YearToAvoid

2011 Hyundai Accent Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

33/100

#9 most-complained of 13 Accent years

The 2011 Hyundai Accent has 38 NHTSA complaints and a complaint index of 33, ranking 9th worst out of 13 model years — a Good rank compared to other Accent years. Engine issues (37%) and electrical problems (34%) top the list, with one recall for a faulty brake light switch.

Complaints
38
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
30
27 city / 35 hwy

Top 2011 Hyundai Accent problems

NHTSA owner 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%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine surging or revving unusually high while idling with the foot on the brake, sometimes causing the car to creep forward.
  • Some drivers say the vehicle moved unexpectedly while shifting into reverse, forcing them to power off the car to stop it.
  • Engine coil failures are described, with owners replacing multiple ignition coils while the computer continued to register a misfire.
  • Steering wheels reportedly locked up suddenly during driving, causing loss of control and, in one case, a crash.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy in frontal impacts, including one crash where the front end was heavily damaged.
  • Headlights reportedly went out intermittently after switching between high and low beams, an issue dealers could not reproduce.
2011 Hyundai Accent complaints: complaints filed per month5Mar 2011Aug 2013Sep 2014Jul 2015Jul 2016Jul 2018May 2020Aug 2026
52 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2011 to Aug 2026; peak Jul 2013 (5).

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)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution5086130
2011Good3338130
2012Avoid92153231.5
2013Avoid100141131.5

All Hyundai Accent years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Hyundai Accent reliable?
NHTSA lists 38 complaints for the 2011 Accent with a complaint index of 33, ranking it 9th worst of 13 model years. Compared to other Accent years, it earns a 'Good' verdict, well below the worse 2012 and 2013 model years.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Hyundai Accent?
Engine problems account for 37% of complaints (14 of 38) and electrical system issues account for 34% (13 of 38). Airbag complaints make up 18% and are tied to 3 reported crashes.
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 1, 2009 and February 11, 2011. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2011 Accent compare to other model years?
The 2011 Accent's complaint index of 33 is much lower than the 2012 (92) and 2013 (100) model years, which are both rated 'Avoid.' Later years like 2018, 2020, and 2021 score even lower and are rated 'Best.'
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Hyundai Accent?
The 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.