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2016 Hyundai Accent 5
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
93 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 25, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (30% of complaints, typically reported near 93k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#94 of 594Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Hyundai Accent 5 ranks #94, scoring higher than 82% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
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.
4/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Hyundai Accent 5 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 12%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
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 2016 Hyundai Accent 5, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Airbags (27) · Electrical system (24) · Steering (9) · Brakes (7)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint. Treat them as a rough guide.
Engine
30%28 complaints · typically near 93k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“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…”
Airbags
29%27 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“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 mo…”
Electrical system
26%24 complaints · 4 in the last 2 years
“The instrumental panel suddenly malfunctioned the abs, airbag, and check engine lights illuminated, and the speedometer dropped to zero. The instrumental panel returne…”
Steering
10%9 complaints
“Steering froze up while driving - was unable to turn car more than a few inches with great difficulty”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 1 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 93 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 9 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Hyundai before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 93k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report airbags problems more than anything else. Has this car shown any airbags symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
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 2016 Hyundai ACCENT 5 beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Accent 5 model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Hyundai Accent 5 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.