2016 Hyundai Accent: problems, recalls and reliability
0 recalls and 99 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (29% of complaints); the 2018 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 99 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“I got into an accident and my airbags did not go off... my face hit the steering wheel and my hand is broken because the airbags didn't deploy”Owner report · Air Bags · Apr 2026
“I was driving up a hill on interstate 8 in California and all of a sudden i heard a bang under the hood and see sparks and flames and my hyundai was on fire right there on the freeway. No clue why.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2025
“Engine is failing, oil leaking in the engine that messed up my catalytic converter and O2 sensors now it's just sluggish , doesn't accelerate properly, doesn't idle nearly .”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2025
Show 7 more owner reports
“The vehicle made a loud catastrophic noises stopped running and couldn't be restarted. Towed car to dealership where it was inspected and denied coverage based on owner not original owner. This 1.6L Gamma GDI Engine is part of the larger Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II (Case No. 8:18-cv-02223). The settlement provides a 15-year/150,000-mile extended warranty for said engine.”Owner report · Power Train · Sep 2025
“The passenger seat airbag seat sensor does not work properly. The sensor wiring gets loose making the airbag system not work. It's a common problem in this make and model. So I don't understand why it hasn't been recalled yet.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2025
“The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.”Owner report · Engine · May 2025
“The airbag SRS light started to blink on and off and now stays on full time. I took the car to the dealership and they ran diagnostics and got code B1440 and B1774. They stated the entire passenger seat cushion must be replaced with the MAT sensor. This is a common problem per this website and there is no recall issued for some reason. Please investigate this issue as it was a common problem with earlier models 2006 through 2011 and later models are still having the same issue. This is a costly fix and it is suspicious that this sensor failed right after the warranty expired.”Owner report · Air Bags · Dec 2023
“The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a loud knocking sound coming from underneath the hood. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.”Owner report · Engine · Aug 2023
“At 100,000mi the piston rod bearings failed. We have kept up with oil changes, etc. so this is very strange. It seems to be a common problem with Hyundai GDi engines, but our engine (1.6L Non-turbo) is not part of the massive recall/lawsuit for this exact issue on 2.0L cars. Clearly the same design flaw exists for the 1.6L.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2023
“The car facing Air bag light ON few days ago. Mechanical Shop inspect the car the scan shows code B1490 ( PODA ( Passenger Occupant Detecting System) Sensor (Bladder) defect Contact the Hyundai Customer care to check if there is any extend warranty on the this part, they said NO, open case # 21683569”Owner report · Seats · Jul 2023
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 8 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2016 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact Accent by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Hyundai Accent reliable?
NHTSA has 99 owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record for the 2016 Hyundai Accent. The most complained-about area is engine (29% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2016 Hyundai Accent problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 50,000 miles or less.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.