NHTSA vehicle safety data

2021 Hyundai Accent Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2021 Hyundai Accent has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 16 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 2021 Hyundai Accent, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2021 Hyundai Accent owner complaints

Owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Accent, describing incidents dated May 25, 2021 to June 27, 2025.

Most-cited components

Seat Belts 6 complaints
Wheels 5 complaints
Engine 4 complaints
Electrical System 2 complaints
Service Brakes 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint

Of the 16 complaints on file, 1 reports a fire; across all 16 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11670511 · Filed July 1, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed; however, the contact was informed there was no…
ODI #11656989 · Filed April 26, 2025
Hard time stopping and controlling the vechile
ODI #11617490 · Filed October 1, 2024
The contact leased a 2021 Hyundai Accent through Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power for about 5 seconds while accelerating and decelerating through traffic. The contact stated that he was able to duplicate the failure five times and…

Read all 16 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2021 Hyundai Accent in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Recall Query RQ22-003: Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture
Closed May 26, 2023
- Recall 23V-094
- Recall 23V-210

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Seat Belt Pretensioners May Explode

NHTSA #22V354000 · Seat Belts — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported May 19, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 230,233 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.69% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Hyundai campaign 229 · Owners notified August 29, 2022

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.

Safety consequence

An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioner(s) with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 229. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall numbers 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-218, and 22V-123 for Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles. All Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles already repaired under the previous recalls will need to have the new remedy completed.

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.nhtsa.gov.

Unsecured Steering Column

NHTSA #22V311000 · Steering — Column · NHTSA notice

Reported May 6, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 2 vehicles

Repair completion: 50% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Hyundai campaign 226 · Owners notified July 5, 2022

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Accent vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.

Safety consequence

Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 226.

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.nhtsa.gov.

Seat Belt Pretensioner May Explode

NHTSA #22V069000 · Seat Belts — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported February 9, 2022 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 354 vehicles

Hyundai campaign 219 · Owners notified February 24, 2022

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.

Safety consequence

An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 219. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-796. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.

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.nhtsa.gov.

Reduced Braking Performance

NHTSA #21V937000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported December 2, 2021 · Hyundai Motor America

Potentially affected: 76 vehicles

Repair completion: 68% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Hyundai campaign 213 · Owners notified January 26, 2022

Defect description

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Accent vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.

Safety consequence

Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 213.

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.nhtsa.gov.

2021 Hyundai Accent 4 DR FWD

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Frontal Crash

Driver: 5, Passenger: 4

Side Crash

Driver: 4, Passenger: 5

Side Pole

Rollover

11% rollover risk

Safety Technology

Electronic Stability Control Forward Collision Warning (Optional)

1 investigation

16 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Hyundai Accent.

Engine

ODI #11670511

Incident: June 27, 2025 · Filed: July 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed; however, the contact was informed there was no fault found with the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Electrical System; Service Brakes

ODI #11656989

Incident: March 12, 2025 · Filed: April 26, 2025

Hard time stopping and controlling the vechile

Engine

ODI #11617490

Incident: September 23, 2024 · Filed: October 1, 2024

The contact leased a 2021 Hyundai Accent through Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power for about 5 seconds while accelerating and decelerating through traffic. The contact stated that he was able to duplicate the failure five times and related the failure to the engine; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact returned the vehicle to Enterprise Rent-A-Car and `informed them about the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Wheels

ODI #11588250

Incident: May 11, 2024 · Filed: May 11, 2024

During a tire swap, another lug nut broke off while trying to remove it. This issue has occurred before, and it seems that the faulty lug nut problem is still present. The car has only been serviced at Hyundai dealerships, and the tires were last rotated during a service at an authorized Hyundai dealership before this incident. The affected lug nut this time was on the front passenger side.

Electrical System; Engine

ODI #11556330

Incident: October 5, 2023 · Filed: November 21, 2023

My 2021 Hyundai accent has randomly not started a in more than 10 different times. The lights go on and you can hear it trying to start but it never catches to actually start. It’s under warranty but the dealer says if they can’t see it when it’s happening then they can’t fix anything. I bought a new battery with dealer recommendations but I still hace they problem. I only have 25,300 miles on this 2 year old car.

Wheels

ODI #11518464

Incident: April 22, 2023 · Filed: April 22, 2023

Fifth lug nut failure within a span of less than 6 months. Today during winter to summer tire snow change, front passenger side lug nut broke while it was being removed. This is the 4th incident in my vehicle with regards to the lug nuts. Less than two weeks ago, during routine maintenance at a Hyundai dealership, another lugnut broke and I have also registered a complaint here.

Wheels

ODI #11518462

Incident: March 30, 2023 · Filed: April 22, 2023

This is the fourth lugnut/stud that has failed. This time it was during routine maintenance at an authorized dealership during tire rotation.

Seat Belts

ODI #11503411

Incident: May 18, 2022 · Filed: January 24, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

Seat Belts

ODI #11497366

Incident: October 28, 2022 · Filed: December 14, 2022

UNKNOWN (RECALL SEATBELT)

Wheels

ODI #11496057

Incident: November 26, 2022 · Filed: December 5, 2022

The studs and the lug nuts have consistently cross-threading and corrosion issues in a barely-year-old vehicle. I have had to visit the dealer twice to have this problem fixed and paid out of pocket. This started to happen ever since my last service at a Hyundai dealership. I suspect that this is because of low quality or defective lugnuts/studs that are being used, which is causing the lugnuts to be stuck and break off while trying to remove them. 2 of the lugnuts and studs in the vehicle had to be broken off to be removed last week (11/28/22). Yesterday (12/04/2022) during a tire change, another lugnut/stud broke off during removal. Hyundai should look into this faulty lugnuts/stud problem and have it resolved.

Other Hyundai Accent model years

Check your 2021 Hyundai Accent VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Hyundai Accent at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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