YearToAvoid

2012 Hyundai Accent Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 53 Engine complaints for the 2012 Hyundai Accent, 35% of all 153 complaints filed for the year. Owners most often describe engine fires and unexpected RPM surges or stalling, with a median failure mileage of 82,300. No related recall is listed in this data.

Engine complaints
53
35% of 153
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
8
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
82,300 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Engine catches fire in the engine compartment, sometimes while parked and sometimes while driving, occasionally preceded by smoke or a burning smell entering the cabin.
  • Engine or throttle surges or over-revs on its own, with RPM climbing to several thousand when the clutch is pressed or released, most often reported on manual-transmission cars.
  • Vehicle suddenly decelerates or stalls at highway speed, in one case traced by a dealer to the fuel rail pressure sensor before the problem recurred.
  • Vehicle drops into an idle-like state after pulling away from a stop, with oil and battery warning lights coming on but no check engine light.
  • Unintended acceleration occurs at lower speeds, with the dealer unable to replicate the fault during diagnosis.

When 2012 Hyundai Accent engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 8, 2011, latest May 28, 2026.

2012 Hyundai Accent engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2011Dec 2015Feb 2018Mar 2019Dec 2019Feb 2021Oct 2023Aug 2024
53 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2011 to May 2026; peak Jul 2022 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2012 Hyundai Accent

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Accent model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201013 (15%)
  2. 201114 (37%)
  3. 201253 (35%)
  4. 201341 (29%)
  5. 201419 (24%)
  6. 201521 (30%)
  7. 201638 (38%)
  8. 201727 (40%)
  9. 20188 (42%)
  10. 201921 (68%)
  11. 20205 (42%)
  12. 20214 (25%)
  13. 20224 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine complaints on the 2012 Hyundai Accent?
NHTSA lists 53 Engine complaints for the 2012 Accent, which is 35% of the 153 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2012 Hyundai Accent engine?
This data shows no related recall listed for the 2012 Accent engine complaints.
At what mileage do 2012 Accent engine problems usually show up?
The median mileage at failure for these engine complaints is 82,300 miles.
Do 2012 Hyundai Accent engine complaints involve fires?
Yes, NHTSA data for this year and problem area includes 8 fire incidents and 2 injuries among the reported cases.
What kind of engine symptoms do owners report most?
Owners describe engine fires, sudden stalling or deceleration, and unexpected RPM surges, particularly on manual-transmission cars.

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.