10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 60,810 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I have previously reported this. My 2012 Hyundai Accent with automatic transmission often surges. On the highway, it will continue at same speed or even accelerate when I lift my foot. Stopped in traffic, it will lurch forward when the car ahead of me moves and I lift my foot. When parking, it will red-line when I shift to neutral or park. This does not happen all the time, but happens throughout certain trips, from when I begin to drive, until I exit the car. I have been to the dealer for evaluation, they say there are no codes, so it didn't happen. Apparently it did not occur during their test drive. This is a chronic problem and has been going on for a couple of months. When car tries to run away, I turn off the key. Will that remedy continue to work?
- Tiverton, RI, USA
Throughout November 2019, my 2012 Hyundai Accent hatchback with automatic transmission( VIN [xxx] ) has been experiencing unintended acceleration. I have taken it to a mechanic who cleaned everything between gas pedal and computer, and the problem ameliorated for a week or so. Now the problem is back. In normal driving, lifting my foot off the accelerator sometimes slows the vehicle and other times it maintains speed or accelerates. (this is without cruise control engaged). When stopped in traffic, it will lurch forward when brake is released. When parking it often red-lines as soon as [ut into neutral. So far my remedy has been to turn the key off. However, my wife is now too frightened to ride in the car. I see all the other complaints of unintended acceleration in your database. How many deaths will it take for you to wake up to a serious defect? information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Tiverton, RI, USA
Driving on the highway I heard a knocking in the engine. The check engine light came on. I took the vehicle to get the light checked for a code and was told the knock sensor needed replacing. Took the car to the dealer I purchased it from and dealer said there was no code and no history of a code so they could do nothing about it after I told them how to replicate the knocking. Dealer released the car. Two days later while driving on the highway the light came back on and the engine continued knocking. I took it straight to the dealer again and they were able to replicate the issue and find a code. The dealer contacted the manufacturer about the code and the manufacturer recommended applying a patch to the knock sensor and, according to the dealer "see what happens". the dealer performed the patch and released the vehicle to me. The very next day I was driving home after work on the highway and the odometer went from 3000rpm's to 0. while I could try to engage the accelerator and could hear the engine rev no rpms registered. The vehicle went into an idle state and would not react. Causing many near accidents I was able to get the car to the shoulder before it became stationary. Attempted to restart car a dozen times and the RPM's would not register still.car has now been with the dealer who has not been able to replicate the issue and has not reached out to the manufacturer. The cause and effect of an issue happening after applying a computer patch is not being investigated nor discussed with the manufacturer.
- Washington, DC, USA
On Saturday March 23, 2019 I was driving my 2012 Hyundai Accent on the highway. I was traveling in the left hand lane, on cruise control, going about 73 mph. A semi-truck in the right hand land a few hundred yards in front of me moved over into my lane due to a construction zone ahead, so I attempted to turn off my cruise control to slow down for the merging semi-truck. I applied the brakes but my car did not turn off cruise-control or slow down, but instead accelerated. I attempted again to hit the brakes to turn off cruise control, but again the car did not slow down. I tried both the cancel and the on/off buttons on the steering wheel, but there was no way to disengage cruise control. I was quickly approaching the semi-truck and was unable to slow down my moving vehicle. In order to avoid rear-ending the semi-truck at highway speeds, I was forced to veer left off the highway onto the soft shoulder, and was traveling locked on cruise control at 73 mph halfway on the grass median and halfway on the rumble strip of the soft shoulder. The brakes and steering wheel switches were still not working, regardless of how much I applied the brakes or what combination I hit the switches. I was finally able to get my car to slow down by hitting the clutch and stalling my car. This was an absolutely horrific incident, and I am lucky to have been uninjured and to have avoided what could have been a very serious accident.
- Columbus, OH, USA
Burns off 1/2 qt of oil every 1500 miles. PO326 (knock sensor) trouble code on chilli mornings. P050A (cold start) trouble code while driving.
- Severn, MD, USA
When driving, especially in colder temperatures, when accelerating and braking, the brakes feel like there is something not letting the pedal go down when you push them. Ever since I noticed that happen, the acceleration and speed stays at a higher speed when driving. I have to be very careful when accelerating behind another vehicle so it doesn't go too fast and hit the vehicle in front of me. I have to use my brakes a lot more right after accelerating.
- Taylorsville, UT, USA
The gas pedal started sticking partway down, causing the car to accelerate precipitously and the engine to rev, even when in park. Once, when driving, I solved the revving noise by literally reaching down to the pedal and yanking it back up towards me once I stopped at a stoplight. The repair shop noted that this seems to be a common problem in Hyundai Accents, with stories of it readily available online. The problem was solved when they replaced the entire gas pedal assembly, which conveniently was in stock at the local warehouse, since Hyundai seems to know this is a problem. A major safety issue that deserves a recall!!!
