NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 Hyundai Accent Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2008 Hyundai Accent has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 101 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Hyundai dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 Hyundai Accent, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2008 Hyundai Accent owner complaints

Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Hyundai Accent, describing incidents dated January 13, 2008 to April 13, 2023.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 34 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 24 complaints
Service Brakes 12 complaints
Exterior Lighting 10 complaints
Engine 9 complaints
Electrical System 8 complaints

Of the 101 complaints on file, 11 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 101 complaints, owners report 9 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11517147 · Filed April 14, 2023
I have a 2008 Hyundai Accent. It only has 55,000 miles. However, the engine is failing. After doing reading, it is obvious that this vehicle has manufacturer engine defects. I am 81 years old. What do I do now. I did not want to purchase another vehicle. I would like Hyundai to replace this engine…
ODI #11513778 · Filed March 25, 2023
my car has been broken into twice in the past three months, with personal items being stolen each time: a child car seat, a child booster seat, an emergency inhaler medication for asthma, multiple charging cords, a bluetooth adapter system, and a workbag which contained medical equipment and scrubs…
ODI #11387571 · Filed January 11, 2021
08 ACCENT GS, AIRBAG LIGHT ON WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT OR UNUSUAL DRIVING. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS ISSUE SINCE MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Read all 101 complaints

Stop Lamp Switch may Function Intermittently

NHTSA #13V113000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported April 1, 2013 · Hyundai Motor Company

Potentially affected: 1,712,336 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 110 · Owners notified April 22, 2013 · Vehicles built December 1, 2006 – February 28, 2009 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburon vehicles. Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, and model year 2011 Sonata vehicles. In September 2013, Hyundai informed the agency that it was adding more vehicles to this campaign, representing an additional 652,512 units. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 1,712,336. In the affected vehicles, the stop lamp switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning stop lamp switch may also result in intermittent operation of the push-button start feature, affect the operation of the brake transmission shift interlock feature, preventing the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position and cause the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) malfunction light to illuminate.

Safety consequence

Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the transmission shifter may be able to be moved out of Park without first applying the brake. This may lead to unintentional movement of the car which may increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall campaign number is 110.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

2008 Hyundai Accent 4-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 5, Passenger: 5

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 4, Passenger: 3

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

2008 Hyundai Accent 2-DR. w/SAB

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

101 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 Hyundai Accent.

Engine

ODI #11517147

Incident: April 13, 2023 · Filed: April 14, 2023

I have a 2008 Hyundai Accent. It only has 55,000 miles. However, the engine is failing. After doing reading, it is obvious that this vehicle has manufacturer engine defects. I am 81 years old. What do I do now. I did not want to purchase another vehicle. I would like Hyundai to replace this engine without cost to me. I have own cars with 89,000 miles that did not have engine defects.

Unknown or Other; Electrical System

ODI #11513778

Incident: February 27, 2023 · Filed: March 25, 2023

my car has been broken into twice in the past three months, with personal items being stolen each time: a child car seat, a child booster seat, an emergency inhaler medication for asthma, multiple charging cords, a bluetooth adapter system, and a workbag which contained medical equipment and scrubs and shoes. I need a new security system for my car with automatic locks.

Air Bags

ODI #11387571

Incident: December 23, 2020 · Filed: January 11, 2021

08 ACCENT GS, AIRBAG LIGHT ON WITHOUT ANY ACCIDENT OR UNUSUAL DRIVING. ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS ISSUE SINCE MANY CUSTOMERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Air Bags

ODI #11309847

Incident: February 10, 2020 · Filed: February 18, 2020

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON. WAS INFORMED BY MULTIPLE MECHANICS IN THE AREA THAT IS A KNOWN SAFETY AND SYSTEM MALFUNCTION ISSUE WITH THE 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT HATCHBACK MODELS AND NOT SURE WAY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #11233115

Incident: June 1, 2019 · Filed: July 18, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL AND STALLED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO FUEL IN THE FUEL TANK EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GOSHEN MOTORS (3220 ELCOTT RD, GOSHEN, IN) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11196812

Incident: April 16, 2019 · Filed: April 16, 2019

SUN VISORS ARE BROKEN ,, ONE WON,T STAY UP AN LIGHT WON,T WORK,, ONE FALLS OUT OF MOUNT,, WENT TO PICK-A-PART, ALL OF THE HYUNDAI'S IN THERE ALREADY HAD THEIR SUN VISORS REMOVED ,, NOT SAFE WITH THEM FALLING DOWN AN OUT

Air Bags; Engine

ODI #11191297

Incident: March 1, 2019 · Filed: March 25, 2019

TAKATA RECALL: AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND CAR CANNOT BE INSPECTED. ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. REMOVED PASSENGER AND DRIVER SEATS TO CHECK SENSORS/WIRES BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM

Electrical System; Exterior Lighting

ODI #11124045

Incident: August 30, 2018 · Filed: September 2, 2018

WHEN I GOT THE CAR FROM THE CAR LOT THE TOLD SUMBIT RECALL THAT THEU DID NOT HAVE TIME TO DO WITH A LAMP SWITCH

Structure; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11062199

Crash 1 injury

Incident: September 28, 2017 · Filed: January 11, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SUN VISOR SUDDENLY CAME DOWN AND OBSTRUCTED THE CONTACT'S VIEW. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A SECOND VEHICLE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED LOWER BACK AND NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER (JIM HUDSON HYUNDAI, 310 GREYSTONE BLVD, COLUMBIA, SC 29210) WERE CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. *TT *TR

Visibility/Wiper

ODI #11062078

Crash 1 injury

Incident: September 27, 2017 · Filed: January 10, 2018

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.

Other Hyundai Accent model years

Check your 2008 Hyundai Accent VIN

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