2018 Hyundai Accent problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (7) · Structure:body (2) · Service Brakes (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Hyundai Accent model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Latches/Locks/Linkages:trunk Lid:latch 2021-08-06 · campaign 21V619000 · 348,158 vehicles
Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."
Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.
Service bulletins (84)
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.
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
Electrical System 2025-12-19 · P33 OL · Other
in response to this trend, we engineered a software upgrade that addresses the social media theft method and made it available to owners of eligible models free of charge at authorized hyundai dealers since early 2023. in addition to the anti-theft software, we’ve developed a new zinc-reinforced i
Electrical System 2025-12-15 · 25-01-089H DCS · Other
upon customer's request only, the technical service bulletin (tsb) 25-01-089h provides the service procedure for installation of a key cylinder reinforcement protector assembly and two anti-theft decals on the front windows. this repair procedure is being provided in addition to the previous anti-th
Showing the 6 most recent of 84 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-05-06 · Engine“this car burns through gas at an unbelievable rate. i have read that this is a common problem and hyundai needs to address the problem - and repair it - for all affected owners. i have about 75,000 miles and the problem has been ongoing for over a year. i have to add oil every week and if i forget, it is all burned up within 2 weeks.…”
2026-05-06 · Service Brakes“the break light came on. the local garage says i need a new master cylinder, and the dealer i purchesed the car from will not verify an extended warantee item or silent recall. this master cylinder part is all over the the internet as defective on multiple years.…”
2026-01-23 · Engine“excessive oil consumption = engine failure + no warranty honorer…”
2025-10-27 · Engine“i have to check my oil every other day. for some reason my car is sucking up all the oil and i don’t believe i should be putting oil in it every other day. …”
2025-08-14 · Unknown Or Other“oil consumption is bad and i keep getting an oil change every month and a half…”
2025-05-23 · Engine · 144,801 mi“the contact owns a 2018 hyundai accent. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled, with the check engine and the low oil warning lights illuminated. the vehicle was able to be restarted. the vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.…”
2024-09-24 · Unknown Or Other“el carro lo agarré en el dealer hace dos meses, regresé al día siguiente para que me arreglaran la alineación que me la dieron mala cada vez que conducía por el freeway el carro a alta velocidad se me jalaba hacia el lado izquierdo y es muy incómodo estar presionando con fuerza a la hora de manejar por largas horas por lo que estaba expuesta a tene…”
2023-07-21 · Structure:body“recibi recall de seguridad hyndai accent 2018 indicando que la cerradura del baul no funcione correctamente. this could cause the trunk to open on its own or not want to open when you need to open it. the dealer indicates that the notification does not appear in the systems and that the trunk does not open…”
2023-07-03 · Exterior Lighting · 🔥 fire“the system that malfunctioned was the brake light(s) and/or electrical components which started a fire in the trunk of my car on 2 separate occasions. on one of the occasions, the top break light in my trunk apparently blew out without my knowledge, it wasn't until my two kids in the backseat started to smell smoke that i pulled over and tried to …”
2022-02-15 · Service Brakes · 🔥 fire“my 17 yr old son was driving his 2018 hyundai accent home from work, and was merging onto the freeway and when he realized the cars in front of him dead stopped he slammed his brakes but was unable to stop in time. happens all the time right? it should just have a little front end damage, when the vehicle in front of him only had minor bumper damag…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.