This TSB provides a procedure to diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Hyundai Accent powertrain problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 10 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Hyundai Accent, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Among the 5 model years of Hyundai Accent in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with the following symptoms and DTC, follow the Service Procedure on Page 4. ï· Check Engine light on ï· DTC P0880/P088000 - TCM Power signal error open/short ï· Transmission stuck in 4th gear fail-safe ï· Harsh shift into Reverse and Drive
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The automatic transmission warranty repair policy authorizes in-dealership repairs of the following components for both OEM (new) and remanufactured automatic transmissions:
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a âCheck Engineâ light on and one or more of the DTC listed below, follow the repair procedure and replace the related solenoid and oil pressure harness.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Over 10 complaints show a pattern of powertrain and electrical problems. Multiple owners report transmission issues—stuck shifting gears, delayed acceleration, and poor power delivery—that dealerships couldn't diagnose even under warranty. A clutch failure on the highway and a separate engine stall at highway speed both resulted in warranty denials, with dealerships blaming owner maintenance despite contradictory evidence.
Electrical failures are particularly dangerous: one owner experienced stalling and complete power loss (lights, steering, gauges) over 8 times, with no restart for up to an hour. Another owner saw the car enter limp-home mode during light snow, limiting speed to 15 mph on the highway.
Winter drivability is a major safety complaint. Owners report the car loses traction in light snow, bounces through it, and has unresponsive steering and throttle. Two separate collision scenarios show airbags did not deploy—once hitting a deer at 50 mph, again when the driver was pinned under a truck—yet Hyundai denied both claims.
Engine knock and pre-detonation appeared after intake cleaning; a faulty neutral safety switch has left one owner stranded multiple times. Warranty denials and dealer diagnosis failures compound the frustration.
Failure modes owners describe
Traction control / snow handling loss
Vehicle loses traction in light to moderate snow (3-6 inches), bounces through snow, becomes unresponsive to throttle input, engine stumbles or chokes when decelerating, feels like delayed response similar to manual transmission hunting. Tires reportedly bounce in snow. No responsiveness to steering or acceleration control.
When: Light snow conditions (3-6 inches), interstate and paved county roads
Symptoms owners cite: No traction in snow despite non-icy conditions; Vehicle bounces through snow; Engine chokes/stumbles on deceleration; Delayed throttle response; Poor steering response; Vehicle drifts unpredictably
Engine failure / power loss
Engine stalled on highway at 70-82K miles. Owner provided oil change documentation; Hyundai warranty claim denied for 'improper maintenance' without clear explanation of what was missing. Dealership had previously noted engine going bad in November. Check engine light was off after subsequent oil change.
When: 70-82K miles, failed on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Complete engine stall on highway; Previous warning that engine was going bad; Check engine light went off after oil change
Repairs/costs cited: Claim denied; engine failure occurred under 100K mile warranty
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty claim denied citing improper maintenance despite owner providing oil change records
Clutch failure
Clutch suddenly broke when driver pressed clutch pedal to downshift on highway exit. Engine locked up shortly after. Dealership blamed low oil without investigation; owner states oil change was 9 days prior and no oil or check engine lights illuminated. Dealership refused warranty repair.
When: 9 days after oil change
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden clutch engagement failure; Engine locked up; No check engine light; No low oil warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership removed valve cover only; blamed low oil without investigating clutch failure origin
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty repair denied; dealership blamed owner for low oil
Limp home mode / power loss in weather
Vehicle lost power and began icing up during light snowfall on highway. After stopping to clear ice, vehicle would only reach 15-18 mph. Dealer suggested vehicle entered 'limp home' mode due to road conditions. Ran normally the next day.
