Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 | 24% | — |
| 2021 | 6 | 38% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2016 | 2 | 2% | 77,000 miles |
| 2014 | 5 | 6% | 140,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 4% | 3,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 1% | 8,000 miles |
| 2011 | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% | 89,000 miles |
| 2008 | 2 | 2% | 125,000 miles |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% | 102,000 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 2% | 53,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 2% | 84,000 miles |
| 2003 | 1 | 3% | 3,000 miles |
| 2002 | 3 | 2% | 19,000 miles |
| 2001 | 5 | 4% | 105,000 miles |
| 2000 | 5 | 5% | — |
| 1999 | 3 | 5% | 61,000 miles |
| 1998 | 2 | 4% | 55,000 miles |
| 1997 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1996 | 5 | 5% | — |
| 1995 | 5 | 4% | 45,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
My car, a 2022 Hyundai Accent Sel, left the right lane I was traveling in on a highway and continued into the left lane, then onto the left shoulder, and finally stopped in a ditch. The airbags did not deploy. I am having the steering column checked and airbags checked as I have read on several websites online that this is one of the recalls on my car (the steering column may loosen and may cause a crash). The Insurance changed the at-fault clause to not at fault after they verified the information online about the steering column being defective. My car is still in the auto repair shop, 38 days, still awaiting parts because the car was not made in the USA. The damage is $13,197. I do not see this recall reported on this website. There is a recall for parts missing on the seatbelts, I had that fixed on my last oil change. I do not see this listed here as well. …
Instead of a simple seat belt warning light staying on when the driver's side belt is not connected, the car uses a complicated system: "The seat belt warning light will illuminate for approximately 6 seconds each time you place the ignition switch to the ON position regardless of belt fastening. However, if the seat belt is unfasted, a warning chime will sound for approximately 6 seconds. If you continue not to fasten the seat belt and you drive over 6 mph the warning light will stay illuminated. If you continue to drive over 12 mph the seat belt warning chime will sound for approximately 100 seconds and the corresponding warning light will blink, etc." Worse yet, as far as I can tell, the front passenger seat belt when unfastened will not show at all! …
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) 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 not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The consumer stated the dealer fixed the recall.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Accent. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. 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. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated while driving 45 mph, another vehicle intersected her lane, causing her to steer to the right and crashed into another vehicle. No air bags were deployed and the front driver-side seat belt failed to retract, causing her to hit her right knee with the dashboard and her chest on the steering wheel. The contact was unable to lift her legs or hip and was taken to the emergency room where by ambulance and sought medical attention. The contact stated the other driver sustained unknown injuries and also sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The insurance company deemed the vehicle a total loss. The vehicle was towed to a towing lot first and then to the Copart lot. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
The seatbelt unbuckles on its own when driving. It is happening each time my husband or I drive the vehicle. I'm concerned that the seatbelt will unbuckle in case of a collision. I've been looking online, and the 2014 Hyundai Accent does not have any reported issues with the seatbelt that I can find. I have not yet taken the vehicle for inspection, but I'm not sure what to do next. No lamps are lighting up to indicate this problem. It just happens randomly at any speed.
My seatbelt has been releasing on its own. Every time I get in the car, I make sure to firmly press the seatbelt into the latch and then pull on it to make sure it is secure. However, it still releases after 15-30 minutes of driving. I'm worried that in the event of an accident, the seatbelt would not stay buckled and I could be injured or ejected from the vehicle. Others have had the same issue (https://www.carproblemzoo.com/hyundai/accent/seat-belt-problems.php). The seatbelt and latch are still intact in my car, so they would be available for inspection if needed.
I was hit on the left front quarter panel area so hard the car spun around. The side airbags deployed but not the front ones. I had my seatbelt on however was slammed against the steering wheel and my hands impacted the passenger windshield. I was rendered unconscious and had a temporary lapse of memory. I know have a pinched nerve in my lower left back and severe pain and bruising in breast right should area. I have been told that it could take weeks or months to heal. My daughter bought the car brand new a few months ago and was never advised of any recall/safety issues.
Related recalls (3)
Seat belts › Front
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioner(s) with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Seat belts › Front
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 31, 2022.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 24, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
NHTSA investigations
Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) based on 3 incidents alleging front seat belt pretensioners that may rupture during deployment, on model year (MY) 2020-2022 of various Hyundai and Kia Models, resulting in 3 injuries (note: one incident occurred outside the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Accent years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2021 (6), 1995 (5), 1996 (5), 2000 (5) and 2001 (5) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 38% of all complaints for the 2021.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Accent seat belt problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 22V-354 (front, May 19, 2022); 22V-218 (front, Apr 1, 2022); 22V-069 (pretensioner, Feb 9, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Accent seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles; 39% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › anchorage (7 mentions), followed by the front › retractor (7).
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.