2007 Hyundai Accent Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2007 Accent most often describe the airbag warning light staying on, frequently linked to the front passenger seat occupant sensor. Sun visors that drop or will not stay up come next, followed by brake lights that do not illuminate and a smaller group of crash reports where the airbags did not fully deploy. Reported mileage ranges from a few thousand miles to over 150,000, so the common problems are not limited to high-mileage cars.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light stays on

   • 34 complaints (39%)
   • median 71,000 mi at 7.9 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2018

   Owners describe the airbag warning light turning on, flickering, or staying on, often with fault codes that point to the passenger seat occupant classification system. According to complaints, the dealer often said the passenger seat sensor or its module needed replacing, and some owners were told the whole seat would have to be replaced. Some owners say the light returned after codes were cleared, and some say the passenger airbag was disabled even when the seat was occupied. Reports range from a few thousand miles to over 150,000, with a typical report near 70,000 miles, and some describe the light changing when the passenger seat is occupied.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: When starting the car, watch for the airbag warning light or a passenger airbag off indicator, and ask a dealer to read the airbag system codes. A service bulletin describes an extended warranty for the passenger occupant classification sensor mat on 2006 to 2011 Accent models, so ask whether it applies and check the terms against the car's original delivery date.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Same problem as others. Air bag warning stays lighted no matter what. Research shows that people are discovering that it's the passenger seat sensor and that the repair is $1000. They have recalled this same part on sonatas (same year) but not he accents. We're told that none of the air bags work if this light is on. Please help!”

   NHTSA complaint #11032810, filed 2017-10, 65,000 miles

   “Air bag light is on with code b1517, and b1448. Shop is unable to determine whether airbag will deploy or not. How many people have to complain about the same issue before something is done about it? I've read multiple complaints over the same issue. If an air bag doesn't deploy that could most definitely be fatal.”

   NHTSA complaint #10933774, filed 2016-12, 117,234 miles
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Sun visor drops or will not stay up

   • 16 complaints (18%)
   • median 75,450 mi at 7.8 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2021

   Owners describe a sun visor, on either side, that sags, falls, or will not stay in the raised position, sometimes blocking the view while driving. Complaints say the internal rod or spring lost its holding force, and some describe a broken visor or a cracked support bar. Some owners say the failure began just after the warranty ended, and some say the dealer quoted a high price for replacement parts. Most reports fall between about 58,000 and 100,000 miles, with a lower report at about 32,000 miles, and reports describe the visor failing while driving into the sun.

   What to check: Before buying, raise and lower each sun visor and check that it stays in both the stowed and lowered positions. Ask whether the visor or its mounting rod has already been replaced, since complaints describe replacement parts as costly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2007 Hyundai Accent driver side sun visor has broken just after warranty went out. It will not stay in the up position anymore. It is in my face and very hazardous while driving. I have not replaced yet because the dealer wants $190.00 to repair/replace. I have read about numerous complaints about this on all Hyundai's. Please help!”

   NHTSA complaint #10327764, filed 2010-04, 60,293 miles

   “The driver side sun visor was broken, so it fell down while I was driving. It has potential danger. And it is hard to find a replacement. Tthough the dealer can provide the part, it's ridiculously expensive. I hope Hyundai makes the part more sustable and the genuine part can be available more. Thanks”

   NHTSA complaint #10733318, filed 2015-07, 100,000 miles
3. 3
   Exterior lighting

   Brake lights do not illuminate (stop lamp switch)

   • 12 complaints (14%)
   • median 63,360 mi at 5.8 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2009–2023

   Owners report that the brake lights stopped working or did not illuminate when the pedal was pressed. According to complaints, the dealer or a repair shop identified the stop lamp or brake light switch as the failed part, and some learned of the failure from other drivers. Some owners say the manufacturer told them their VIN was not included in recall campaigns for this switch, even though the model and year matched the recall description. Most reports fall between about 43,000 and 78,000 miles, with a lower-mileage report at about 18,000 miles, and some describe the lights failing to show when braking.

   Recall 09V280000Recall 09V122000Recall 13V113000

   What to check: With the car running, have someone press the brake pedal and check the rear brake lights from outside, then ask a dealer or repair shop to test the stop lamp switch. Check the VIN against the official recall lookup for stop lamp switch campaigns, because complaints say some owners were told their car was not included.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Stop lamp switch malfunction. Apparently this is/was a problem on many Hyundai cars from 2007 because they issued a recall on over half a million cars. My specific car (VIN number) was not included; however my stop lamp switch did malfunction. I feel like I should have been part of that recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10469291, filed 2012-08, 77,000 miles

   “Gentleman pulls up beside me at a stoplight and says, I don't have any brake lights. I check them and sure enough, no brake lights. I called Hyundai and they say my VIN does not have any recalls. I did see a recall on 2007 accents online. Want to know why mine isn't on the list. I'm sure they must be using the same parts. I'd like to know how something like this can go bad like the others did and not be recalled.”

   NHTSA complaint #10459895, filed 2012-05, 63,360 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying as expected in crashes

   • 17 complaints (19%)
   • median 55,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2007–2018

   Owners describe crashes where the airbags did not come out, or where only some airbags deployed, such as the driver side curtain airbag. A complaint also describes a driver airbag that deployed partially and released anti-freeze into the cabin. Some describe injuries sustained in these crashes, according to the complaints. Reported between about 12,800 and 72,000 miles, and the crashes described include snowy or slushy roads and a rear-end impact at about 35 mph.

   What to check: Ask for a fault code scan of the airbag system and check the vehicle history report for prior crash or airbag deployment records.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2007 Hyundai Accent, ran into ditch. My air bags did not come out I was seriously injured & the passenger with me was also. If the air bags would of came out I know we would of not have been hurt so bad. I have pictures & the car.”

   NHTSA complaint #10317007, filed 2010-03, 40,000 miles

   “Driving in idaho, the car started to slide on snow and slush hitting a guard rail head on, causing the vehicle to careen from the right to the left side of the road. Leaving the road caused the car to flip on the roof, where the engine caught fire. Only the driver curtain airbag deployed, resulting in the driver and passenger sustaining unnecessary injury that resulted from hitting the steering wheel and front dashboard which LED to being hospitalized. A concussion sustained by the driver as well as knee and back injuries. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10258401, filed 2009-02, 24,500 miles

Buying note. Before buying a 2007 Accent, test the airbag warning light, all brake lights, and both sun visors, and ask the dealer whether any recall or service bulletin for the stop lamp switch or passenger occupant sensor was completed. Run the VIN through the official recall lookup, since complaints say some owners were not covered by related brake light recalls.

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.