Most common 2013 Hyundai Accent problems
Share of the 141 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 →
2013 Hyundai Accent recalls (1)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Control unit/module
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles.
Remedy: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2013 Hyundai Accent:
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando.
What 2013 Hyundai Accent owners say
Brakes all 42 →
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a pedestrian informed her that the vehicle was on fire. The contact saw smoke coming from under the hood. The contact exited the vehicle and an individual with a tow truck approached her with his fire extinguisher and extinguished the fire coming from under the hood. The vehicle was towed back to her residence, where it caught fire again all throughout the vehicle. The fire department arrived on the scene and extinguished the fire. No injuries were sustained nor medical attention was needed. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a junkyard. The insurance company had not yet deemed the vehicle destroyed. The contact was relating the failure to an NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) letter she had received. …
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that Roadside Assistance jumpstarted the vehicle. Additionally, the driver's side sun visor exploded. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was approximately 89, 000.
Engine & cooling all 34 →
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard a knocking sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the check oil light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine failed to receive the oil and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to another independent mechanic where it was also diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in a recall and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2013 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that Roadside Assistance jumpstarted the vehicle. Additionally, the driver's side sun visor exploded. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V651000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available. The failure mileage was approximately 89, 000.
Electrical system
The AEB light came on in car. Car was brought home 15 min later and parked in driveway. 3 hours later the car went on fire. The fire department inspected and said it was a mechanical issue. The car was totaled by the insurance company the next day. The engine was burned and the fire department disconnected the battery after fire out.
I was driving and I tried to stop and couldn't and someone ran the stop sign and I hit them and totalled my car and I just got off the phone with the investigator and they said it was due to my abs. And I seen the abs light on my dash and when I took it to bridgt breaks they told me it was fine
2013 Hyundai Accent engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 28 / 37 / 32 |
| 1.6L 4-cyl | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 28 / 37 / 31 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2013 Hyundai Accent a good car?
Based on 141 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Accent rates average: 1.2× as many complaints as 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 2013 Hyundai Accent?
The brakes — 42 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › control unit/module. Next are the engine & cooling (34) and electrical system (18).
How many recalls does the 2013 Hyundai Accent have?
There is 1 recall for the 2013 Hyundai Accent, the most recent from September 22, 2023 (control unit/module). 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 2013 Hyundai Accent problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 45,000 miles; 53% 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.