2021 Hyundai Accent Safety Report
2021 Hyundai Accent Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Hyundai Accent
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 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 | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Low (16) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Seat Belts | Compare seat belts issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Hyundai Accent with 12 complaints and 4 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2016 | Check the 2016 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Hyundai Accent | 15 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Hyundai Accent | 12 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Hyundai Accent | 29 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Hyundai Accent | 17 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2017 Hyundai Accent | 66 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2016 Hyundai Accent | 97 | 0 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Hyundai Accent Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 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.
Seat Belts
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Seat Belts issues Hyundai onlyWheels
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Wheels issues Hyundai onlyEngine
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Hyundai onlyElectrical System,Service Brakes
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Service Brakes issues Hyundai onlyElectrical System,Engine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Engine issues Hyundai onlySteering,Wheels
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering,Wheels issues Hyundai onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Hyundai Accent
Reliability Score
The 2021 Hyundai Accent receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 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 2021 Hyundai Accent
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Hyundai Accent:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front Seat Belts Hyundai has issued a recall for front seat belts in certain 2020-2022 Accent and 2021-2022 Elantra models due to potential failure in the event of a crash. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Steering Column Bolts Hyundai has recalled 2021-2022 Accent vehicles due to a bolt in the steering column that may become loose, leading to steering issues. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Hydraulic Service Brake Master Cylinder Recalled 2021 Accent vehicles due to a faulty brake master cylinder that could cause a loss of braking power. |
Low | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Lug Nuts Multiple instances of lug nuts breaking off during tire changes have been reported, leading to potential loss of control. |
High | Common | 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 2021 Hyundai Accent:
Issues with front seat belts have been the most common problem reported.
Steering column bolts have been a significant issue, leading to steering problems.
Hydraulic service brake master cylinder issues have been reported, causing loss of braking power.
Lug nuts have frequently broken off, leading to potential loss of control.
Recall Details for the 2021 Hyundai Accent
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Hyundai Accent by NHTSA:
Summary: Hyundai 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.
Consequence: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Remedy: Dealers 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, Elant...
Summary: Hyundai 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.
Consequence: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers 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.
Summary: Hyundai 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.
Consequence: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.
Remedy: Dealers 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 n...
Summary: Hyundai 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.
Consequence: Reduced braking performance can cause longer brake pedal travel or extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers 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 Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Hyundai Accent
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Hyundai Accent with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 involved fires. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
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 vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the fail...
Hard time stopping and controlling the vechile
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 the engine; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent...
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 incident. The affected lug nut this time was on the front passenger side.
My 2021 Hyundai accent has randomly not started a in more than 10 different times. The lights go on and you can hear it trying to start but it never catches to actually start. It’s under warranty but the dealer says if they can’t see it when it’s happening then they can’t fix anything. I bought a new battery with dealer recommendations but I still hace they problem. I only have 25,300 miles on thi...
Fifth lug nut failure within a span of less than 6 months. Today during winter to summer tire snow change, front passenger side lug nut broke while it was being removed. This is the 4th incident in my vehicle with regards to the lug nuts. Less than two weeks ago, during routine maintenance at a Hyundai dealership, another lugnut broke and I have also registered a complaint here.
This is the fourth lugnut/stud that has failed. This time it was during routine maintenance at an authorized dealership during tire rotation.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution d...
UNKNOWN (RECALL SEATBELT)
The studs and the lug nuts have consistently cross-threading and corrosion issues in a barely-year-old vehicle. I have had to visit the dealer twice to have this problem fixed and paid out of pocket. This started to happen ever since my last service at a Hyundai dealership. I suspect that this is because of low quality or defective lugnuts/studs that are being used, which is causing the lugnuts to...
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not exper...
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made...
I've been trying for about 6 months to get this recall corrected. I've called several dealers and no one has the parts. Isn't it ridiculous that they are suggesting I park the car outside my garage because it is dangerous to park it inside, BUT it's OK if I drive it???? When will these parts be available?
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not e...
Engine compartment fire. Vehicle towed to Hyundai dealer in Bremerton wa
The car seems to have sort of an alignment problem. Steering keeps going to the left and I constantly have to pull steering to the right. Even with both have on steering wheel the car goes to the left lane. If I make a left turn the steering seems to want to stay to the left and I get the feeling the car is going to flip over. It's like there is a gap in the steering wheel. A miscommunication betw...
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2021 Hyundai Accent
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Seat Belts:Front
Opened 2022-08-08 · Closed 2023-05-26
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, 2...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Hyundai Accent
Has the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
The 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 16 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 4/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT involve seat belts (6 complaints), wheels (4 complaints), engine (3 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system,service brakes, electrical system,engine, steering,wheels.
How many crash reports does the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT out of 16 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT is acceptable with caveats. It has 16 complaints, 4 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 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT are: 1. SEAT BELTS (6 complaints), 2. WHEELS (4 complaints), 3. ENGINE (3 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE (1 complaints). SEAT BELTS is the single most-reported problem area with 6 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
Be cautious of potential seat belt and steering issues, and ensure regular maintenance to avoid brake and tire problems. The 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT has 16 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
The 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 16 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Front Seat Belts and Steering Column Bolts.
What are the known issues with the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT?
Known issues with the 2021 HYUNDAI ACCENT include: Front Seat Belts, Steering Column Bolts, Hydraulic Service Brake Master Cylinder, Lug Nuts. These are based on patterns found across 16 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Accent?
Yes, there are recalls for front seat belts, steering column bolts, and hydraulic service brake master cylinders.
What are the common issues with the 2021 Hyundai Accent?
Common issues include seat belt failures, steering problems, brake master cylinder issues, and lug nut breakage.
How can I avoid brake and tire problems with my 2021 Hyundai Accent?
Regular maintenance and inspections can help prevent brake and tire issues.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential seat belt and steering issues, and ensure regular maintenance to avoid brake and tire problems.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Hyundai Accent
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Hyundai Accent. The data includes 16 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 fire incidents, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 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 5 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