CarBrief

NHTSA has 101 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Hyundai Accent[1]. The air bags group is the biggest, with 27 complaints[2].

101owner complaints[1]
2recalls[3]
29MPG combined (EPA)[4]

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first. - Air Bags. 27 complaints[2]. Owners describe air bags that stayed closed after a hard crash, a warning light that would not go out, and a passenger side system that seemed to work only some of the time. One owner heard that a sensor repair would cost a lot just after the warranty ended. - Brakes. 15 complaints[5]. In the stories we read, owners describe a pedal that sinks toward the floor and brake lights that quit working. Some say a dealer repair did not fix the pedal. - Visibility/Wiper. 13 complaints[6]. Owners describe a driver side sun visor that droops and will not stay up, which blocks the view while driving. - Exterior Lighting. 11 complaints[7]. The stories we read are about brake lights that go dark or flicker on and off. - Power Train. 9 complaints[8]. - Electrical System. 9 complaints[9]. - Engine. 8 complaints[10]. - Unknown Or Other. 6 complaints[11]. The page also lists recalls, and the by-year facts show 2 recalls for this model year[3].

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2009 Accent is necessarily included.

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version City / highway / combined MPG Annual fuel cost
Accent, 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[4] 27 / 33 / 29 $2,300
Accent, 1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive[14] 26 / 35 / 29 $2,300

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 4 DR FWD[15].

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version Length Width Height Wheelbase Curb weight
ACCENT 2DR HATCHBACK L/GL/SPORT/SR[16] 159 in 67 in 67 in 98 in 2,366 lb
ACCENT 4DR SEDAN FWD GLS[17] 169 in 67 in 58 in 98 in 2,571 lb
ACCENT 4DR SEDAN FWD L/GL[18] 169 in 67 in 58 in 98 in 2,332 lb

How 2009 compares with other years

1995: 142 complaints, 5 recalls19951996: 101 complaints, 4 recalls1997: 56 complaints, 3 recalls19971998: 47 complaints, 1 recalls1999: 61 complaints, 1 recalls19992006: 43 complaints, 3 recalls2007: 88 complaints, 3 recalls20072008: 101 complaints, 1 recalls2009: 101 complaints, 2 recalls10120092010: 87 complaints, 1 recalls2011: 38 complaints, 1 recalls20112012: 153 complaints, 2 recalls2013: 141 complaints, 1 recalls20132014: 79 complaints, 1 recalls2015: 70 complaints, 2 recalls20152016: 102 complaints, 0 recalls2017: 68 complaints, 0 recalls20172018: 19 complaints, 1 recalls2019: 31 complaints, 1 recalls20192020: 12 complaints, 4 recalls2021: 16 complaints, 4 recalls20212022: 17 complaints, 2 recalls
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Accent model year. The 2009 is highlighted[3].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
19951425
19961014
1997563
1998471
1999611
2006433
2007883
20081011
20091012
2010871
2011381
20121532
20131411
2014791
2015702
20161020
2017680
2018191
2019311
2020124
2021164
2022172

NHTSA's counts for the Accent show 101 complaints and 2 recalls for 2009[3]. Among the 22 model years listed, 15 have fewer complaints than 2009 and 4 have more[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2020 (12) and the most are for 2012 (153)[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2009 Accent?

The 2009 Accent has 101 complaints on file with NHTSA[1]. Air bags draw the most attention at 27 complaints, and that group includes crash reports[2]. Brakes come next at 15 complaints[5]. Sun visor and brake light stories add to the list[6][7], and all are unverified owner reports. Check the recalls, fuel and safety sections on this page, and have air bag and brake light issues looked at before you buy.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2009 Hyundai Accent?
Air bags lead the complaints with 27[2], followed by brakes with 15[5] and visibility or wiper issues with 13[6].
Does the 2009 Hyundai Accent have recalls?
Yes. The by-year facts show 2 recalls for this model year[3]. See the Recalls section on this page for the details.
How many complaints does the 2009 Hyundai Accent have?
NHTSA has 101 owner complaints on file[1]. These are unverified reports and are not adjusted for sales.
What gas mileage does the 2009 Hyundai Accent get?
See the fuel economy section on this page for the EPA figures.
Is the 2009 Hyundai Accent reliable?
Owners filed 101 complaints[1], led by air bags[2] and brakes[5]. Read the problems section and the crash ratings section to judge for yourself.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Hyundai Accent

Compare all model years of the Hyundai Accent

Other Hyundai models from 2009

All Hyundai models

Similar cars from 2009: compact cars

All compact cars we cover

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 101 owner complaints on file for the 2009 Hyundai Accent (9 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 4 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. 27 complaints name the air bags component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 79,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  3. Owner complaints and recalls for every Hyundai Accent model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  4. EPA rating for Accent, 1.6L 4-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 27 city / 33 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  5. 15 complaints name the brakes component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 73,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 13 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 11 complaints name the exterior lighting component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 68,500). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 9 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 9 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 75,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 8 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 6 complaints name the unknown or other component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. Recall 15V566, filed September 8, 2015: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
  13. Recall 13V113, filed April 1, 2013: Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch. NHTSA recall database
  14. EPA rating for Accent, 1.6L 4-cyl, Automatic 4-spd, Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 26 city / 35 highway / 29 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $2,300. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  15. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR FWD: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records
  16. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ACCENT 2DR HATCHBACK L/GL/SPORT/SR: length 159 in, width 67 in, height 67 in, wheelbase 98 in, curb weight 2,366 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  17. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ACCENT 4DR SEDAN FWD GLS: length 169 in, width 67 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 98 in, curb weight 2,571 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  18. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, ACCENT 4DR SEDAN FWD L/GL: length 169 in, width 67 in, height 58 in, wheelbase 98 in, curb weight 2,332 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.