Hyundai Accent Problems: 5 Common Issues (Explained)

The Hyundai name carries the crown when it comes to affordable and reliable vehicles, and the Accent is one of the most notable models.

It has won multiple awards over the years for its safety features, valuable pricing, and design.

No vehicle is 100 percent, however.

Thus, we’ll discuss five common issues with the Hyundai Accent and how you get ahead of those inconveniences and get the most out of this fantastic vehicle.

1. Faulty Throttle Position Sensor

Some Accent owners have complained about faultythrottle position sensor issues. The mentioned issues include random stopping and starting, poor performance, shifting gears, and idle surging.

The throttle position sensor is crucial because it ensures that the air-fuel mixture within the engine’s system is delivered to spec.

A problem with it can cause all of the above-mentioned issues and more.

Fortunately, the part isn’t expensive, and the manufacturer will likely cover it under the warranty if you’ve recently purchased the vehicle.

The most effective remedy is to take your car to a dealer if you notice any odd behavior with your acceleration or idling processes.

2. Possible Transmission Issues

Several 2004 Hyundai Accent owners reported issues with their transmissions.

The most common complaints were that of slipping gears.

What Causes Slipping Gears on a Hyundai Accent?

Slipping gears can occur for numerous reasons, such as low transmission fluid. If you find that your gears slip, the first thing to do is to have someone check your fluid levels.

A top-up and a leak examination can easily resolve the problem, and you may be able to do it yourself.

The 2006 to 2011 Accent models have a dipstick for the transmission fluid.

You can check it by locating the dipstick, which is under the hood near the crankcase. It should have a yellow or colored handle so that you can pull it out easily to check it.

To effectively check your transmission fluid, you’ll need to be parked on a level surface and leave your car running.

Pull the dipstick out by the handle and wipe it off so that no liquid shows. Next, stick it back into the fluid and pull it out immediately to get an accurate reading.

You’ll see whether you need to top up your fluid or not. If so, you will need to check your owner’s manual for the right type of fluid for your model so that you can top it up correctly.

Unfortunately, you cannot use the same procedure for many newer Accent models. Manufacturers designed them with a sealed system, and only an experienced Hyundai mechanic can service them.

Car makers are designing many of the newer vehicles that way. Thus, you should consider it a blessing if you see a dipstick for your transmission fluid and an easy way to refill it.

Other reasons for a slipping transmission include:

• Worn gears
• Faulty solenoid
• Torque converter issues
• Clutch trouble
• Broken bands on the transmission

Here’s a more extensive list of signs you have a slipping transmission.

Remember that the older a car is, the more likely it is to have complications. Therefore, your problem might be age’s fault and not the vehicle manufacturer’s.

The dealers’ warranty covers some problems. Hence, you can contact the automotive dealer who sold you the Accent if you have issues with the transmission shortly after purchasing it.

3. AC System Not Cooling

Problems with the air conditioning system are more of an inconvenience than a significant problem.

Still, cooling failures were reported by a few owners of Hyundai Accent models.

The reasons for an AC system not cooling can be major or minor. The most straightforward cause of an HVAC system not cooling is a low refrigerant level. This special refrigerant typically needs to be replenished after about a year, though some models hold onto it longer than others.

A clogged air filter can cause your reliable AC system to cool insufficiently as dirt and debris accumulate over it. However, the filters are inexpensive and can be changed in less than five minutes.

Other causes of cooling problems are:

• Dirty condenser
• Worn blend door actuators
• Bad blower motor
• Faulty cycling switch

Don’t be stressed or alarmed if you notice that your vehicle doesn’t cool inside the cabin as it should. You could have a low level of coolant or dirty filter that the mechanic can replace quickly.

The most effective way to avoid complications with the AC system is to take it in for maintenance at the intervals specified in your owner’s manual.

4. Losing coolant

Carcomplaints.com users listed a few complaints about the 2016 Accent losing coolant.

A loss of coolant can cause the vehicle to overheat, which can facilitate severe problems with your motor. You must have the car diagnosed if you notice any of the following issues:

• A sweet smell coming from the engine or through your HVAC system
• White smoke coming out of the exhaust
• Green liquid on any part of the motor or on the ground

Your car can lose coolant for myriad reasons, which can be minor or severe. The most minor reason you will lose coolant is when you have a worn or damaged hose.

The cooling system has many hoses that transport the antifreeze and water throughout various engine parts. Those hoses wear over time, become weak, and sometimes dislodge under pressure.

Replacement hoses are inexpensive and typically connect and disconnect with clamps. You can save a significant amount of money by addressing those small issues as soon as you see them.

Other reasons your vehicle might lose coolant include:

Excessive heat:

It could be that the temperatures where you live are extreme this year. The intense heat can cause your coolant to boil if it’s too much for your system to handle.

