2008 Hyundai Accent problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (24) · Visibility/Wiper (17) · Service Brakes (8)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Accent model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
82 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (1)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch 2013-04-01 · campaign 13V113000 · 1,712,336 vehicles
Defect: 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, m
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (42)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Back Over Prevention: Warnings 2026-10-15 · 26-GI-004H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (pdw) sensor(s) that may trigger various dtcs and display warning messages on the instrument cluster, resulting in the pdw sensor(s) failing to detect nearby objects or triggering multiple false alarms. this condition may be a res
Engine 2026-10-08 · 26-EM-016H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. all internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operatio
Engine 2026-10-07 · 26-EM-015H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. this bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. all internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operatio
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DL · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn). these inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehi
Air Bags 2026-04-10 · DTN DCS · Other
the national highway traffic safety administration (nhtsa) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by jilin province detiannuo automobile safety system co., ltd. (dtn), that have been identified in u.s. vehicles following prior
Exterior Lighting 2025-11-06 · 25-BD-012H TSB · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (drl), or fog lamp. this tsb illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. lamp assembly replacement is not necessary
Showing the 6 most recent of 42 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-04-14 · Engine“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 w…”
2023-03-25 · Unknown Or Other“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…”
2021-01-11 · Air Bags · 127,100 mi“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.…”
2020-02-18 · Air Bags · 100,850 mi“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.…”
2019-07-18 · Fuel/Propulsion System · 121,000 mi“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 sys…”
2019-04-16 · Unknown Or Other · 80,000 mi“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 …”
2019-03-25 · Engine · 12,500 mi“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…”
2018-09-02 · Exterior Lighting · 149 mi“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…”
2018-01-11 · Visibility/Wiper · 35,000 mi · 💥 crash“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…”
2018-01-10 · Visibility/Wiper · 34,753 mi · 💥 crash“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.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.