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Hyundai Accent fire or smoke problems

66 of the 2,034 owner complaints about the Hyundai Accent describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 2013 model year.

owner complaints
66
worst model year
2013
typical mileage
79,000
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 28, 2026 · Electrical · TN · fire

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.

Filed May 21, 2026 · TX · fire

My parked, unoccupied 2013 Hyundai Accent spontaneously caught fire while turned off in my driveway. This vehicle is included in Hyundai Safety Recall 251 (the federal safety agency Campaign Number 23V651000) for a defective Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module that causes an electrical short circuit and engine compartment fires when parked. The local fire department responded to extinguish the blaze. The vehicle is a total loss. The local Hyundai dealership currently possesses the vehicle and has refused to take responsibility, claiming they "cannot find the issue," despite this being a federally recognized safety hazard. I am filing this complaint to trigger a manufacturer accountability review, as the vehicle caught fire exactly as described in the federal recall notice.

Filed Apr 30, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · IN · fire

Was driving down the highway and my car caught fire. I was stopped by another driver saying that my car was on fire. I had no breaks to stop, I had to put it straight to park to stop the car. That way myself and my son could jump out of the car.

Filed Apr 7, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · VA · crash · fire · 1 injury

I was driving my 2022 Hyundai Accent (VIN [XXX] ) when the brakes suddenly failed without warning. When I pressed the brake pedal, the vehicle did not slow down properly resultina in a crash Immediately after the crash, the vehicle caught fire According to the fire department report, the fire originated in the engine compartment and was classified as unintentional/ accidental There were no prior warning lights or known brake issues before this incident. The failure was sudden and unexpected. This incident raises serious safetv concerns regarding a potential defect involving the braking system and/or electrical components. The vehicle is currently preserved and available for inspection INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Dec 15, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · CA · fire

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.

Filed Oct 6, 2025 · Engine · MD · fire

My 2015 Hyundai accent started having problems with oil consumption around 65000 miles. I got it checked regularly and the mechanic noticed it after it was having issues accelerating and losing power then cutting off completely. I had to constantly check oil each week or sooner. A couple months later it started losing power on high way and there was a clicking/ticking coming from engine. I pulled over and cut it off. Then drove it slowly (under 30 mph) to car store down the road to add oil but it was fine. Was able to get back home on back roads going slowly. Mechanic told me there oil consumption was a problem with these types of cars and likely causing engine problems. The whole time I had problems the check engine, battery, and oil light would constantly come on and go off. When they hooked it up to see why check engine light was on there were about 15 different codes. One of them being the Variable Valve Solenoid which I ended up replacing both first but still had problems. It would accelerate but there was still a ticking noise upon accelerating. I didn’t drive it for a few weeks then the day I was going to take it back to shop, My husband, his friend, and I were on highway a couple minutes from home and hit a bump and heard a loud thud when the ticking stopped but the car beside us was waving to get our attention that the car was on fire. There was smoke coming through a.c. And you could see it in the rear. My husband quickly pulled over and when I went to get out of passengers side, flames shot up my side of the door so I quickly jumped across out his side. We were able to all get out ok. Luckily there was a firetruck coming down the highway before I could even get ahold of dispatch on 911. The cars front end was engulfed in flames which they were able to put out quickly. The hood was roasted. I’m not sure if they determined the cause and my car is still sitting in the lot where they towed it. Unfortunately I had a lapse in insurance because I was out of work

Filed Apr 29, 2025 · Brakes, Electrical · GA · fire

On the [XXX], my 2012 Hyundai Accent caught fire in the engine compartment and engulfed in flames. Right before the fire started, smoke came out of the air vents into the car, causing me to become stifled and choke for several minutes. Smoke was also coming out of the hood. At that point, I lifted the hood and there were flames coming out of the engine. During the past six months prior to the fire, I developed a chronic cough and now believe it might have been attributed to fumes that I have been inhaling through the air vents from my car's engine. My [XXX] mother and [XXX] son have suffered headaches, coughing, sore throat and congestion when riding in my car with the air conditioner turned on. The remains of the vehicle were inspected by the Rockdale County Fire Department after they extinguished the fire. What remains of the car is available for inspection in Rockdale County Ga at a tow yard designated by the Rockdale County emergency rescue team members who assisted me. It was too damaged to tow to my home. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the engine catching fire on [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Feb 1, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · VA · fire

The report does not specify the exact component that failed, but the fire originated under the hood of the 2016 Hyundai Accent. The vehicle and related documentation, including the fire department report, insurance claim, and incident photos, are available for review​. The fire under the hood posed a serious safety risk as it occurred while the vehicle was in motion on a busy highway. Fortunately, the driver evacuated safely, but the incident could have resulted in injury or more severe consequences​ of both driver and other drivers traveling. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. Due to the extent of the damage caused by the fire, it is unlikely that the issue can be reproduced or thoroughly examined. The vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic since the incident. The incident was inspected by Chesterfield Fire & EMS (Report No. [XXX]), Chesterfield Police Department arrived on the scene, and an insurance claim is in process. About a week prior to the fire, oil indicator light would flash on and off periodically, unusual noise began, and the engine light came on. At the earliest convenience, the car was taken to a shop for inspection and consultation - with no life threatening concerns or mechanical damages reported. The day of and right before the fire, there was a loud noise and immediate smoke. The exact timing of the believed ignition of the fire started around [XXX] with the fire in full flames by [XXX] on [XXX]​.

Filed Dec 14, 2024 · Engine · AL · fire

Sunday, while I was sitting in my car I noticed smokes coming from the hood. I then noticed it getting thicker and I saw a flame under the steering wheel. I called the fire department. While I was waiting, the car engulfed into flames and was completely burnt. I wasn’t notified about a recall on the car. I had to find out on my own on 12/14/2024. The incident happened 12/08/2024. I filed a police report and had to get the car towed. I can contact the police department for the report number, I only received a card.

Filed Sep 30, 2024 · Brakes · PR · fire

The contact owned a 2014 Hyundai Accent. The contact stated that while driving, the drive stick shift failed to change gears from first gear. The drive stick shift became abnormally stuck when depressing the brake pedal and attempting to shift gears. The contact merged to the shoulder of the road with the assistance of the emergency brakes and noticed smoke. The contact was able to safely exit the vehicle when it caught on fire under the front passenger side. The police and fire departments arrived on the scene however the vehicle was consumed by the fire. The vehicle was towed to a salvage lot and deemed a total loss. No injuries were sustained. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V651000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) and the contact believed it was related to her failure. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Related recalls

Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dashReported March 3, 1995 · 5,306 vehicles affected
What is wrong
The engine control module wiring harness under the instrument panel can be contacted by the clutch pedal assembly when the clutch is engaged.
Risk
Contact abrades and damages the insulation onthe harness causing a fuse to blow and the engine to stall. Unexpected engine stalling increases the potential for a vehicle accident.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the engine control wiring harness to determine if it has been damaged and reposition the harness so that contact with the clutch pedal lever will not occur.

Recall number 95V043000 · Recall details

Questions about the Hyundai Accent fire or smoke

Which Hyundai Accent years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2013 (10 complaints), 2015 (9 complaints) and 2012 (7 complaints).

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