2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
WHEN I START MY CAR THE AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES OFF
Mileage: 55,000
THE PASSENGER SEATBELT AIRBAG SENSOR WIRE WAS CAUGHT AND CUT IN NORMAL USE OF THE CAR, WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY, AND SO WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO A 3RD PARTY MECHANIC TO FIX IT. WHEN HE ORDERED THE REPLACEMENT PART THROUGH HYUNDAI...
Mileage: 12,000
I WAS GETTING ON INTERSTATE 95 & THE CAR JERKED BACK THEN COMPLETELY STOPPED SHIFT IN INTO GEARS & HAS NO REVERSE.
Mileage: 61,870
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FRACTURED DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. THE VEHICLE WAS R...
Mileage: 80,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,763.
Mileage: 167,763
MY CAR WAS DRIVEN UNDER 70,000 MILES WHEN MY TRANSMISSION STARTED GOING OUT. I WAS IN THE CAR WITH MY ONE YEAR OLD NIECE AT THE TIME LEAVING TO GO HOME. MY CAR STARTED VIOLENTLY THRUSTING FORWARD WITH ALL OF US IN THE CAR AND WAS JERKING VIOLENTLY. I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ...
Mileage: 60,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT GL (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL SHOT BACK OUT. SHE HAD TO CONSTANTLY STOP AND RESTART PUMPING GAS TO AVOID THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE BEGAN DECEMBER 2010 AND OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS FUELED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT B...
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL SPILLED OUT ONTO THE GROUND. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE IT TOOK 51 CLICKS TO FILL HIS TANK AND IT WAS NOT ECO-FRIENDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT NOT DIAGNOSED. THE ...
Mileage: 18,250
FRONT CRASH ..NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SIDE IMPACT CRASH ... NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TWO SEPARATE CRASHES WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO VEHICLE BUT NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT . *TR
FRONT CRASH ..NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND SIDE IMPACT CRASH ... NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED TWO SEPARATE CRASHES WITH SIGNIFICANT DAMAGES TO VEHICLE BUT NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT . *TR
2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. RIGHT HEADLIGHT DOESN'T WORK. I REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT TWO OR THREE TIMES, HOWEVER IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. WIRING HARNESS IS IN A POSITION THAT THE WIRE IS TOO TIGHT AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED OR REPAIRED. NOT SUFFICIENT SLACK IN WIRING HARNESS. *TR
Mileage: 75,000
NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS AFTER RUNNUNG INTO FREEWAY CONCRETE EMBANKMENT. *TR
Mileage: 28,000
NON-DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS AFTER RUNNUNG INTO FREEWAY CONCRETE EMBANKMENT. *TR
Mileage: 28,000
2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT, 85K MILES OIL PAN LEAKS, RUSTED THROUGH HOLE (DEALER CONFIRMED), LOST 3 QT OIL WITHIN 2500 MILES. PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. *TR
Mileage: 83,000
HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~ALTAIR1972M/SCREW_HYUNDAI.MHT. 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. ORIGINAL POSTING WAS 3395 CHARACTERS. MUST CUT TO 2000. DID NOT GET THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE TO THE GALLON. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IF YOU FLOORED IT, AND NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT, TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT. I...
HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~ALTAIR1972M/SCREW_HYUNDAI.MHT. 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. ORIGINAL POSTING WAS 3395 CHARACTERS. MUST CUT TO 2000. DID NOT GET THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE TO THE GALLON. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IF YOU FLOORED IT, AND NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT, TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT. I...
HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~ALTAIR1972M/SCREW_HYUNDAI.MHT. 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. ORIGINAL POSTING WAS 3395 CHARACTERS. MUST CUT TO 2000. DID NOT GET THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE TO THE GALLON. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IF YOU FLOORED IT, AND NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT, TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT. I...
HTTP://HOME.COMCAST.NET/~ALTAIR1972M/SCREW_HYUNDAI.MHT. 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. ORIGINAL POSTING WAS 3395 CHARACTERS. MUST CUT TO 2000. DID NOT GET THE ADVERTISED MILEAGE TO THE GALLON. THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IF YOU FLOORED IT, AND NOT LONG AFTER I BOUGHT IT, TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING OUT. I...
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION PULLED AND PUSHED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF
Mileage: 62,000
I WAS TAKING MY KIDS OUT OF TOWN FOR THE HOLIDAY, WE STOPPED AT A REST AREA IN INDIANA, LEFT REST STOP PROCEEDED TO PROPER SPEED HIT A DEER AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAR IS A WRECK AND BEYOND REPAIR, SEEKING A LAWYER TO SEE WHAT POSSIBLE ACTIONS CAN BE TAKEN. COULD'VE LOST MY KIDS BECAUSE OF THE A...
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ROADS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH ON DRY ASPHALT ROADS, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY, FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY TIGHTNESS IN THE STEERING. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ENGINE STALLED AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.
