Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about the 2009 Hyundai Accent, and it carries 2 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 24 | 24% |
| Visibility/wiper | 13 | 13% |
| Unknown or other | 5 | 5% |
| Exterior lighting | 5 | 5% |
| Visibility | 5 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 4 | 4% |
| Power train | 4 | 4% |
| Engine | 3 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owned a 2009 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while his girlfriend was driving at approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power. No warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The cont
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The rear windshield shattered for no reason. Because of the tint we had installed it stayed intact but you can't see through it. The car is in my driveway if you want to see it, but I have an appointment for Safelite to
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
MY BRAKE LIGHTS WORK THEN THEY DONT I HAVE REPLACED FUSES BULBS I DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO CHECK THEY WAS WORKING YESTERDAY TODAY I WAS TOLD MY BRAKES LIGHT WASNT WORKING AFTER ALMOST GETTING REAR ENDED. I WAS STOPPING AT
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO. CAN NOT UNLOCK THE DOOR MANUALLY INSIDE OR WITH A KEY OUTSIDE OR WITH REMOTE. DESPITE THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE OR WARRANTY, THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SERIO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
THE CAR WILL STALL WHILE RUNNING THEN WILL TURN OVER BUT NOT START FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. IT HAS DONE THIS WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT OR IN MOTION ROUNDING A CORNER.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I WAS INTERESTED IN THIS CAR BUT BEFORE PURCHASING I TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE FOR A PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION. ONE OF THE REPAIRS NEEDED WAS A CV AXLE. IT WAS POPPING WHEN YOU MAKE TURNS AND VISIBLY LEAKING GREASE. THE DEAL
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
2009 HYUNDAI ACCENT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED.*JS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED, THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNS ON AND WON'T TURN OFF. RESTARTED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT STILL STAYS ON. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I NEVER REPORTED IS BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUN VISORS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2009 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.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Hyundai Accent vehicles manufactured March 1, 2009, to February 11, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning brake light switch may cause the brake lights to not illuminate whe
Risk: Failure to illuminate the brake lights during braking or the inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 1-855-671-3059 or by vis
Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe, 2007-2008 Entourage, and 2006-2008 Tiburo
Risk: Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, when the ignition is in the 'ON' position, the trans
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall
| Reliability raw | 69 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 74 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 100 | excellent |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 51 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 24 of them (24%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 69/100 (good) 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 74/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2009 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 74/100. 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.