- Silver Spring, MD, USA
After starting the engine and tapping on the accelerator, the car will accelerate on it's own and rev up to 1,500-2000 RPM without pressing on the accelerator. Even when braking. Returning the car to neutral causes the engine to rev up to or beyond 2,000 RPM until the vehicle has been turned off. This incident first occurred in April 2016. I was told there was an issue with the sensors by the Hyundai dealership. The issue resurfaced again in January 2017. This time they told me it was due to a carbon buildup in the fuel system. Now it's doing it again. I have seen many other reports of this happening to hyndai's on the internet. This is a huge safety issue.
- Portland, OR, USA
The accelerator pedal sticks in the down position and doesn't immediately return to the fully disengaged position. This happens anytime I press down on the accelerator pedal, especially in cold weather. The engine stays reved for up to 3 seconds after I take my foot off the pedal and I can feel the pedal slowly move back up. Sometimes I have to pull it back up to the neutral position. Occasionally, the accelerator pedal will stay engaged even after I press the brake, causing the car to lurch forward when I release the brake pedal. This has been a continuing problem that has been getting worse for the past two years....updated 07/10/17..updated 08/09/17 the consumer stated the accelerator pedal assembly was replaced. Updated 08/29/2017
- Arlington, VA, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while at a parking lot, the vehicle began to accelerate independently without any warning. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 54,000.
- Union, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. While operating the vehicle, the vehicle accelerated on its own. While parked, the vehicle would rev to approximately 5,000-6,000 rpms even when the brake pedal was depressed or when the vehicle was in another gear. The only way to stop the failure was to remove the key from the ignition. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
- Morristown, NJ, USA
My car is a manual transmission and when press the clutch the RPM go up to 4,000 RPM and I think that is the acceleration pedal may stay stock because doesn't do it all the time.I used my car everyday to go to work I really treat the car good only have a 25.000 miles on it.
- Philadelphia, PA, USA
This is manual transmission equipped car- intermittently, usually after the car has sat overnight or for a few hours, the throttle will stick even after the gas peddle is released. This started with the revs rising 500-1000 RPM when the clutch was pressed in and the accelerator released. Initially this only happened when the clutch was pressed in, not while the car was driving in gear. Recently, if the gas pedal is released in normal driving conditions, the car will continue to accelerate forward while it is in gear. The effect lasts for 1-3 seconds and is most noticeable in city driving in lower gears. On the highway you can "feel" the throttle stick, but the higher gears prevent the car from surging forward. The effect is lessened or removed entirely if the throttle is eased off of very slowly. The sticking of the throttle has not reduced the effectiveness of braking so far.
- St Paul, MN, USA
We purchased a 2012 Hyundai Accent on October 19, 2011. From the very first day we started having issues where the brakes would not brake at times and would have bouts of unintended acceleration. From the first day of purchase we advised the Hyundai dealership and even brought in our vehicle to be looked at. They refused to do any kind of diagnostic and said that I was being a paranoid woman and new moms tend to worry too much. My husband and I have both driven this vehicle and experienced this issue. We advised Hyundai, the dealership and our insurance company of the issue. Each time we brought the car into the dealership the acted very cavalier as it was "not a big deal" and would send us on our way. We had various communications and have paperwork where the dealership noted we were complaining of the brakes not working and then they would state they did not/will not do a diagnostic. I would not allow my children to ride in this vehicle further as it became apparent that this was not only going to keep happening but as time passed it happened more frequently and caused me to fear for my life. In December 2013 I advised my husband I feared for my life. One week later 12/16/13 I was in an accident where I was slowly turning, went to brake and the brakes felt empty as they did when this would happen and the car revved loudly and accelerated at an extreme speed. These bouts of unintended acceleration are documented yet Hyundai and the Hyundai dealership will not respond appropriately, . they dismissed my claim stating our floor mat protector which lays flat and has plenty of clearance is the cause however I must advise and have responded that the floor mat protectors were not purchased until the following year and did not get put into the vehicle until July of 2013 so the documented incidents were mostly before and one in July 2013 after they had been placed in the car.
- Oro Valley, AZ, USA
The contact owns a 2012 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle began to accelerate independently. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnosis; however they were unable to replicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 800 and the current mileage was 2,000...updated 09/04/12 updated 09/07/2012
- Elmwood Park, IL, USA
- Hillsborough, NJ, USA