YearToAvoid

2018 Hyundai Accent Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#13 most-complained of 13 Accent years

The 2018 Hyundai Accent ranks 13th out of 13 model years for reported problems, with a complaint index of 0, making it the Best year in the lineup. It has 19 complaints, 1 recall, 4 fire reports, and 1 injury.

Complaints
19
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
0 / 4
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
31.5
28 city / 37.5 hwy

Top 2018 Hyundai Accent problems

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

  1. Engine8 (42%)
  2. Electrical System3 (16%)
  3. Other3 (16%)
  4. Structure & Body3 (16%)
  5. Brakes2 (11%)
  6. Airbags1 (5%)
  7. Fuel System1 (5%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the engine jerking and shaking when coming to a stop, with the rpm needle spiking unexpectedly.
  • Some drivers describe the accelerator pedal surging with unintended power on initial acceleration from a stop.
  • Owners report engine fires occurring while driving, with fire departments in some cases ruling the cause electrical.
  • Water was reported entering the car through the door bottoms after rain, raising concern about long-term rust.
  • Some owners report the trunk failing to close properly, tying it shut with cords, even after the trunk latch recall.
  • A few drivers report the car pulling to one side at highway speed after an alignment service.
2018 Hyundai Accent complaints: complaints filed per month4Mar 2018Jul 2018Feb 2020Nov 2021Feb 2022Sep 2024Aug 2025Jan 2026
22 complaints filed with NHTSA from Mar 2018 to May 2026; peak Feb 2022 (4).

2018 Hyundai Accent recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V619000Aug 6, 2021Structure & Body348,158 vehicles

    Latches/locks/linkages:trunk lid:latch

    Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent, and 2016-2017 Azera vehicles. The trunk latch may become damaged, preventing the opening of the trunk from the inside. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 401, "Internal Trunk Release."

    Risk: A person inside the trunk compartment may become trapped, increasing their risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the trunk latch base, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 208.

2018 Hyundai Accent fuel economy and fuel cost

City
28 MPG
Highway
37.5 MPG
Combined
31.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,075
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.

2018 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
2016Caution67100030.5
2017Caution5868030.5
2018Best019131.5
2019Good2531131.5
2020Best1712434.5

All Hyundai Accent years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Hyundai Accent reliable?
Among the 13 Accent model years with data, 2018 has the lowest complaint index (0) and ranks 13th worst, meaning it has the fewest reported problems relative to other Accent years.
What problems does the 2018 Hyundai Accent have?
NHTSA lists 19 complaints for the 2018 Accent, with the Engine as the top problem area (8 complaints, 42% share), followed by Electrical System and Structure & Body issues (3 complaints each).
Does the 2018 Hyundai Accent have a recall?
Yes, one recall (campaign 21V619000) covers a trunk latch that may become damaged and prevent the trunk from opening; it is not a do-not-drive recall.
Are there fire reports for the 2018 Hyundai Accent?
NHTSA data shows 4 fire reports and 1 injury for the 2018 Accent, with no crashes or deaths reported.
How does the 2018 Accent compare to other years?
The 2018 Accent has a complaint index of 0 and a Best verdict, compared to years like 2012 and 2013, which have complaint indexes of 92 and 100 and an Avoid verdict.

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.