Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Hyundai Accent, and it carries 1 recall. 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 10 | 20% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 9 | 18% |
| Air bags | 4 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 8% |
| Power train | 3 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 6% |
| Power train | 2 | 4% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 4% |
| Structure | 1 | 2% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
ON YOUR WEB SITE I FOUND OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY CAR(FUEL TANK)IF MY MECHANIC FIX IT WILL THE MANUFACTURE REIMBURSE ME. IT IS A EMERGENCY BECAUSE IT LEAKS OUT NOW. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 HYUNDAI ACCENT. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF RAW GASOLINE IN HER VEHICLE. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THAT THE GASOLINE FUEL SYSTEM STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY WAS
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50-75 MPH) THE OVERDRIVE WOULD DISSENGAGE. IN TURRN THE RPM WOULD RAMP UP. THIS WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY. SOMTIMES PULLING OFF AND TURNING CAR OFF AND STARTING IT AGAIN TEMPORARILY FIXED PRO
NHTSA complaint: Power train
DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 50 MY RPM IS AROUND 4000 A FEW MONTHS LATER DECEMBER 2003 TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. NOW JANUARY 2005 RPM IS ACTING UP AGAIN, I HAD MY CAR CHECKED OUT AT THE GARAGE WHERE MY TRANSMISSION WAS
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE REAR SEAT BELTS DON'T EXTRACT. DRIVERS SIDE HAS BEEN REPLACE THREE TIMES, JUST REPLACED AND WITHIN A WEEK WAS DOING IT AGAIN. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
A CRACK WAS PRODUCED IN THE FUEL TANK. AS A RESULT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND FUEL FUMES SEEPED THROUGH THE PASSENGER'S COMPARTMENT.*AK *TC
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
A RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, AFTER TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE FUEL FILTER CAP REPLACEMENT, THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER CAP SINCE THERE WAS NO CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURE REF
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND EACH TIME I WOULD STATE HOW THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THE CAR JERKS AND THEN IT RESUMES NORMALLY AS IF NOTHING EVER HAPPENE
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1998 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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ACCENT GT MODEL VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DOHC ENGINES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 19, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1997; 1998 ACCENT MODEL VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 1997 THROUGH JUNE 25, 1998; 1997 SONATA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 1996 THROUGH JULY 9, 1997 AND 1998 SON
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL PRESSURE CHECK THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS CRACKED. IF IT IS CRACKED, A NEW FUEL TANK WILL BE INSTALLED. A NEW FUEL FILLER CAP THAT DECREASES THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM INSI
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 80 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 100 | excellent |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 47 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and fuel system is the most reported area with 10 of them (20%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
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.
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 1998 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
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.