Driving your car for shorter periods can solve the problem, as can changing the type of coolant in your vehicle.

Check with the manufacturer or an automotive expert for the appropriate type. You might notice less overheating if you swap the antifreeze brand or dilution level.

Broken radiator fan:

A broken fan can cause your car to overheat quickly, but a careful inspection can reveal the problem.

A faulty thermostat: 

A broken thermostat can immediately throw the vehicle’s temperature off, resulting in temperatures that are too hot for adequate engine operation.

Loose radiator cap:

Something as simple as a loose radiator cap can cause you to lose coolant as you drive and when pressure builds in the cooling system. This problem is the easiest to fix of them all.

A clogged radiator core:

Failure to get regular radiator flushes can cause sludge and debris to build inside of it. If the core gets clogged, your coolant will not circulate, and that can cause you to lose fluid.

Your car is overheating:

Low coolant and faulty components can push your vehicle over the safe temperature line and boil your remaining coolant, and you will lose the liquid as it pressurizes and boils over.

Cracked cylinder or blown head gasket:

Cracked cylinders and blown head gaskets happen when vehicle owners don’t tend to minor issues right away.

Vehicles overheat and first blow the head gasket. Waiting to have the head gasket repaired usually causes the cylinder to crack or warp.

It’s best to take an overheating vehicle off the road until you have it repaired, as cracked cylinders and head gaskets can cost thousands of dollars to repair.

5. Power Window Problems

Accent owners have complained about having problems with their power windows.

Some common issues that came up in the complaints were as follows:

• The windows won’t go up
• Windows won’t fully close in auto mode
• Windows bounce back midway
• Windows keep bouncing back after closing

These are some common reasons for the above window issues:

Dry parts: 

Sometimes, window contraptions get stuck because they’re dry. A little smidge of lube can go a long way.

Battery placement disconnect: 

The windows on the Accent may stop working if someone disconnects or replaces the battery. That can come from a temporary system communication problem.

Pinch protection system:

The Accent has a special pinch protection feature that prevents operators from having their fingers pinched or crushed in the window.

The window will stop and bounce back down if it detects anything as it rolls up. The problem that sometimes occurs is that it detects items such as dirt, rocks, debris, and anything else that can get stuck along the track.

Obstacles will cause the window to bounce back halfway. In some cases, the window will bounce back for no apparent reason.

What To Do if You Experience Window Problems With Your Hyundai Accent

You can do three main things if you experience problems with your Hyundai Accent windows. Grabbing a can of lube and spraying the cracks is one way to get things rolling again (no pun intended).

You can also inspect the window track to see if anything is there that needs to be removed or dislodged.

That might solve your “bouncing back” issue.

You may need to reprogram your entire window. Do this by first starting your Accent and closing all the doors and windows.

Press and hold your window control switch for three to five seconds.

Next, close the window using the control switch and continue holding it for three to five seconds. The system should reset itself after you take those steps.

You might have to use an alternative method to reset the window system if the first one doesn’t work. For example, you might need to repeat the procedure without starting the engine.

General Pros and Cons of the Hyundai Accent

These are the generalized pros and cons of purchasing a Hyundai Accent:

Pros

• Fuel efficient
• Budget-friendly
• Captivating design
• Quiet cabin
• User-friendly tech

Cons

• Non-dazzling interior
• Not the most powerful motor
• Small trunk space

What Do the Reviews Say About the Hyundai Accent?

Reviewers had plenty of positive things to say about the Hyundai Accent.

One reviewer on Cars.com said that his Hyundai Accent drove well and had excellent gas mileage; he rated it 4.6 out of five stars.

Another person on the same page said that the Accent had the best value for the money and met all his needs. An additional individual stated that the Accent is an excellent vehicle for a back-and-forth commute to work.

Experts on Motortrend notated the Hyundai Accent as a model that does not disappoint.

Thus, you can conclude that Accent is an excellent model to select, even with the few shortcomings it may have.

What’s the Resale Value on a Hyundai Accent?

According to CarEdge, a brand new Hyundai Accent will depreciate by 23 percent after the first five years and have a general resale value of a little over $17,000.

After 10 years, the vehicle will be worth a little over $12,000. You can use a trusty depreciation calculator to determine your Accent’s value.

Now you know five common issues you might experience if you own a Hyundai Accent.

They certainly aren’t the worst problems you can have with a vehicle.

Your successful ownership of any vehicle depends on how quickly you respond to issues and how frequently you take your vehicle in for maintenance and other servicing.

Please also check out our article about the best and worst years for the Hyundai Accent.

GO BACK: See problems for all Hyundai models.

https://www.cars.com/research/hyundai-accent-2021/consumer-reviews/

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/hyundai/accent/