1997 Hyundai Accent Problems, Recalls & Reliability

82 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Hyundai Accent, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 3 defect investigations. It scores 33/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports.

82Complaints
33/100Trouble index
2Recalls

Typical

Where 1997 sits among all Accent years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 17 complaints (21%)
Transmission & drivetrain 14 complaints (17%)
Electrical 11 complaints (13%)
Airbags 11 complaints (13%)
Suspension 7 complaints (9%)
Brakes & stability 5 complaints (6%)

Recalls (2)

SUSPENSION 98V245000 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING "SALT BELT" STATES: CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY,…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SPRING GUIDE TO PREVENT A BROKEN COIL SPRING FROM CONTACTING AND DAMAGING A TIRE.

VISIBILITY 97V026000 1997

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WERE CONTAMINATED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE CONTAMINANTS FROM THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BREAKER CONTACTS.

Federal defect investigations

FUEL TANK CRACKING RQ00017 opened 2000, closed 2000

Led to recall campaign 00V095002.

PASSENGER AIR BAG RELATED EA00001 opened 2000, closed 2001
PASSENGER AIR BAG RELATED FATALITIES PE99046 opened 1999, closed 2000

Technical service bulletins

55 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on transmission & drivetrain and engine — are on file for the 1997 Hyundai Accent. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 1997 Accent TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

1997peak 22 in 19992011

Questions buyers ask

Is the 1997 Hyundai Accent reliable?

The 1997 Hyundai Accent drew 82 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 33/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).

What are the most common 1997 Hyundai Accent problems?

The top reported problems for the 1997 Hyundai Accent are engine (17 complaints), transmission & drivetrain (14), and electrical (11).

Does the 1997 Hyundai Accent have recalls?

2 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Hyundai Accent. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

← 1996 Accent All Accent years 1998 Accent →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.