2002 Hyundai Accent Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2002 Accent most often describe trouble getting fuel into the tank: the pump clicks off repeatedly and fuel can spill back out, with several owners pointing to the charcoal vapor canister. Transmission complaints are the next most common, typically describing the car refusing to move forward or only driving in reverse. Many of these reports arrive at higher mileage, though brake, airbag and unintended-acceleration reports appear on much newer, lower-mileage vehicles.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Gas pump clicks off and fuel spills back during refueling

   • 22 complaints (16%)
   • median 68,006 mi at 9.1 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2002–2024

   Owners describe the pump shutting off every fraction of a gallon, so a fill-up can take many minutes, and in some cases fuel backs up the filler neck and spills onto the ground or the person refueling. Several complaints say a dealer identified the charcoal vapor canister as the cause, with charcoal breaking up and blocking the vent lines; others report parts replaced without the symptom going away. Some owners also mention a check-engine light and a failed emissions test. Complaints describe the dealer quoting a repair cost or declining help once the vehicle was outside warranty. Reported from roughly 25,000 to 130,000 miles, often appearing years after purchase and recurring at every fill-up.

   What to check: Fill the tank during a test drive and watch whether the nozzle clicks off repeatedly or fuel backs up. Ask whether the vapor canister, filler neck or vent valve has been replaced, and whether the check-engine light is currently on.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My Hyundai Accent 02 refuses to fuel up continually shutting off at the pump 1/4 gal at best, twenty minutes to fill, took it to the dealership they are well aware of the problem,,, the fumes can not vent properly and forces air back up the filler neck of the gas tank and sprays gas all over. This is not only dangerous to myself but also dangerous to every person in the area. I feel this is a danger to everyone and needs to b addressed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10505736, filed 2013-04, 56,000 miles

   “The problem I am having is with the vehicles perg flow system. The vehicle has a charcoal canister that filters gas vapors from the gas tank. This canister has become clogged so on fill up the fumes can not vent properly and forces air back up the filler neck of the gas tank and sprays gas all over. This is not only dangerous to myself but also dangerous to every person in the area. I feel this is a danger to everyone and needs to b addressed”

   NHTSA complaint #10393561, filed 2011-03, 130,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission fails to engage forward gears; only reverse

   • 23 complaints (17%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2015

   Complaints describe the car failing to move when shifted into drive while reverse still works, or the transmission dropping into a reduced-power mode, slipping, or hesitating on turns. Some owners report the transmission was replaced, in a few cases more than once, and that the problem returned. Others say the dealer could not duplicate the symptom or told them a new transmission was needed. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with a few cases on very low-mileage cars.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a test drive, shift through every gear including reverse from a stop and listen for rattles or delayed engagement. Ask for transmission service records and whether the transaxle has ever been replaced or reprogrammed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Pulled into the parking lot. I went to put it in park, but the car would only go in reverse. I was going forward in drive at the time. It started going in reverse. No matter what gear I tried, it would only go in reverse. I couldn't turn off the car. I kept trying to put it in park and eventually it worked. This car is not safe to drive. There are thousands of complaints about this same problem on line. I don't understand why this has not been recalled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10649832, filed 2014-10, 58,000 miles

   “April of 2008 our used 2002 Hyundai accents transmission failed. The car was out of warranty. We went to a local dealer to get a replacement and a refurbished one was put in. The replacement has now failed 4 months after the 1 -year warranty deadline. How is it possible that this company can make such bad transmissions ? No recalls to my knowledge have been awarded. As a safety issue the transmission would stall and drop into 80 km safe mode this is a canadian bought vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10281116, filed 2009-08, 91,744 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Rust perforation and failure of front lower control arms

   • 8 complaints (6%)
   • median 79,500 mi at 13.0 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2017

   Complaints describe the front lower control arm rusting through and breaking, sometimes with a scraping or crunching noise followed by loss of steering control and the wheel folding back into the fender. Owners in heavily salted regions connect the rust to road salt, and in one report the axle pulled out of the transmission when the arm failed. Some owners say they were told nothing could be done for their vehicle. Reported from roughly 63,000 to 170,000 miles, generally on older vehicles in salted-road states.

   What to check: Inspect the front lower control arms and the frame area beneath the engine for heavy scale or holes before buying, especially on a car from a salt-belt state; have a shop put it on a lift.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Having the vehicle stationary, I jacked it up to do some brake work in the front driver's side. The lower control arms (as well as various frame parts underneath) are extremely rusty. When lowering the vehicle using a floor jack (after doing the repair) the lower control broke. I feel very fortunate this happened in my yard on my property. This vehicle has only 84,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11048416, filed 2017-11, 84,000 miles

   “I was on a side street, thank god. On my way to the highway when I heard a horrible scratching, metal crunching noise. I had a hard time steering when I pulled into a parking lot my car just stopped. I looked, and my tire was sideways, the right lower control arm rotted and broke, the axle came out of the transmission. I spoke to Hyundai and there is nothing they can do. I recently lost my job and would like to be reimbursed for this. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10579118, filed 2014-04, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Unintended acceleration or erratic high idle

   • 15 complaints (11%)
   • median 34,000 mi at 2.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2010

   Owners describe the engine revving high or the car surging forward on its own, including from a stop and while backing up, with one report of the vehicle accelerating after the key was turned off. Several say the brake had to be pressed hard to hold the car, and that dealers could not duplicate the condition or replaced a sensor without solving it. Reported from very low mileage (under 1,000 miles in one case) up to about 55,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: During a test drive, let the car idle in park and watch for the tachometer climbing or hanging high, and ask whether any throttle or sensor work has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The motor over-accelerates even when the gas pedal is not pressed. This once caused my vehicle to move forward from a stopped position without my pressing the accelerator. It was a very dangerous situation considering the fact that I was at a stop light. * cb”

   NHTSA complaint #10054245, filed 2004-01, 33,000 miles

   “While backing out in reverse, the consumer applied the brakes and the vehicle suddenly accelerated. There was no incident to report. The dealer replaced the sensor assembly. When the vehicle accelerated on its own, the consumer applied the brakes which almost caused her to hit her father. When the vehicle started to rev, it was in park, then the consumer turned off the vehicle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10040281, filed 2003-12, 18,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Front airbags did not deploy in a collision

   • 15 complaints (11%)
   • median 29,000 mi at 2.9 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2017

   Owners describe frontal impacts at roughly 30 to 50 mph in which the front airbags did not inflate, and in one case an airbag that deployed but deflated quickly. Several complaints note injuries and that the dealer was notified without a resolution being reported. These are accounts of individual crashes rather than a described pattern of warning signs beforehand. Reported across a wide mileage range, mostly on vehicles under about 45,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has ever been inspected or serviced and whether the airbag warning lamp works and goes out after start-up; a scan tool can read stored airbag fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving 45 MPH, drifted slightly on a curve, corrected left went right instead on a sandy decline braked and flipped twice. Neither of the two airbags went off. The car is total loss.”

   NHTSA complaint #10112187, filed 2005-02, 43,400 miles

   “Consumer stated that while vehicle was being driven at 40-50 MPH it collided with another vehicle. Upon impact, airbags did not deploy, and consumer sustained unjuries.”

   NHTSA complaint #10031905, filed 2003-09, 17,000 miles

Buying note. Check refueling behavior and front-end rust before committing to a 2002 Accent, and have the transmission and airbag systems inspected. Service records showing the vapor canister or transaxle has already been addressed are worth asking about.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.