ABS module electrical fault and fire. On the evening before the fire, the vehicle displayed ABS and ESC warning lights with diagnostic fault code C2402 (motor electrical fault). A continuous buzzing/vibrating noise came from under the hood near the engine compartment and persisted for several minutes even after the engine was shut off and key removed. Disconnecting the negative battery terminal immediately stopped the noise. The next morning, approximately 12 hours later, the vehicle caught fire in the engine bay near the ABS module. The fire was extinguished manually. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The ABS module and surrounding wiring show fire damage and are available for inspection. This defect poses a serious fire risk.
The worst 2016 Hyundai Accent problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine33
- Airbags30
- Electrical27
- Steering11
- Brakes8
- Acceleration7
- Body6
- Driver assistance6
- Seats5
- Fuel system4
- Lights3
- Transmission3
- Seat belts2
- Suspension2
- Wheels2
- Tires1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Hyundai Accent
Airbag light 18ABS 14Check engine light 13Engine failure 8Knocking 8No deployment 5Fire or smoke 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2016 Hyundai Accent mention
B1490 2
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 2016 Hyundai Accent 77
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Intermittent airbag warning light and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) may be set
- Intermittent airbag warning light and DTC(s) B1763 (OCS ECU Defect), and/or B1764 (OCS Mat Defect) may be...
- Some Hyundai vehicles may be equipped with a parking distance warning (PDW) sensor(s) that may trigger...
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- Higher-than-expected engine oil consumption
- The federal safety agency has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit...
- The federal safety agency has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag...
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the...
- A class settlement against Hyundai Motor America (“HMA”) that had alleged that certain 2011 – 2022 model...
- This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with...
2016 Hyundai Accent fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6L 4‑cyl | FWD | 26-27 | 36-37 | 30-31 |
What 2016 Hyundai Accent owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I brought my vehicle to Victorville Hyundai to address the official manufacturer safety warranty extension, Campaign Z01, which covers a defective passenger side Occupant Classification System (OCS) airbag sensor. My vehicle currently has 129,000 miles. The dealership and the service manager refused to perform the necessary safety diagnostic or inspection unless I signed a pre-authorization contract agreeing to pay a out-of-pocket fee of $219. The manager explicitly stated that this fee would be charged if they found that the sensor was contaminated with "outside water or dust." While I confirmed that the vehicle has never sustained any liquid spills or water intrusion, the vehicle is driven in the High Desert area and naturally contains standard environmental dust due to its age and mileage. By inserting the word "dust" into a mandatory pre-authorization agreement, the dealership is creating an intentional, deceptive financial loophole to deny a corporate safety warranty and avoid repairing a critical restraint system component. Because I refused to sign this predatory waiver, the dealership refused to service my vehicle's airbag defect, leaving a critical safety issue unresolved
Engine failure on a vehicle under 100,000 miles creates a risk of sudden loss of power while driving. A failing catalytic converter & coil packs can cause overheating and potential fire risk. These components were either pre-existing manufacturer defects or were damaged during the engine replacement process at Auto Nation Columbus (Columbus, GA), neither of which was disclosed to me as the owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that she recently purchased the vehicle from a private seller. When the contact drove the vehicle for the first time, there were no issues or warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. However, when the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for an inspection, it was discovered that the airbag module warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 143,000.
The engine failed and requires a full engine replacement. The vehicle is currently at ALM Hyundai West, 1990 Thornton Rd, Lithia Springs, GA 30122, and is available for inspection upon request. Hyundai Motor America has already approved the engine replacement under a goodwill authorization, implicitly confirming the failure is manufacturer-related. The engine failure left the vehicle undrivable, forcing me to operate rental vehicles and arrange multiple tows across three dealerships over nearly two years. An engine failure at under 100,000 miles on a well-maintained vehicle poses a direct safety risk a sudden engine failure while driving at highway or city speeds could result in loss of vehicle control, creating a serious risk of collision for the driver and other road users.Yes. The engine failure has been confirmed by three separate authorized Hyundai dealerships: Ed Voyles Hyundai (Marietta, GA), AutoNation Hyundai (Columbus, GA), and ALM Hyundai West (Lithia Springs, GA). Hyundai Motor America's own goodwill approval of a full engine replacement on July 18, 2025 further confirms the failure.Yes. The vehicle has been inspected by three authorized Hyundai dealerships acting on behalf of the manufacturer. Hyundai Motor America's corporate team reviewed and approved the engine replacement as a goodwill repair. All inspection and repair documentation is on file and available upon request.
I got into an accident and my airbags did not go off... my face hit the steering wheel and my hand is broken because the airbags didn't deploy
I was driving up a hill on interstate 8 in California and all of a sudden i heard a bang under the hood and see sparks and flames and my hyundai was on fire right there on the freeway. No clue why.
Engine is failing, oil leaking in the engine that messed up my catalytic converter and O2 sensors now it’s just sluggish , doesn’t accelerate properly, doesn’t idle nearly .
The vehicle made a loud catastrophic noises stopped running and couldn’t be restarted. Towed car to dealership where it was inspected and denied coverage based on owner not original owner. This 1.6L Gamma GDI Engine is part of the larger Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II (Case No. 8:18-cv-02223). The settlement provides a 15-year/150,000-mile extended warranty for said engine.
The Emergency brake light, ABS light, and esc light all come on while driving & speedometer goes to 0. The speedometer also stops tracking mileage when these lights come on. This used to happen on & off, but now it’s almost permanent. Hundreds are reporting the same exact issue online, but mechanics cannot figure out what the problem is. Me and countless others have taken the vehicle to mechanics multiple times with no resolve and thousands of dollars worth of diagnostics that are incorrect and don’t resolve the issue. It is dangerous because we don’t know how fast we’re going, and we don’t know if your abs, emergency brakes, & esc are all working properly. This issue is impacting Hyundai Accents years 2015, 2016, & 2017 based on the multiple threads & posts online. I think it’s related to electrical issues too because my windshield wipers & blinkers will randomly malfunction while this is happening. A random online user said that it is a “SMART Junction Box” issue that needs to be replaced. Please look into this and issue a recall because thousands of people are spending thousands of hard-earned dollars with no resolve.
Compare the 2016 Hyundai Accent
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2016 Hyundai Accent
Is the 2016 Hyundai Accent reliable?
Owners have filed 103 complaints about the 2016 Hyundai Accent, 1.5 times a typical Accent model year.
What is the 2016 Hyundai Accent year score?
The 2016 Hyundai Accent scores 61 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Hyundai Accent: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Hyundai Accent?
Engine and cooling, with 33 complaints, typically around 93,000 miles. Next is airbags (30).
How many recalls does the 2016 Hyundai Accent have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Hyundai Accent have bad engine?
The Hyundai Accent model years with the most engine complaints are 2012 (39 complaints), 2013 (35 complaints) and 2016 (33 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Hyundai Accent get?
Official estimates for the 2016 Hyundai Accent range from 30 to 31 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.6L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 26-27 city and 36-37 highway.
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