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Hyundai AccentModel year report

2003 Hyundai Accent Problems

Complaints
37filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
35,000miles, 21 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Hyundai Accent (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 2003 Hyundai Accent. The part named most often is air bags, with 15 complaints (41% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (7) and electrical system (3). 21 of the complaints include a mileage, and 62% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 35,000 miles. Of all complaints, 12 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 14 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 37 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 8 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Steering (1), Body and structure (1), Tires (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “The passenger seatbelt airbag sensor wire was caught and cut in normal use of the car, while it was under warranty. When I brought it in, they said that it was not covered under warranty, and so we have taken it to a 3rd party mechanic to fix it. When he ordered the replacement part through Hyundai, the replacement part has alterations which fix the problem that caused the issue. So they know about the problem but won't fix it. When it is broken the car doesn't know that there is a passenger in the car and so the airbag would never go off.”

NHTSA complaint #10854886, filed 2016-04, 12,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “My car was driven under 70,000 miles when my transmission started going out. I was in the car with my one year old niece at the time leaving to go home. My car started violently thrusting forward with all of us in the car and was jerking violently. I thought we were going to get in an accident with the child in the car in march 2006. As we pulled on the freeway the car did the same thing for the first 10 miles and we were sure we were going to die. But I pulled off the road and let it cool down. …”

NHTSA complaint #10398192, filed 2011-04, 60,000 miles

Electrical system: “The key will turn in the ignition , but the engine fails to turn over. Therefore, the vehicle wouldn't start. When this occurred the vehicle was towed to the dealership, where the ECM chip was replaced. The ECM chip was replaced twice, and I currently being replaced for the third time.”

NHTSA complaint #10113713, filed 2005-03, 14,500 miles

Engine cooling: “My 2003 hyundia Accent already had two failures of the emiision control system. The second failure only showed a check engine light for a few seconds then showed all systems normal agian. Each failure was found by different dealership but the same problem. The first time this happened the computer kept the check engine light on until the dealership repaired it but the second time the check engine light was on only for a few seconds, almost like the car was prgrammed to ignore the problem.”

NHTSA complaint #10143457, filed 2005-11, 29,161 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

62% of the 21 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 18,250 and 61,870 miles.

10%0–1024%10–2529%25–5019%50–7514%75–1000%100–1505%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (21 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 35,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’039’05’07’09’11’15’18
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Hyundai Accent. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Accent · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Hyundai Accent version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Accent/Brio FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual243328$2,400
Accent/Brio FWD1.5L 4-cyl4-speed automatic233226$2,600
Accent/Brio FWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual253027$2,500
Accent/Brio FWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic233226$2,600

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Hyundai Accent in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 37 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 37 bulletins →

Other model years of the Hyundai Accent

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2022173502436—Rising
202116—4436—Stable
20201234,2504436—Not enough data
20193154,5001—324 · FewerRising
2018199991—32—Stable
20176851,000043136 · TypicalStable
201610250,000043149 · TypicalFalling
20157061,794243154 · TypicalStable
20147976,000143130 · FewerRising
201314245,000143273 · MoreRising
201215360,000243287 · MoreStable
20113845,0001—3014 · FewerRising
20108760,0001—3052 · TypicalFalling
200910171,0002—2966 · MoreFalling
200810149,6001—2950 · TypicalStable
20078865,0333—29Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20064361,0003—29Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20054960,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20043336,0000—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20033735,0000—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200213443,4001—27Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200111252,5002—27Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20009261,0004—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19996174,9921—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19984766,0001—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19975569,4502—28Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199610186,2504—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199514271,7255—28Not compared (before 2008)Rising

All Hyundai Accent model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Hyundai Accent have?

NHTSA recorded 37 consumer complaints for the 2003 Hyundai Accent as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Hyundai Accent is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 15 complaints (41% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 7.

Has the 2003 Hyundai Accent been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Hyundai Accent get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Hyundai Accent (Accent/Brio, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 25 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Hyundai Accent reported?

Among the 21 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 35,000 miles and the middle half falls between 18,250 and 61,870 miles; 62% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.