1995 Hyundai Accent

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

78/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA about the 1995 Hyundai Accent, and it carries 5 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Suspension	49	29%
Air bags	31	19%
Power train	13	8%
Electrical system	10	6%
Structure	8	5%
Visibility	7	4%
Service brakes	6	4%
Latches/locks/linkages	4	2%
Seat belts	4	2%
Engine and engine cooling	4	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

The contact owns a 1995 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 98V245000 (Suspension) and 02V341000 (Suspension); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

I HAVE A 95 HYUNDAI ACCENT AND THE DOOR LATCH HAS BROKEN 2X IN THE PAST 2 YEARS. I FIND THAT TO BEE A LITTLE TO COINCIDENTAL. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

HAVE OWNED THE 9195 ACCENT SINCE 2000. DRIVERS WINDOW HANDLE BROKE WITHIN 2 YEARS, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT OF WINDOW ASSEMBLY. OUTSIDE AND INSIDE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLES BROKE; MAKING GETTING IN AND OUT THE DRIVERS DOOR NO
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, THE LOWER FRONT CONTROL ARM CORRODED THROUGH AND BROKE. CAR WAS VERY UNSTABLE AND TIRES WORE DOWN FAST. THERE WAS A PREVIOUS RECALL ON THIS CONTROL ARM IT WAS CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V341000. SERVICE WAS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 25 MPH, A CRACKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT LEFT END OF THE VEHICLE AND THE FRONT LEFT TIRE BEGAN TO RUB ON THE BACK OF THE WHEEL WELL DURING BRAKING. ON INSPECTION B
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 95V00300; HYUNDAI ISSUED A HIGH/LOW DIMMER SWITCH RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE LIGHTS CAME ON BY ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND THE HIGH BEAMS CAME ON UNEXPECTEDLY. TH
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

LOWER CONTROL ARM RECALL NOTICE. *BF CONTROL ARM DROPPED DOWN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE AFTER ACCIDENT, HOWEVER, HYUNDAI DISAGREES WITH THE CONCLUSION THAT THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 1995 Hyundai Accent. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm 02V341000

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISC

Risk: SEVERE CORROSION COULD RESULT IN PERFORATION AND POTENTIAL FRACTURE OF THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM. IF THIS FRACTURE OCCURS, THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY REMAINS CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS THROUGH THE F

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE ONE OR BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IF STRUCTURAL DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED. OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN ON JUNE 10, 2003

Suspension:front:control arm:lower arm 96V113000

THROUGH CONTACT WITH ROAD HAZARDS AND CURBS, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ASSEMBLY CAN SHIFT FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION.

Risk: THE SHIFTED LOCATION CAN RESULT IN IMPROPER WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND INCREASED STEERING EFFORT INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE LOWER CONTROL ARM MEMBER ASSEMBLY ATTACHMENT TO THE UNDERBODY.

Electrical system:wiring:interior/under dash 95V043000

THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAN BE CONTACTED BY THE CLUTCH PEDAL ASSEMBLY WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED.

Risk: CONTACT ABRADES AND DAMAGES THE INSULATION ONTHE HARNESS CAUSING A FUSE TO BLOW AND THE ENGINE TO STALL. UNEXPECTED ENGINE STALLING INCREASES THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ENGINE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS BEEN DAMAGED AND REPOSITION THE HARNESS SO THAT CONTACT WITH THE CLUTCH PEDAL LEVER WILL NOT OCCUR.

Suspension:front:springs:coil springs 98V245000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND

Risk: IF THE FRONT COIL SPRING BREAKS, IT CAN BECOME DISPLACED FROM ITS SEATED POSITION, AND CAN CONTACT A TIRE. TIRE DAMAGE CAN RESULT.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING GUIDE TO PREVENT A BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING AND DAMAGING A TIRE.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	82	excellent
Longevity est.	80	excellent
Maintenance	87	excellent
Depreciation	100	excellent
Performance	39	below average
Efficiency	49	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 38% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 63% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 73% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 100% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 82: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 80: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1995 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 87: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1995 Hyundai Accent?

Owners have filed 167 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 49 of them (29%). There are 5 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1995 Hyundai Accent reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1995 Hyundai Accent last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 80/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1995 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1995 Hyundai Accent?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 78/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.