IN A FRONTAL IMPACT AT APPROX. 35 MPH OUR AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN OUR 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT 2DR HATCHBACK. THE CAR WAS TOTALED, MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH WENT TO THE HOSPITAL AFTERWARDS WITH SEVERE BRUISING AND SWELLING. WE STILL HAVE BACK PAINS AND STOMACH PAINS FROM THE IMPACT. THE INSURANCE CO. IS...
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH A LARGE COMMERCIAL TRUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED INTO A GUARDRAIL, AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. BOTH VEHICLE OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED MINOR BRUISING INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A VOLKWAG...
MY 2003 HYUNDIA ACCENT ALREADY HAD TWO FAILURES OF THE EMIISION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE SECOND FAILURE ONLY SHOWED A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN SHOWED ALL SYSTEMS NORMAL AGIAN. EACH FAILURE WAS FOUND BY DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP BUT THE SAME PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE COMPUTE...
Mileage: 29,161
MY SON WAS DRIVING A 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH WITH A FULL SIZE PICK-UP TRUCK. DURING THE CRASH THE SEAT BELT BROKE AND HE WAS THROWN INTO THE PASSENGER DOOR RESULTING IN INJURY. HYUNDAI'S INVESTIGATOR CHECK THE CAR AND SAID THE SEAT BELTS HAD BEEN CUT BY EMS. WE CHECK...
Mileage: 2,500
CONSUMER VEHICLE JERKS INTO HIGHER GEARS. TRANSMISSION SOMETIMES SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND DRAGS. *TS THE VEHICLE ALSO MADE A LOUD NOISE WHICH WAS FOLLOWED BY A FAST JERKING MOTION. *NM
I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND IN THE RIGHT LANE OF A TWO-LANE ROAD IN PHOENIX. A VEHICLE TRAVELING NORTHBOUND ON THE SAME ROAD WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET. THE VEHICLE (A FORD EXPLORER) TURNED LEFT IN FRONT OF ME AND CAUSED ME TO COLLIDE WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THAT...
Mileage: 36,000
THE KEY WILL TURN IN THE IGNITION , BUT THE ENGINE FAILS TO TURN OVER. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THE ECM CHIP WAS REPLACED. THE ECM CHIP WAS REPLACED TWICE, AND I CURRENTLY BEING REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME. *AK
Mileage: 14,500
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS NO MODULE INSTALLED. THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK
Mileage: 29,000
THE VEHICLE'S RIGHT REAR SPINDLE OR CARRIER ASSEMBLY FAILED. *NM *JB
WHILE DRIVING, STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, AND WHEN PULLING OUT ANOTHER VEHICLE SPEEDING HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE LEFT FRONT CORNER. *TC
Mileage: 20,300
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO A HOSPITAL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE, AND WAS TOTALED. *AK. THE VEHICLE THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT WAS ...
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH.CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ROUGH.CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISON AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE FRONT END DAMAGE FOLDED UP THE QUARTER PANELS AND THE HOOD. *JB
TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN LOW GEARS WITH LOW ACCELERATION. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DOES NOT CONTINUE INTO HIGH GEAR AND ENGINE RUNS AT HIGH RPM. NO PARTS REPAIRED DEALER SAYS NOTHING IS WRONG.*AK
Mileage: 35,000
FLOOR MAT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WAS INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHEN DRIVING THE FLOOR MAT GOT CAUGHT IN BETWEEN THE PEDAL, AND DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ALSO, FLOOR MAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK INTERMITTENTY WHILE DRIVING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *T...
Mileage: 1,000
VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY BLOWN. *MR THE VEHICLE REMAINED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND HAD BEEN THERE SINCE APRIL 19, 2004. THERE HAVE BEEN 12 SERVICE BULLETINS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. *SC *JB
Mileage: 38,000
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN WHICH IT WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Mileage: 10,000
VEHICLE IS LOW TO THE GROUND AND STALLS WHEN THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE TOUCHES THE GROUND. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. ALSO, CONSUMER BELIEVED TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT BY MANUFACT...
VEHICLE IS LOW TO THE GROUND AND STALLS WHEN THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE TOUCHES THE GROUND. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO REMEDY FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THIS IS HOW THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY IN STEERING. ALSO, CONSUMER BELIEVED TO BE A DESIGN DEFECT BY MANUFACT...
CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT. LATER, NOTICED A FIRE TRUCK COMING INTO PARKING LOT. CONSUMER WENT TO CHECK, AND SAW FIREMEN PUTTING FLAMES OUT FROM CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT BRAKE PROBLEMS. STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH SHE STEPPED ON THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING. VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAS FIXED THE WHOLE BRAKING SYSTEM. *AK
WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION IN MY 2003 HYUNDAI ACCENT. A TRUCK PULLED OUT INTO THE INTERSTATE AND MY VEHICLE HIT HIM AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NLM