2009 Hyundai Accent Problems, Recalls & Reliability

128 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2009 Hyundai Accent, alongside 2 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 41/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Airbags leads the reports, typically around 79,000 miles.

128Complaints
41/100Trouble index
2Recalls
73,000Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2009 sits among all Accent years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Airbags 27 complaints (21%) · typically ~79,000 miles
“Air bag warning light for passenger seat-ocs---note many other 2009 hyundai accent have been recalled for passenger air bag issues--also 2008/9/10/11/12,etc-why not this one???”— owner report to NHTSA, 2009 Accent
Electrical 21 complaints (16%) · typically ~74,000 miles
Visibility & wipers 18 complaints (14%) · typically ~58,000 miles
Brakes & stability 15 complaints (12%) · typically ~74,000 miles
Transmission & drivetrain 9 complaints (7%) · typically ~70,000 miles
Engine 8 complaints (6%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 104 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 73,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 45,000 and 85,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (2)

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 15V566000 2015

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Hyundai Accent vehicles manufactured March 1, 2009, to February 11, 2011. In the affected vehicles, the brake light switch may malfunction. A malfunctioning brake light switch may…

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake switch, free of charge. The recall began on October 21, 2015. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 1-855-671-3059 or by…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 13V113000 2013

Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 Accent, model year 2007-2011 Azera, Sonata and Sante Fe,2006-2011 Tucson, 2009-2011 Elantra Touring, 2007-2010 Elantra, 2008-2011 Veracruz, 2009-2011 Genesis, 2010-2011 Genesis Coupe,…

Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop lamp switch, free of charge. The safety recall began on April 22, 2013. Owners may contact Hyundai at 1-800-633-5151. Hyundai's recall…

Technical service bulletins

38 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2009 Hyundai Accent. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2009 Accent TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

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

2009peak 33 in 20132025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2009 Hyundai Accent reliable?

The 2009 Hyundai Accent drew 128 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 41/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).

What are the most common 2009 Hyundai Accent problems?

The top reported problems for the 2009 Hyundai Accent are airbags (27 complaints), electrical (21), and visibility & wipers (18).

At what mileage do 2009 Hyundai Accent problems show up?

Owners most often report 2009 Hyundai Accent problems around 73,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 45,000 and 85,000 miles.

Does the 2009 Hyundai Accent have recalls?

2 recall campaigns apply to the 2009 Hyundai Accent. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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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.