The Lemon Index2008 Hyundai Accent.
The 2008 Hyundai Accent is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 24 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 48, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 1 recall, and it gets 28 to 29 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Accent year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 101 owner complaints, owners reported:
Older model year: fewer owners filed complaints back then, so treat the score as rough.
Every Hyundai Accent year. 2008 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 24K to 80K miles on the car (82 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- airbags complaints mostly came at 24K–90K miles
Recalls 1
- lights 2013
Originally, in April 2013, Hyundai recalled 1,059,824 model year 2007-2009 Accent and Tucson, model year 2007-2010 Elantra, model year 2007-2011 Santa Fe, model year 2008-2009 Veracruz, model year 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 42 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Higher-than-expected engine oil
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★☆ · rollover ★★★★☆
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2300 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl.
Quick answers
Is the 2008 Hyundai Accent reliable?
Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 48; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Accent year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2008 Hyundai Accent problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (25%), engine (21%) and lights (17%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2008 Hyundai Accent have?
1 safety recall (latest: lights). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2008 Hyundai Accent get?
28 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
At what mileage do 2008 Hyundai Accent problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 24,500 and 80,300 miles. The middle report was at 49,600 miles, from 82 complaints.
Does the 2008 Hyundai Accent have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 8% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2008 Hyundai Accent cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2008 Hyundai Accent have?
1.6L 4-cyl.
What Hyundai Accent year is better than the 2008?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2018 and 2019.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works