Home · 2011 · Hyundai
2011 Hyundai Accent
Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.
37 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 15, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (27% of complaints, typically reported near 33k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Complaints are overwhelmingly minor: almost none involve crashes, fires, or injuries.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2011 Hyundai Accent, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (9) · Airbags (7) · Speed control (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
27%10 complaints · typically near 33k mi
“The recall issue showed at the inspection center and this vehicle has not been in an incident”
Electrical system
24%9 complaints
“I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE COILS 6 TIMES. THEY USUALLY FAIL ONE AT A TIME AND THE FIRST 5 WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES WITH HYUNDAI ACCENT 2011 …”
Airbags
19%7 complaints
“AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AFTER GETTING HIT IN THE FRONT END. *TR”
Speed control
14%5 complaints
“I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON A CITY STREET GOING ABOUT 40MPH. AS I WAS DRIVING THE GAS PEDAL BECAME SLACK AND THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING RAPIDLY. I HAD TO DRIVE WITH THE B…”
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Exterior Lighting · 15V566000
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Hyundai Accent vehicles manufactured March 1, 2009, to February 11, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning brake light switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning brake light switch may also prevent the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position.
Risk: Failure to illuminate the brake lights during braking or the inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 1-855-671-3059 or by visiting www.HyundaiUSA.com/Campaign131. Hyundai's number for this recall is 131. This recall is an expansion of 13V-113.
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2011 Hyundai ACCENT beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2011? See how every Accent model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2011 Hyundai Accent against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.