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Hyundai AccentModel year report

2008 Hyundai Accent Problems

Compared with other Hyundai Accent years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
101filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
49,600miles, 82 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns 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
29 mpgcombined, 1.6L 4-cyl FWD · 27 city / 32 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Hyundai Accent (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report a persistent airbag warning light traced to the front passenger seat occupant sensor, and driver or passenger sun visors that break loose and hang down. Brake-light switch failures and various electrical gremlins appear in complaints filed at moderate to high mileage, while a smaller group describes check-engine, stalling or front-end vibration problems.

  1. Air bags

    Airbag warning light / passenger seat occupant sensor

    • 33 complaints (33%)
    • median 59,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (27 state mileage)
    • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 7 quotes)
    • filed 2009–2021

    Complaints describe the SRS or airbag light staying lit with no crash involved, often traced by a dealer or parts-store scan to the passenger seat occupant classification sensor (code B1448). Owners say they were quoted roughly $900 to over $1,500 for a seat base or sensor replacement, and several report the light returning after a warranty repair. A few describe airbags not deploying in a collision. Reported across a wide mileage span, from about 13,000 to over 100,000 miles, with many clustered between 50,000 and 95,000 miles.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Turn the key to on and confirm the airbag light goes out after the self-check; ask whether the passenger seat sensor or OCS mat was ever replaced under the extended warranty coverage.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving down a busier street in town at about 35-40 miles an hour, with family in the car, when a lady in an SUV pulled out in front of me. The front of my vehicle crushed into her driver's tire area. My car was totaled and none of the airbags deployed. Thank goodness everyone had their seatbelts on, and everyone walked away from the accident.”

    NHTSA complaint #10781836, filed 2015-10, 74,000 miles

    “I got into a collision in las vegas, nevada. I was driving my 2008 Hyundai Accent, I got hit head on and none of the airbags deployed. I was turning and going approximately 5 MPH the person who hit me was going 35 to 40 MPH. The speed limit on that particular street is 45 MPH. My car is a total loss and luckily no one got hurt.”

    NHTSA complaint #10254111, filed 2009-01, 12,400 miles
  2. Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

    Sun visor breaks loose and hangs down

    • 23 complaints (23%)
    • median 66,973 mi at 6.0 yrs old (19 state mileage)
    • filed 2012–2019

    Owners describe the driver or passenger sun visor snapping out of its mounting socket or bracket and dropping into the line of sight, sometimes while driving; in some cases only the wiring cord holds it. Complaints say dealers replaced a visor under warranty in some instances but declined later repairs as out of warranty, and several owners taped or tied the visor up. Reported from very low mileage up to about 100,000 miles, with many under 70,000 miles and several in hot, sunny climates.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Fold both visors down and back up and check that each holds position and is attached firmly at the pivot and clip; replacement visors are a known repeat item.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The driver side sun visor keeps falling down. I've had this happen on my 2007 Hyundai sonata as well. From the research I've done online, all Hyundai model years 2006-2009 have the same issue with the parts used in the sun visor. I'm no longer under factory warranty and the dealer won't fix it. This is a manufacture issue.”

    NHTSA complaint #10596628, filed 2014-06, 39,000 miles

    “Sun visors are broken on both the driver and passenger sides. I've been looking on the web this morning and am amazed by how many other people seem to have the same issue with their visors. It's really quite problematic as these both don't function properly now and hinder visibility from inside this rather small car. The driver side visor is hanging from what looks like some type of cord on the left hand side. I am unable to secure it back up and it is constantly flapping around. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10587794, filed 2014-05, 5,000 miles
  3. Engine cooling

    Check-engine light, stalling and rough running

    • 9 complaints (9%)
    • median 30,000 mi at 2.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2008–2019

    Owners describe the check-engine light staying on after routine service, with dealers reporting different codes on repeated visits, and engines that shut off after coming to a stop and need to be restarted. Others mention coil and misfire repairs, trouble restarting after refueling, and one instance of engine surging while braking. Reported mainly between about 15,000 and 70,000 miles, with some cases past 100,000 miles.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Check that no warning lamps stay lit after start-up, ask for any stored engine codes, and confirm whether the ECM software update noted in service bulletins was performed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I own a 2008 Hyundai Accent, and it has about 30,000 miles on it. I've had it in the shop twice this month the first time for the coils and the second for a miss fire. This is getting to be ridiculous, I just got it out the shop 2 days ago and now the steering is off, really bad. It was so bad I could barely keep it on the road. Now I'll be taking this car back to the dealership again for the third time in one month.”

