Most common 2011 Hyundai Accent problems
Share of the 38 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Accent complaints by model year
Best Accent years: 2020, 2018, 2021. Years to avoid: 2012, 1995, 2002, 1996. Compare all years →
2011 Hyundai Accent recalls (1)
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2015.
What 2011 Hyundai Accent owners say
Engine & cooling
My car is experiencing the same issue as the recall on the engines for sonatas and Elantra in my year. My vehicle experienced a stall while in a drive thru the oil light illuminated and ever since then I have a ticking sound in the engine.
My 2011 Hyundai Accent has a persistent problem with ignition coil failure like other complaints found on the NHTSA website. I have had to replace every ignition coil. The first when the vehicle was under warranty, all others after the warranty expired at cost of over $1000. Hyundai also replaced the spark plugs at the same time. My car only has 67000 miles on it, these are not components that should need replacing so early and so often. This causes financial hardship as well as a safety risk as sudden loss of power can lead to accidents and unsafe low speeds. Please issue a recall as this most of the complaints to the NHTSA about this vehicle have to do with this ignition coil issue.
Electrical system
The vehicle is subject to Safety Recall 13V-113 (Campaign 131) for problems relating to the brake light switch. The recall repair was attempted in 2016 but the defect has recurred (current symptoms include but is not limited to: brake lights sporadically staying on with car off, key removed and all doors securely closed. This condition has caused the Battery to be repeatedly completely drained and has required a Battery replacement. Domino Effect of a Faulty Signal - Defective Switch causes intermittent, erratic, or "ghost" signals to the vehicles logic relays and computer elements. Logic Processor Confusion and Relay Chatter can mimic a relay or component failure and can lead to PCM, TCM, BCM faults, errors and vulnerability. Additionally and in the present case the ABS and Brake Warning Alert Lights have now come on as well on the Dashboard. …
Since 2012 one year after the purchase coils began burning out car kept stalling on the highway, continued on 9/18/12, 9/24/12. 2/18/13. 2/17/13. 5/17/13. 1/21/14,1/29/14, 4/3/14, 4/8/14, 12/31/14 twice the latter required replacement of all three belts and ignition coils please note that all happened while driving on the highway as well as local streets which I had to be pushed by police off the street on two occasions. At present the car is in the Hyundai dealers' shop for the same reasons as well as I was told after coils were again replace car would not start and that it is probable the crank shaft sensor now I am waiting to see when I can pick up this car which is in my opinion a safety hazard for me in addition the cost association with the repairs will be detrimental to me if I had no insurance is a retired teacher and still need transportation to get around because of arithitis …
Air bags
I merged on to the freeway on ramp increasing my speed as normal. Witness states I was driving in the center of the street. All of a sudden my vehicle lost traction and starting swerving right and left as if a tire had blown out. I try to get control of the vehicle by letting off of the gas and steering straight when my steering wheel locked up and I was unable to move the steering wheel. I tried to hold the steering wheel straight as my car veered off the side of the freeway and rolled over once. I had three small children in the back seat buckled and secured and my car landed on its tires. No airbags deployed during the rollover accident and I was unable to get control of the vehicle due to the steering wheel being locked and the sudden loss of control. …
At approximately 1:00 am, the car slid on ice going 35mph, hitting a sidewalk and a steel gate. Both individuals in the car blacked out head on dashboard, no airbags were deployed from either the driver or passenger side. Once the police came 2minutes later. Both individuals stepped out of the vehicle both were bleeding nonstop, had to be taking to the hospital. The front of the car was damaged badly, 2500.00 worth of repair damage. Both parties at the hospital, passenger needed stitches, inside / outside of the mouth, driver lost front tooth, and injured left wrist. Bruised marks on legs and jaw occurred week later, needed to seek more medical attention resulting lost of job.
2011 Hyundai Accent engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 27 / 35 / 30 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 27 / 33 / 30 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Hyundai Accent a good car?
Based on 38 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Accent rates better than average: 53% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Accent at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Hyundai Accent?
The engine & cooling — 10 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (10) and air bags (7).
How many recalls does the 2011 Hyundai Accent have?
There is 1 recall for the 2011 Hyundai Accent, the most recent from September 8, 2015 (switch). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Accent?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2020, 2018 and 2021. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2012, 1995, 2002 and 1996. See the full Hyundai Accent years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Hyundai Accent problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 56% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.