YearToAvoid

2005 Hyundai Accent Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

41/100

#11 most-complained of 18 Accent years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Hyundai Accent has 49 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 41 out of 100 — #11 highest of 18 Accent model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is electrical system (19 complaints, 39% of the total). Complaints report 9 crashes, 3 fires, and 6 injuries.

Complaints
49
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
9 / 3
Injuries / deaths
6 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
—

Top 2005 Hyundai Accent problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System19 (39%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain13 (27%)
  3. Brakes12 (24%)
  4. Airbags8 (16%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (12%)
  6. Engine5 (10%)
  7. Structure & Body4 (8%)
  8. Steering2 (4%)
  9. Fuel System1 (2%)
  10. Other1 (2%)
2005 Hyundai Accent complaints: complaints filed per month5Oct 2005Sep 2007Nov 2009Apr 2011Jan 2013Jul 2014May 2015Oct 2017
73 complaints filed with NHTSA from Oct 2005 to Mar 2022; peak Feb 2012 (5).

2005 Hyundai Accent recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 09V280000Jul 21, 2009Electrical System3,011 vehicles

    Exterior lighting

    Hyundai is recalling 3,011 model year 2005-2007 elantra, tucson, sonata, azera and accent vehicles. A malfunctioning stop lamp switch may cause the brake lights to fail to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause the brake lights to remain illuminated when the brake pedal is released. A defective stop lamp switch may also affect the operation of the brake-transmission shift interlock feature so the transmission would not be able to be shift out of the "park" position. It may also cause the electronic stability control (esc) malfunction light to illuminate, and it may not deactivate the cruise control when the brake pedal is depressed.

    Risk: Any of these malfunctions could lead to a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the stop lamp switch free of charge. The recall began on september 2, 2009. Owners may contact hyundai of puerto rico customer service at 1-787-999-4310.

2005 compared with other Accent years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good41491—
2006Best1243328.5
2007Caution6588328.5

All Hyundai Accent years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Hyundai Accent a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Hyundai Accent ranks #11 of 18 among Accent model years (Complaint Index 41/100, verdict: Good). It has 49 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Hyundai Accent?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (19 complaints), transmission & powertrain (13 complaints), and brakes (12 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 60,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Hyundai Accent have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2005 Hyundai Accent, most recently reported 2009, covering electrical system.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.