Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Hyundai Accent, and it carries no 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 20 | 20% |
| Air bags | 17 | 17% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 9% |
| Steering | 5 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3% |
| Power train | 2 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that she recently purchased the vehicle from a private seller. When the contact drove the vehicle for the first time, there were no issues or warning lights illu
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I got into an accident and my airbags did not go off... my face hit the steering wheel and my hand is broken because the airbags didn't deploy
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The engine failed and requires a full engine replacement. The vehicle is currently at ALM Hyundai West, 1990 Thornton Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122, and is available for inspection upon request. Hyundai Motor America has
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I was driving up a hill on interstate 8 in California and all of a sudden i heard a bang under the hood and see sparks and flames and my hyundai was on fire right there on the freeway. No clue why.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Engine is failing, oil leaking in the engine that messed up my catalytic converter and O2 sensors now it’s just sluggish , doesn’t accelerate properly, doesn’t idle nearly .
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The vehicle made a loud catastrophic noises stopped running and couldn’t be restarted. Towed car to dealership where it was inspected and denied coverage based on owner not original owner. This 1.6L Gamma GDI Engine
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The Emergency brake light, ABS light, and esc light all come on while driving & speedometer goes to 0. The speedometer also stops tracking mileage when these lights come on. This used to happen on & off, but now it’s alm
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The passenger seat airbag seat sensor does not work properly. The sensor wiring gets loose making the airbag system not work. It’s a common problem in this make and model. So I don’t understand why it hasn’t been recalle
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
| Reliability raw | 76 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 87 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 100 | excellent |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 53 | average |
| Safety | 80 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 100 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 20 of them (20%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 76/100 (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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2016 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 77/100. 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.