2016 Hyundai Accent Safety Report
2016 Hyundai Accent Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Hyundai Accent
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Hyundai Accent. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Low (0) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (97) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 9 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Hyundai Accent with 12 complaints and 4 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Hyundai Accent before buying across this generation. |
Hyundai Accent Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Hyundai Accent years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Hyundai Accent | 66 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Hyundai Accent | 68 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Hyundai Accent | 17 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Hyundai Accent | 29 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Hyundai Accent | 12 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Hyundai Accent | 16 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Hyundai Accent Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Hyundai Accent, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
20 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Hyundai onlyAir Bags
15 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Hyundai onlyElectrical System
9 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Hyundai onlySteering
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Hyundai onlyUnknown Or Other
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Hyundai onlyElectrical System,Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Electronic Stability Control (Esc) issues Hyundai onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Hyundai Accent
Reliability Score
The 2016 Hyundai Accent receives a reliability score of 85 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Hyundai Accent
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Hyundai Accent
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Hyundai Accent:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Failure Engine failure is a critical issue, often due to oil leaks, leading to catastrophic damage including fire and engine malfunction. |
High | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbag System Malfunction Airbag system malfunctions, including loose wiring, can cause safety hazards such as malfunctioning lights and sensors. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Issues Electrical system issues, particularly with the airbag system, can lead to safety hazards such as malfunctioning lights and sensors. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Brake System Defects Brake system defects, such as worn-out tires and thudding noises, can pose safety risks. |
Low | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Hyundai Accent:
Engine failure is a critical issue, often due to oil leaks, leading to catastrophic damage including fire and engine malfunction.
Airbag system malfunctions, including loose wiring, can cause safety hazards such as malfunctioning lights and sensors.
Electrical system issues, particularly with the airbag system, can lead to safety hazards such as malfunctioning lights and sensors.
Brake system defects, such as worn-out tires and thudding noises, can pose safety risks.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Hyundai Accent
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Hyundai Accent with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 3 involved fires. 2 reported injuries or fatalities.
I was driving up a hill on interstate 8 in California and all of a sudden i heard a bang under the hood and see sparks and flames and my hyundai was on fire right there on the freeway. No clue why.
Engine is failing, oil leaking in the engine that messed up my catalytic converter and O2 sensors now it’s just sluggish , doesn’t accelerate properly, doesn’t idle nearly .
The vehicle made a loud catastrophic noises stopped running and couldn’t be restarted. Towed car to dealership where it was inspected and denied coverage based on owner not original owner. This 1.6L Gamma GDI Engine is part of the larger Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II (Case No. 8:18-cv-02223). The settlement provides a 15-year/150,000-mile extended warranty for said engine.
The Emergency brake light, ABS light, and esc light all come on while driving & speedometer goes to 0. The speedometer also stops tracking mileage when these lights come on. This used to happen on & off, but now it’s almost permanent. Hundreds are reporting the same exact issue online, but mechanics cannot figure out what the problem is. Me and countless others have taken the vehicle to mechanics ...
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 model. So I don’t understand why it hasn’t been recalled yet.
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 to accelerate as intended. The contact stated the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagn...
The report does not specify the exact component that failed, but the fire originated under the hood of the 2016 Hyundai Accent. The vehicle and related documentation, including the fire department report, insurance claim, and incident photos, are available for review. The fire under the hood posed a serious safety risk as it occurred while the vehicle was in motion on a busy highway. Fortunately...
My 2016 Hyundai accent engine has all of sudden stop working and i have explained to multiple shops and my insurance that i was deployed for a whole year and the car was driving fine and once I came back it just wouldn’t crank. Two Hyundai shops informed me that the engine is locked up but neither shop provided a thorough investigation as to why this has happened. There were two-three major hurric...
The instrumental panel suddenly malfunctioned the abs, airbag, and check engine lights illuminated, and the speedometer dropped to zero. The instrumental panel returned to normal, but the mileage range reset to 0. This was while I was traveling on a highway going 70mph. While it did not cause an accident this time, it was very upsetting. Further it is concerning that there was a recall on the 2014...
Component/System Failure: The component that has malfunctioned is the engine. This issue is critical and affects the vehicle's overall performance. The malfunctioning engine is available for inspection upon request, and I am willing to facilitate this inspection to substantiate my claim. Safety Risk: The engine's failure poses a significant safety risk, including potential engine stalling or loss ...
