2016 Hyundai Accent Problems, Recalls & Reliability

160 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Hyundai Accent, alongside 0 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 68/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 98,890 miles.

Avoid this year if you can. The 2016 Hyundai Accent sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2006, 2011, 2019, 2022.

160Complaints
68/100Trouble index
0Recalls
50,997Typical trouble mileage

Avoid

Where 2016 sits among all Accent years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Engine 32 complaints (20%) · typically ~98,890 miles
“The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact’s son stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the engine started knocking. The contact pulled over and refilled the engine with oil and was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated.…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Accent
Electrical 30 complaints (19%) · typically ~48,945 miles
“When the car turns over, the brake, traction control, and abs light stays on, the speedometer doesn't move when in motion and the fuel range switches numbers while in motion”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Accent
Airbags 28 complaints (18%) · typically ~60,000 miles
“The airbag light for passenger side is on and won't go out.there are a lot of complaints about this on the internet”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Accent
Other 20 complaints (13%) · typically ~41,171 miles
Steering 10 complaints (6%)
Brakes & stability 8 complaints (5%)

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 66 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 50,997 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,000 and 78,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls

No recall campaigns on file for the 2016 Hyundai Accent.

Technical service bulletins

74 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 2016 Hyundai Accent. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2016 Accent TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

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

2016peak 24 in 20182026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2016 Hyundai Accent reliable?

The 2016 Hyundai Accent drew 160 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 68/100, scored against the model's worst year (2013).

What are the most common 2016 Hyundai Accent problems?

The top reported problems for the 2016 Hyundai Accent are engine (32 complaints), electrical (30), and airbags (28).

At what mileage do 2016 Hyundai Accent problems show up?

Owners most often report 2016 Hyundai Accent problems around 50,997 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,000 and 78,000 miles.

Does the 2016 Hyundai Accent have recalls?

No recall campaigns are on file for the 2016 Hyundai Accent. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check the VIN before buying.

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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.