2004 Hyundai Accent Problems
- Complaints
- 33filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 36,000miles, 23 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 2004 Hyundai Accent (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Accent. The part named most often is air bags, with 10 complaints (30% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (5) and steering (4). 23 of the complaints include a mileage, and 70% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 36,000 miles. Of all complaints, 11 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 15 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.
- Air bags10 30%
- Steering4 12%
- Brakes3 9.1%
- Electrical system2 6.1%
- Engine cooling2 6.1%
- Suspension2 6.1%
- Tires2 6.1%
- Equipment1 3.0%
Also reported: Fuel system (1), Other or unknown (1), Body and structure (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Air bags: “Wife, 64,was driving our one-owner 2004 Hyundai Accent gl on private road approx 15 MPH when airbags deployed without any impact of any sort to vehicle. Wife was badly bruised on arms and face and windshield was shattered by passenger side airbag cover when bags deployed. We were fortunate that she was not on busy street or on interstate as this would have certainly resulted in a wreck with severe bodily injury or possible death. Local Hyundai dealership (perkins motors, colorado springs) refused to do anything. …”
NHTSA complaint #10643710, filed 2014-10, 32,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “I own a 2004 Hyundai Accent. For the past 3 years the transmission has had significant issues. The automatic transmission will randomly slam into a lower gear or will get stuck in a gear. This causes safety issues during winter driving because the vehicle lurches forward at times when shifting. While attempting to enter into traffic, the car will be stuck in 3 gear which almost has caused an accident several times by pulling out too slow. I have had it in twice to the transmission shop and they could not diagnose the problem without an engine code. …”
NHTSA complaint #10340819, filed 2010-06, 36,000 milesSteering: “Hyundai Accent 2004. Bought the car late feb 2004. Car pulls to the left from day one. Took it to the dealer and they drove it and admits it pulls to the left and said it is just the way the road goes. Problem got worse and took to the dealer oct. 2004. They kept the car a day and a half and tried several solutions including different tires etc. Still pulls to the left. They took me in a new Accent and showed me it does the same and it is how they are made. With the torque steering and a small car it does that and it is beyond repair.”
NHTSA complaint #10095544, filed 2004-10, 66 milesBrakes: “The inboard pad of the right front brake wore out prematurely. This caused the rotor to be damaged. The vehicle was maintained according to the warranty instructions (brake inspection every 7500 mile and adjusted if necessary) upon visual inspection (most recent was 06-2006) there was no excessive wear of the pads or binding of caliper or rotor. I noticed the brakes were giving resistance when going from a stop so I scheduled an appointment at -rick case Hyundai_ in euclid, oh. …”
NHTSA complaint #10170409, filed 2006-10, 39,900 milesMileage when problems were reported
70% of the 23 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 10,020 and 67,505 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2004 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.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent · coupe | not rated | 5 / 4 | — | — | — |
| Accent · sedan | not rated | 4 / 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 2004 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).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accent/Brio FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 24 | 33 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Accent/Brio FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 23 | 32 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Accent/Brio FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 25 | 30 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Accent/Brio FWD | 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 23 | 32 | 26 | $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 2004 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.
- 11038458Oct 8, 2026Engine. Some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles…
- 11038456Oct 7, 2026Engine. Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles…
- 11032523Apr 10, 2026Air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile…
- 11032522Apr 10, 2026Air bags. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo…
- 11025476Nov 6, 2025Exterior lighting. This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates…
- 10251285Feb 14, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade protective cover on all models. If the protective cover is not removed correctly, there is a possibility of…
- 10247189Oct 13, 2023Engine cooling. This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and filter change services.
- 10235566Apr 24, 2023Body and structure. Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to dealerships. It provides a barrier between the paint and contaminants, such as rail dust, acid rain, and industrial…
- 10230904Jan 30, 2023Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates…
- 10217251Jul 28, 2022Engine cooling. Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain components of the engine intake system accordingly during engine short block or sub-assembly replacement.
Other model years of the Hyundai Accent
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 17 | 350 | 2 | 4 | 36 | — | Rising |
| 2021 | 16 | — | 4 | 4 | 36 | — | Stable |
| 2020 | 12 | 34,250 | 4 | 4 | 36 | — | Not enough data |
| 2019 | 31 | 54,500 | 1 | — | 32 | 4 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 19 | 999 | 1 | — | 32 | — | Stable |
| 2017 | 68 | 51,000 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 36 · Typical | Stable |
| 2016 | 102 | 50,000 | 0 | 4 | 31 | 49 · Typical | Falling |
| 2015 | 70 | 61,794 | 2 | 4 | 31 | 54 · Typical | Stable |
| 2014 | 79 | 76,000 | 1 | 4 | 31 | 30 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2013 | 142 | 45,000 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 73 · More | Rising |
| 2012 | 153 | 60,000 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 87 · More | Stable |
| 2011 | 38 | 45,000 | 1 | — | 30 | 14 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2010 | 87 | 60,000 | 1 | — | 30 | 52 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 101 | 71,000 | 2 | — | 29 | 66 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 101 | 49,600 | 1 | — | 29 | 50 · Typical | Stable |
| 2007 | 88 | 65,033 | 3 | — | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 43 | 61,000 | 3 | — | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 49 | 60,000 | 1 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 33 | 36,000 | 0 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2003 | 37 | 35,000 | 0 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 134 | 43,400 | 1 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 2001 | 112 | 52,500 | 2 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 92 | 61,000 | 4 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 61 | 74,992 | 1 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 47 | 66,000 | 1 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 55 | 69,450 | 2 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1996 | 101 | 86,250 | 4 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 142 | 71,725 | 5 | — | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
All Hyundai Accent model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Hyundai Accent have?
NHTSA recorded 33 consumer complaints for the 2004 Hyundai Accent as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2004 Hyundai Accent is reported most often?
Air bags is named most often, in 10 complaints (30% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 5.
Has the 2004 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 2004 Hyundai Accent get?
The EPA rates the 2004 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 2004 Hyundai Accent reported?
Among the 23 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 36,000 miles and the middle half falls between 10,020 and 67,505 miles; 70% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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.