NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
Front seat belt pretensioners may explode when deployed during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a cap to secure the seat belt pretensioner(s).
This page covers 4 recalls, 12 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2020 Hyundai Accent.
33–36 mpg combined
6.5–7.1 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Accent are spread thinly across several systems, with no single issue backed by a large volume of reports. The engine and fuel/propulsion categories each draw a couple of complaints, with owners describing the engine shutting off unexpectedly at stops or during low-speed maneuvers like parking. Structure complaints include reports of exterior door handles detaching while attempting to open the doors, with interior handles also coming loose in at least one case. A single report describes a vehicle fire while parked, and another describes unintended acceleration tied to a fractured cruise control button, both are isolated accounts without corroborating reports in this dataset. With only 12 total complaints across the model year, no clear dominant failure pattern emerges, and most systems show only one or two mentions each.
12
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2020 Hyundai Accent has 4 recalls, the most serious being a seatbelt pretensioner defect where the front driver-side and passenger-side pretensioners can explode in a crash, sending metal fragments into the cabin and striking occupants.
The pretensioner issue has been filed across multiple campaigns covering overlapping model years, but the underlying danger is the same: in a crash, the devices designed to lock the belt tightly against your body can instead burst apart, turning hardware into projectiles inside the vehicle. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue, which is why multiple recall filings exist for the same defect. The remaining recall covers the trunk latch, which can become damaged and prevent the trunk lid from being opened from the inside, trapping anyone who ends up inside the trunk compartment and raising the risk of injury.
At a glance
What can fail
Front seat belt pretensioners may explode when deployed during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a cap to secure the seat belt pretensioner(s).
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front driver and passenger seat belt pretensioners may explode when deployed during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front seat belt pretensioners at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front seat belt pretensioners may explode when deployed during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front seat belt pretensioners at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The trunk latch can become damaged, which may prevent you from opening the trunk from inside the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the trunk latch base at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.