the dealer could not pin down the problem. Mileage is rarely listed, and the complaints describe the problem returning after more than one repair visit.

   What to check: Ask for the full engine and starting repair history, including whether the same symptom returned after each repair. Check the oil condition and ask about any sludge or oil-related service, and confirm with the dealer which engine repairs were covered by warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For the pc system problem, I had noticed that the pc valve was leaking oil around it, so I replaced the component on may 12,2000. By december, I noticed that the car had some sort of problem with a noted drop in performance and fuel economy. So I decided, before bringing the car in for maintenance, to visually check the fluids, and wear components. I ended up finding sludge in the engine, created by water in the oil. …”

   NHTSA complaint #744895, filed 2001-05

   “We bought the vehicle in nov 1997. There was a hesitation pretty much from the start...really apparent at 7581. We bought it back to the dealer in march 1998...they attempted to repair it. It continued to be a nuisance...we contacted the dealer again. We brought the vehicle in to be repaired on june 23, 1999. Since then the spark plugs have failed 4 times (each time failure was on plug #1 and #3). It is now july 27, 1999. The ignition wires were replaced july 02... One of the wires replaced on july 02 was replaced again july 07. …”

   NHTSA complaint #709236, filed 1999-07
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bags not deploying or deploying unexpectedly

   • 7 complaints (13%)
   • median 62,500 mi at 6.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2004

   Owners describe air bags that did not deploy in collisions, including rear-end impacts at moderate speed. Another describes a driver side bag that inflated slowly and to the wrong side. Other complaints describe a driver side bag that deployed without any collision, and a driver bag that deployed late and burned the arms of the person at the wheel. An owner says the air bag warning light stayed on, raising concern about premature or missing deployment. Mileage is rarely listed, where given it is about 60,000 to 65,000 miles, and the failures are often described during collisions.

   What to check: Check that the air bag warning light goes out after the key is turned on, and ask for records of any collision or air bag work. Ask the dealer to scan for air bag system codes before purchase, since complaints describe deployment problems after impacts.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Vehicle was involved in motor vehicle accident. Driver's side impact. Passenger side air bag deployed first. Driver, my daughter struck the steering wheel and the driver's side air bag then deployed burning both arms of my daughter. No frontal contact at all.”

   NHTSA complaint #729118, filed 2000-08

   “While driving consumer had an accident. Upon impact, air bags did not deploy. Consumer was injured. Also, consumer stated that the guiding arm was very weak. This caused problems with the steering.”

   NHTSA complaint #10101835, filed 2004-11, 65,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Stalling, hesitation or jerking while driving

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • typically at 2.7 yrs old
   • filed 1998–2002

   Owners describe the engine stalling or cutting out while driving, sometimes without warning and including at highway speed. Other complaints describe hesitation at a steady speed, rough running when coming to a stop, or a heavy jerk that leaves the engine light on. Some say the car shakes or cuts off at stop signs, and that the dealer could not find the problem. Some complaints say spark plugs kept failing and ignition wires were replaced. Mileage is not listed in these reports, and the problems are described while driving at steady speed, at highway speed, and when coming to a stop.

   What to check: On a test drive, check for hesitation at a steady speed, rough running at stops, and jerking during acceleration, and watch for an engine warning light. Ask whether a diagnostic scan was done and what stored codes it showed, since some complaints say the dealer found no abnormality.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car stalls, runs rough when coming to a stop. I bought it from the dealer on 9/17/99 for $8,068.96 including finance charges. It had 45,490 miles. Now it has 68,841 miles. The dealer said it would cost $1,600 to repair the transmission problem. When I asked about trading it in, they told me the value of the car is only $2,000. How did it depreciate so much in one year? Is there a recall on this car? Is the dealer required to repair the transmission up to 100,000 miles regardless of whether I bought the extended warranty?”

   NHTSA complaint #740174, filed 2001-01

   “When putting gas into the tank there is a griding sound coming from the vehicle, and the only thing that is moving is the gauge. Vehicle isn't moving. Vehicle will kick in and then take off. Sometimes when the consumer is coming to a stop sign, he will put the vehicle into park just so the vehicle won't cut off. The vehicle shakes and vibrates. Vehicle has been in the shop about six times or more, and they can't determine the problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #832647, filed 1998-12
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting and drivetrain faults

   • 9 complaints (16%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2003

   Owners describe gears that stop working or slip when downshifting at highway speed, and a shifter that sticks in park and is hard to move into drive. Other complaints describe a clutch failure at highway speed with a loss of control, and a car that moved backward when the ignition was turned on. According to complaints, transmission or torque converter repairs were needed, and a dealer could not duplicate the shifting problem. Mileage is rarely listed, and where given it is about 54,000 miles, with symptoms described while driving at speed or when shifting.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: On a test drive, shift through every gear, check for slipping on downshifts, and confirm the car engages drive and reverse smoothly from park. Ask for the transmission and torque converter repair history, including whether any warranty repairs were done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Car was returned to Hyundai under warranty in january 2002. Reported to have a bad torque converter and starter. Both replaced under warranty. Last week car wouldnt start again. Our mechanic diagnosed same problem. Was told that if car had been properly diagnosed as having extensive transmission problem while under warranty this would have been properly repaired and not patched up. Hyundai is now refusing to absorb cost since the car is no longer under warranty. Torque converters and starters dont go bad yearly!!! Help!!”

   NHTSA complaint #10013897, filed 2003-04, 54,000 miles

   “Consumer states that while driving about 65 MPH , downshifting the vehicle, the gears stopped working and the brakes went on the vehicle. The dealer has been contacted.”

   NHTSA complaint #817670, filed 1997-10

Buying note. Check that the air bag warning light is off and ask for records of any collision or air bag work, since complaints describe deployment problems after impacts. Test drive for stalling, hesitation, and shift quality, and ask for the engine and transmission repair history, since some complaints describe repeated repairs that did not fix the problem.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 35 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.