2013 Hyundai Accent.
The 2013 Hyundai Accent is better than average by owner complaints: 40 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 53, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about airbags, it has 1 recall, and it gets 31 to 32 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Accent year is 2014.

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 141 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Accent year. 2013 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 16K to 83K miles on the car (70 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- engine complaints mostly came at 29K–120K miles
Recalls 1
- brakes 2023
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
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 78 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- The shift lever on some 6-speed vehicles may intermittently not shift out of park
- The shift lever on some vehicles may intermittently not shift out of Park
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- OpenHyundai and kia abs module fires2023
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety

Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Accent 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Accent 5 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2000–2050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
As I am driving my air bag light keeps popping on- I am scared the air bag will deploy as I am driving.
2013 Hyundai Accent owner · NHTSA complaint 10779368
More owner reports
Try to start car and it would not turn over. I had it taken to a mechanic and they diagnosed it as a faulty neutral safety switch. This has happened to me several times and has left me stranded.
NHTSA complaint 10731375
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Hyundai Accent reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 53; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Accent year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2013 Hyundai Accent problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are airbags (28%), transmission & drivetrain (20%) and engine (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Hyundai Accent have?
1 safety recall (latest: brakes). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Hyundai Accent get?
31 to 32 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Hyundai Accent safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Hyundai Accent problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 16,000 and 83,800 miles. The middle report was at 45,000 miles, from 70 complaints.
Does the 2013 Hyundai Accent have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 20% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2013 Hyundai Accent cost in fuel a year?
About $2000 to $2050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Hyundai Accent have?
1.6L 4-cyl.
What Hyundai Accent year is better than the 2013?
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