When: Light snow conditions on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden power loss during light snow; Severe speed limitation (15-18 mph max); Icing on windshield and wipers; Recovery to normal operation after cooling period
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnosed as limp home mode activation due to weather conditions
Airbag non-deployment
Two separate collision incidents where airbags failed to deploy. First incident: head-on collision with deer at 50 mph. Second incident: struck and went under Ford F150 truck, driver pinned in vehicle. Hyundai investigation claimed airbags were working and deer strike would not trigger deployment; however, second collision was more severe and airbags still did not deploy.
When: October 14, 2013 (first incident); December 18, 2013 (second incident)
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag non-deployment in head-on deer strike at 50 mph; Airbag non-deployment in collision involving underride of pickup truck; Driver pinned in vehicle after second collision
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai investigation denied both claims, stating airbags were working and deer strike would not trigger deployment
Electrical system stalling
Vehicle loses all electrical power and stalls while driving, causing loss of lights, gauges, and power steering. Vehicle will not restart immediately, sometimes taking up to an hour. Occurred over 8 times. Dealership suggested IP junction box or loose grounding wire but could not confirm fix. Vehicle became ineligible for warranty at 60,100 miles.
When: Multiple incidents; noted at 60,100 miles when warranty expired
Symptoms owners cite: Complete electrical power loss while driving; Stalling without warning; Loss of lights, gauges, steering; No immediate restart capability (up to 1 hour); Recurring pattern
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership suggested IP junction box or loose grounding wire; no definitive repair provided
Transmission shifting and power delivery issues
Transmission gets stuck when shifting gears and won't pick up power when accelerating. Multiple dealership visits under warranty found no issue. Independent shops and Hyundai corporate both acknowledged transmission problem but refused repair. Vehicle exhibits unpredictable steering and poor highway driving. Now out of warranty.
When: While under warranty; now beyond warranty coverage
Symptoms owners cite: Stuck shifting gears; Delayed power delivery on acceleration; Poor highway performance; Unpredictable steering
Repairs/costs cited: Independent shops identified transmission issue; Hyundai dealership could not diagnose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Hyundai refused to repair under warranty; vehicle now out of warranty
Engine knock / pre-detonation
Engine produces knocking and pinging sounds. Dealership cleaned intake valve 7 months prior, which temporarily helped, but pre-detonation noise has returned and is more noticeable. Dealership claimed inability to replicate noise despite service rep hearing it on test drive. Multiple Accent owners report similar issue on forums.
When: 7 months after intake cleaning; recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Knocking sound; Pinging sound; Pre-detonation noise; Noise more noticeable over time
Repairs/costs cited: Intake cleaning provided temporary relief; issue recurred
Neutral safety switch failure
Vehicle would not turn over; diagnosed as faulty neutral safety switch. Has happened multiple times, leaving owner stranded.
When: Multiple instances
Symptoms owners cite: No-start condition; Recurring failures
Repairs/costs cited: Diagnosed as faulty neutral safety switch
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
I was in an accident on october 14, 2013 where I struck a deer head on at 50mph and the airbags did not deploy. I wrote to Hyundai and complained, and after their "investigation", they determined that I was not entitled to any assistance. Well, two nights ago, on wednesday, december 18, 2013, I struck and went under a Ford f150 truck. I was pinned in the vehicle. My airbag did not deploy -…
Takata recall: I had took my car into the dealership multiple times while it was under warranty because it gets stuck when shifting gears and won't pick up the power when accelerating. While the on the highway it drives horrible and the steering is unpredictable. Each time that I took it into the hyunadai dealership they can't figure out what wrong with it. While it was still under warranty I did…
This vehicle is extremely dangerous driving in the snow. I have driven a number and variety of vehicles in all types of weather across the country. I have certainly driven in worse conditions and in lighter vehicles in worse conditions. There has been a light snow all day 3-6 inches. I was driving on both the interstate and county maintained roads, all paved. Traffic was medium heavy, it was…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 Hyundai Accent?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 Hyundai Accent?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 25,000 and 70,000 miles, with the median around 49,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 25,000; a quarter make it past 70,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Hyundai/Accent.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.