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2021 Hyundai Accent

Gas
Compact Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
D
Safety Signal
68 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns4
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA16
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA36 mpg
2022202120202019201820172016

The 2021 Hyundai Accent is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Accent, is EPA-rated at 36 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 16 complaints, most often about the wheels. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
AccentGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl334136$1,750
AccentGasFWD1.6L 4-cyl293933$1,900

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42660, 42661.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Hyundai Accent is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (4)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Seat Belts

229
230,233 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.RiskAn exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.FixDealers will secure the seat belt pretensioner(s) with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 229. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall numbers 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-218, and 22V-123 for Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles. All Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV vehicles already repaired under the previous recalls will need to have the new r
NHTSA campaign 22V354000reported May 19, 2022Hyundai Motor America
▲high

Steering

226
2 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Accent vehicles. A bolt in the steering column may not be secured properly, which can cause the steering column to detach from the steering rack and result in a loss of steering control.RiskLoss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.FixDealers will inspect and tighten the lower steering column u-joint retention bolt, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 5, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 226.
NHTSA campaign 22V311000reported May 6, 2022Hyundai Motor America
▲high

Seat Belts

219
354 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.RiskAn exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.FixDealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 219. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 21V-796. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
NHTSA campaign 22V069000reported Feb 9, 2022Hyundai Motor America
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

213
76 vehicles
ProblemHyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Accent vehicles. The brake master cylinder may have been manufactured with sharp edges that can damage the inner oil seal, resulting in reduced braking performance.RiskReduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.FixDealers will replace the brake master cylinder, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 213.
NHTSA campaign 21V937000reported Dec 2, 2021Hyundai Motor America

NHTSA defect investigations

Seat Belts:Pretensioner — Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture closed

On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) based on 3 incidents alleging front seat belt pretensioners that may rupture during deployment, on model year (MY) 2020-2022 of various Hyundai and Kia Models, resulting in 3 injuries (note: one incident occurred outside the U.S. and its territories).Between October 2021 and March 2023, Hyundai and Kia have filed the following 11 safety recalls for pretensioner rupture: NHTSA Recall No. 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-123, 22V-127, 22V-218, 22V-354, 22V-447, 22V-458, 22V-816, 23V-094, and 23V-210.Hyundai/Kia have stated that the abnormal deployment of the pretensioners is due to over-pressurization of the preten

Opened Aug 8, 2022 · closed May 26, 2023 · action RQ22003

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
16complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 1 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2021: 1 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 2

Most-cited components

Wheels8
Seat Belts6
Engine4
Electrical System2
Steering1
Service Brakes1

What owners describe

“The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 40 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed; however, the contact was informed there was no fault found with the …”Jul 1, 2025 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“The contact leased a 2021 Hyundai Accent through Enterprise Rent-A-Car. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power for about 5 seconds while accelerating and decelerating through traffic. The contact stated that he was able to duplicate the failure five times and related the failure to…”Oct 1, 2024 · Engine · NHTSA owner report
“During a tire swap, another lug nut broke off while trying to remove it. This issue has occurred before, and it seems that the faulty lug nut problem is still present. The car has only been serviced at Hyundai dealerships, and the tires were last rotated during a service at an authorized Hyundai dealership before this …”May 11, 2024 · Wheels · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
4 DR FWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★★☆11%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Accent model years

B

2022 Hyundai Accent

2 recalls · 16 complaints

C

2020 Hyundai Accent

4 recalls · 12 complaints

A

2019 Hyundai Accent

1 recalls · 30 complaints

A

2018 Hyundai Accent

1 recalls · 19 complaints

A

2017 Hyundai Accent

0 recalls · 68 complaints

A

2016 Hyundai Accent

0 recalls · 100 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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