YearToAvoid

2010 Hyundai Accent Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#7 most-complained of 13 Accent years

The 2010 Hyundai Accent has 86 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 50, ranking 7th worst of 13 model years with a Caution verdict. Brakes and electrical issues lead the complaint areas, with one recall for a brake light switch defect.

Complaints
86
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
30
27 city / 36 hwy

Top 2010 Hyundai Accent problems

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

  1. Brakes22 (26%)
  2. Electrical System22 (26%)
  3. Visibility & Wipers18 (21%)
  4. Engine13 (15%)
  5. Airbags10 (12%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (8%)
  7. Other6 (7%)
  8. Steering6 (7%)
  9. Fuel System3 (3%)
  10. HVAC1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Brakes reportedly fail to respond or lock up unexpectedly at low speed, in one case causing a rear-end collision in the rain.
  • Owners describe a grinding or crunching noise from the brakes in snowy conditions along with reduced stopping ability.
  • Some drivers report the steering wheel shaking and the vehicle pulling to the right when braking.
  • Squeaking or rubbing brake noise combined with a jerking sensation during stops was reported by several owners.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during frontal or broadside collisions at highway speed.
  • Tires from the original equipment brand reportedly showed sidewall cracking and rapid air loss well under 18,000 miles.
2010 Hyundai Accent complaints: complaints filed per quarter102011 Q12012 Q32014 Q12015 Q22016 Q32018 Q42021 Q4
109 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q1 to 2026 Q1; peak 2014 Q3 (10).

2010 Hyundai Accent recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 15V566000Sep 8, 2015Electrical System99,500 vehicles

    Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

    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 cause the brake lights to not illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed or may cause an inability to deactivate the cruise control by depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, a malfunctioning brake light switch may also prevent the shifter from being moved out of the PARK position.

    Risk: Failure to illuminate the brake lights during braking or the inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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 visiting www.HyundaiUSA.com/Campaign131. Hyundai's number for this recall is 131. This recall is an expansion of 13V-113.

2010 Hyundai Accent fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
36 MPG
Combined
30 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,150
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Accent years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution5086130
2011Good3338130
2012Avoid92153231.5

All Hyundai Accent years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Hyundai Accent reliable?
NHTSA lists 86 complaints for the 2010 Accent with a complaint index of 50, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 7th worst out of 13 model years of the Accent.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Hyundai Accent?
Brakes and the Electrical System each account for 22 complaints (26% share each), followed by Visibility & Wipers at 18 complaints (21%) and Engine issues at 13 complaints (15%).
Does the 2010 Hyundai Accent have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 15V566000) covers a brake light switch that may malfunction in 2009-2011 Accent vehicles built between March 1, 2009 and February 11, 2011. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2010 Accent compare to other model years?
The 2010 Accent's complaint index of 50 is lower than the worst years, 2012 and 2013, which scored 92 and 100 and are rated Avoid, but higher than 2018, 2020, and 2021, which are rated Best.
What is the median mileage for brake failures in the 2010 Accent?
The median mileage at failure for the Brakes problem area is 47,000 miles, based on NHTSA complaint data.

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.