    NHTSA complaint #10329280, filed 2010-05, 30,000 miles

    “On november 14, 2014, after coming to a stop,the engine shut off almost immediately, requiring me to put the vehicle into park or neutral to restart it. This has happened 19 times since. My concern is that this may happen while I am in motion and that if it did it might cause another vehicle to crash into mine. I have brought the vehicle into our local Hyundai dealer where it was purchased used in july 2014 to have this problem fixed. The engine came to a stop while it was on their lift being checked out. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10705186, filed 2015-04, 65,000 miles
  4. Brakes

    Brake lights not working (brake light switch)

    • 10 complaints (10%)
    • median 66,000 mi at 4.2 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2011–2014

    Complaints describe the brake lights failing to illuminate when the pedal is pressed, with the switch identified as the cause and the car otherwise braking normally. Some owners had the switch replaced at a dealer, at times at no charge, while others describe trouble getting reimbursement after paying for the repair themselves; a few report turn-signal and blower-motor oddities alongside it. Mostly reported between about 40,000 and 90,000 miles.

    Recall 13V113000

    What to check: Have someone watch the rear lights while you press the brake pedal, and ask whether the brake light switch recall work was completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “This may not be the correct place to report this so please let me know where I should report this reimbursement problem. I received a recall notice for the brake lamp switch that I needed to replace pre-notification. Since that time I have been getting the runaround by Hyundai's consumer affairs department. When coming to this sit to review the recall I see that they are violating the pre-notification reimbursement portion of the recall agreement. Basically saying they will not pay until the repair complies to there standard. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10543154, filed 2013-09, 55,000 miles

    “The brake light switch failed, causing the 2008 Hyundai Accent to have no brake lights. I was informed of this by another driver who told me that my brake lights were not functioning. While trying to find a safe place to pull over, I was nearly rear-ended by two other vehicles due to my vehicle not having functional brake lights. I had to have the vehicle towed to the nearest dealership where they diagnosed and repaired the problem. As the vehicle was no longer under warranty, I was made responsible for the towing and repair costs.”

    NHTSA complaint #10507308, filed 2013-04, 54,400 miles

Buying note. If you are considering this model year, test the airbag light and both sun visors first, since those two items dominate owner complaints, and confirm the brake light switch campaign was completed. A pre-purchase scan for stored codes and a look at service records will tell you more than mileage alone.

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.

NHTSA recorded 101 consumer complaints for the 2008 Hyundai Accent. 82 of the complaints include a mileage, and 50% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 49,600 miles. Of all complaints, 11 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 9 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 42 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 10 Hyundai Accent model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

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: Seats (3), Fuel system (2), Seat belts (2), Steering (2), Tires (2), Transmission and drivetrain (2), Vehicle speed control (2), Wheels (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Suspension (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “At end of may 2016, my airbag light went on and stayed on. I took my 2008 Accent to the dealer on 6/2/16 and was told that the ocs mat may need to be replaced at a cost of $1400 to $1600. If I do not replace it, the airbags will not deploy in an accident because the airbag sensor system is disabled. This 2008 Accent should be recalled because this is a serious safety issue.”

NHTSA complaint #10874935, filed 2016-06, 58,385 miles

Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): “Drivers side sun visor assembly design allows it to fall down and flap thereby causing myself the driver and owner to have an accident. Hyundai refuses to acknowledge this defect as a serious safety issue. I could have been killed!!!!! I was driving in heavy traffic on a u.s. Interstate in south carolina.”

NHTSA complaint #11062078, filed 2018-01, 34,753 miles

Brakes: “This vehicle has excessive rust underbody, and the fuel tank straps are rusted along with just about the whole frame. The brakes are now squealing and rubbing after an alleged underbody rust treatment, which sprayed over the old rust! Hyundai has offered a wax treatment which is basically waxing my rust. The fuel straps seem to me to be a safety issue of great importance, as well as the brakes. The driver's side seatbelt does not always fasten and I was told that there's nothing wrong with it. …”

NHTSA complaint #11043280, filed 2017-11, 125,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “Noticed my airbag light on not sure why I have not been in accident nor run into anything. Only one of my breaklights (passenger side) out. Recently had stop light replaced.”

NHTSA complaint #10730110, filed 2015-06, 68,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

50% of the 82 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 25,000 and 80,000 miles.

11%0–1013%10–2526%25–5023%50–7516%75–10010%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (82 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 49,600 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’08’10’12’1420’16’18’20’23
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 2008 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 FWDnot rated5 / 5———

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 2008 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 FWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual273229$2,300
Accent FWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic243328$2,400

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

Recall details for the 2008 Hyundai Accent → · Check a 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. 42 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 42 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

What are the most common problems with the 2008 Hyundai Accent?

Owners of this model year most often report a persistent airbag warning light traced to the front passenger seat occupant sensor, and driver or passenger sun visors that break loose and hang down. The issues reported most often: Airbag warning light / passenger seat occupant sensor; Sun visor breaks loose and hangs down; Check-engine light, stalling and rough running.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Hyundai Accent have?

NHTSA recorded 101 consumer complaints for the 2008 Hyundai Accent as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Hyundai Accent is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 34 complaints (34% of the total), followed by visibility with 24.

Has the 2008 Hyundai Accent been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2008 Hyundai Accent get?

The EPA rates the 2008 Hyundai Accent (Accent, 1.6L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 27 city and 32 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Hyundai Accent reported?

Among the 82 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 49,600 miles and the middle half falls between 25,000 and 80,000 miles; 50% 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.