YearToAvoid

2011 Hyundai Accent Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2011 Hyundai Accent has a complaint index of 29, ranked 13th worst out of 18 model years, and earns a 'Good' verdict relative to other Accent years. It has 38 complaints, 1 recall, and no do-not-drive recalls.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
29/100
#13 of 18 Accent years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
38
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2018
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
30
27 city / 35 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2011 Hyundai Accent problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine14 (37%)
  2. Electrical System13 (34%)
  3. Airbags7 (18%)
  4. Brakes5 (13%)
  5. Other4 (11%)
  6. Steering3 (8%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (8%)
  8. Fuel System1 (3%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (3%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering wheel locks up suddenly while merging or braking, sometimes leading to loss of traction and a crash.
  • Airbags fail to deploy in frontal impacts even after hard hits, including one crash on ice at 35 mph.
  • Engine idles roughly with abnormally high RPM and the car creeps forward unexpectedly while stopped.
  • Engine coils and spark plugs fail repeatedly, triggering misfire codes even after multiple replacements.
  • Headlights go out intermittently when switching between high and low beams, with dealers unable to reproduce the issue.
  • Windshield wipers stop working suddenly during heavy rain, cutting off visibility.
2011 Hyundai Accent complaints: complaints filed per month2Mar 2011Aug 2013Sep 2014Jul 2015Jul 2016Jul 2018May 2020Aug 2026
38 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2011 to Aug 2026; peak Jul 2013 (2).

2011 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.

2011 Hyundai Accent fuel economy and fuel cost

City
27 MPG
Highway
35 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.

2011 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
2009Avoid82101229
2010Good4787130
2011Good2938130
2012Avoid94153231.5
2013Avoid100141131.5

All Hyundai Accent years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Hyundai Accent reliable?
Compared to other Accent model years, the 2011 rates 'Good' with a complaint index of 29, ranking 13th worst out of 18 years. It has fewer reported problems than most other Accent years, such as 2009, 2012, and 2013, which are rated 'Avoid'.
What problems does the 2011 Hyundai Accent have?
NHTSA complaints point to the Engine as the top problem area with 14 complaints (37% share), followed by Electrical System with 13 complaints (34%) and Airbags with 7 complaints (18%).
Does the 2011 Hyundai Accent have any recalls?
Yes, one recall (campaign 15V566000) covers a brake light switch malfunction on 2009-2011 Accent vehicles built between March 2009 and February 2011. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2011 Accent compare to other years?
The 2011 Accent's complaint index of 29 is much lower than the 2013 model year's index of 100, the highest among the 18 years with data, and lower than 2009, 2012, 2014, and 2016, all rated 'Avoid'.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Hyundai Accent?
EPA rates the 2011 Accent at 30 mpg combined (27 city / 35 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.

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.