This reports a recurring Safety Restraint System (SRS) airbag warning light issue for no apparent reason other than potentially defective components. Please investigate this! Any issues with the SRS system of a vehicle by default puts the safety of the vehicle's passengers at risk. The SRS airbag warning light first turned on randomly in June 2023 and remained on for a few weeks every time the ca...
The airbag SRS light started to blink on and off and now stays on full time. I took the car to the dealership and they ran diagnostics and got code B1440 and B1774. They stated the entire passenger seat cushion must be replaced with the MAT sensor. This is a common problem per this website and there is no recall issued for some reason. Please investigate this issue as it was a common problem with ...
In 2019, the car started losing oil. Not realizing it was still under warranty, twice I took it to my mechanic and they replaced the valve cover gasket, December 2019 and August 2020. It never resolved and then realized it was still under warranty. Took it to the dealership November 2020 and they found the oil was leaking from a timing cover and claimed it was fixed. It appeared so at first, but t...
The car caught on fire while driving on the freeway for no reason, an explosion occurred.
The car was rented by a Turo host with defectuous brakes and worn-out tires. During 3 weeks and 3400 Mi, forward disk brakes produced a thud of metallic grinding without effective braking at each brake. Forward tires were measured 2/32" and 'Replace Tire' marking were noticed on the treads. Rear tires were measured 3/32" and 'Replacement Tire Monitor' marking were noticed on the treads. A rear ...
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a loud knocking sound coming from underneath the hood. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 116,000.
At 100,000mi the piston rod bearings failed. We have kept up with oil changes, etc. so this is very strange. It seems to be a common problem with Hyundai GDi engines, but our engine (1.6L Non-turbo) is not part of the massive recall/lawsuit for this exact issue on 2.0L cars. Clearly the same design flaw exists for the 1.6L.
The car facing Air bag light ON few days ago. Mechanical Shop inspect the car the scan shows code B1490 ( PODA ( Passenger Occupant Detecting System) Sensor (Bladder) defect Contact the Hyundai Customer care to check if there is any extend warranty on the this part, they said NO, open case # 21683569
Drinks oil like it's going out of business. car does not leak nor can of make it from one change to the other. i know my jeep had a recall for the same kind of issue and they offered to fix the problem free of charge. don't see why hyundai can't find the issue and do the same for there customers. a motor that Drinks that much oil is not a good nor safe thing when driving on the road.
My car has had serious oil consumption issues. I cannot make it to recommended oil change date/milage before i am completely out of oil. This has been a reoccurring issue with Hyundai vehicles. I've been informed by serval mechanics it is unsafe to drive as the engine could blow while i am driving. Hyundai engines are notorious for this issue
Showing 20 of 97 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Hyundai Accent
Has the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT been recalled?
No, the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT has no recalls on record with NHTSA as of our latest data update.
How many complaints does the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
The 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 97 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 6 involved crashes. 8 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 4/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT involve engine (20 complaints), air bags (15 complaints), electrical system (9 complaints). Other affected components include steering, unknown or other, electrical system,electronic stability control (esc).
How many crash reports does the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
There are 6 crash reports associated with the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT out of 97 total complaints (6.2% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
There are 3 fire reports for the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT out of 97 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
8 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT is acceptable with caveats. It has 97 complaints, 0 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT are: 1. ENGINE (20 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (15 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (9 complaints), 4. STEERING (5 complaints), 5. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 20 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
Be cautious of the 2016 Hyundai Accent's engine and electrical system issues, especially the airbag system, which can lead to safety hazards. The 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 97 NHTSA complaints and 0 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT receives a reliability score of 85/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 97 owner complaints, 0 recalls, and 9 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Failure and Airbag System Malfunction.
What are the known issues with the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
Known issues with the 2016 HYUNDAI ACCENT include: Engine Failure, Airbag System Malfunction, Electrical System Issues, Brake System Defects. These are based on patterns found across 97 NHTSA complaints.
What are the most common safety issues with the 2016 Hyundai Accent?
The most common safety issues are engine failure and electrical system problems, particularly with the airbag system.
Can the airbag system in the 2016 Hyundai Accent malfunction?
Yes, the airbag system can malfunction due to loose wiring, causing safety hazards.
What should I do if I experience brake system defects in my 2016 Hyundai Accent?
If you experience brake system defects, have the vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic immediately.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of the 2016 Hyundai Accent's engine and electrical system issues, especially the airbag system, which can lead to safety hazards.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Hyundai Accent
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Hyundai Accent. The data includes 97 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 6 reported crashes, 3 fire incidents, 8 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2016 Hyundai Accent an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 4 stars, a side crash rating of 4 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16