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1999 Hyundai Accent

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1999 Accent.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1999 Hyundai Accent stands as a compact passenger car built on Hyundai’s small-car platform, powered by a modest yet efficient four-cylinder engine paired with a four-speed automatic transmission—delivering EPA-estimated fuel economy of 23 city, 33 highway, and 26 combined miles per gallon. With a 3.5-quart oil capacity and recommended 10W-30 or 5W-30 viscosity, the Accent reflected the era’s straightforward engineering, though its 66 owner complaints for the model year, particularly around airbag systems, hinted at early reliability quirks. While not the most troubled in the nameplate’s history—1995 holds that distinction with 167 complaints—this iteration marked a mid-pack year in the Accent’s broader reliability arc, offering a snapshot of Hyundai’s gradual refinement before later models achieved greater consistency.

Model year2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 1999

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

EPA fuel economy23/33/26 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 435 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 121R · 435 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP155-80R13OEM · verified

Wheel / rim4.5-, 5-J inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	161.4 in
Overall width	63.8 in
Overall height	54.7 in
Wheelbase	94.5 in
Curb weight	2101 lb
Track (front / rear)	55.9 / 55.5 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	23 / 33 / 26 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Accent of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 11.20 sec — 1995 Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1995	Sedan 1.5L I-4	11.20 sec	18.20 sec	92 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0-33.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · API · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	3.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs	14-20 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings	23-25 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head Steps	2
Engine Flywheel Bolts	94-101 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	11-15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	11-15 ft-lbs
Main Bearings	40-44 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	25.0-33.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	148-192 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	147 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance	.79-.95 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance	11,300-15,300 ohms
Spark Plug Manufacturer	NGK
Spark Plug Type	BKR5ES-11
Spark Plug Torque	15.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.48-1.50 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	46
Oil Capacity	5.74-6.41 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	435 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test	20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	12-16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	190 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)	36.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)	43.5 psi
Injector Primary Resistance	15.55-16.25 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression	220
Engine Oil Pressure	21.3 psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket	48-55 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	65-80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness	0.039 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.0024 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.748 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To	0.748 in
Rotor Discard at or Under	0.669 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi.

Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 mi	Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 52,500 mi	Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
Every 60,000 mi	Timing Belt (replace)
At 105,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1999 Hyundai Accent occupies a relatively favorable point in the model's federal record, posting 66 complaints, a single recall, zero open investigations, and 47 TSBs — figures that sit well below the 1995–1996 peak of 167 complaints and 5 recalls and also below the secondary surge in 2001 (126) and 2002 (144). Across the surrounding arc, complaints had been steadily declining from 1996's 121 to 1998's 51 before ticking back up to 66 in 1999, placing this model year at the bottom of a renewed climb that subsequent buyers inherited. The complaint burden is concentrated in air bags (15) and power train (14), and the 18 crash-related filings are consistent with that air bag cluster, although the data does not specify the underlying root cause. Fire complaints are minimal at 3, and the absence of any open investigation combined with only one recall indicates no systemic safety action was directed at this year. Taken together, the 1999 is one of the cleaner model years in the surrounding arc and a defensible used purchase, provided the buyer confirms the single recall was completed and pays particular attention to air bag system behavior and transmission performance at the test drive.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

18 involved a crash · 3 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’91 ’93 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98’99’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 ’19 ’20 ’21 ’22

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 66 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags15

Power Train14

Engine & Engine Cooling6

Visibility5

Fuel System, Gasoline4

Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Vehicle Speed Control2

Seat Belts2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

99V178000Power Train:Automatic TransmissionReported 07/07/1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE SEALS DO NOT REMAIN SUFFICIENTLY ELASTIC, RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FLUID… Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE CONTROL SOLENOID VALVE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 47 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
23-EM-005H	2023-10-13	Engine And Engine Cooling	This bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and…
23-BD-007H	2023-04-24	Structure	Hyundai applies a Paint Protection Film (PPF) on new vehicles before delivery to…
23-BD-002H	2023-01-30	Visibility	This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
22-EM-010H	2022-07-28	Engine And Engine Cooling	Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to inspect and clean or replace certain…
22-GI-006H	2022-07-14	Tires	Effective June 2, 2008, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 110 (FMVSS 110) established…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Accent. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 121R battery Vehicles taking 3.5 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1999 Accent take?

3.5 qt of ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30 API SM, BELOW 100 degrees F: 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1999 Accent have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Accent get?

EPA figures are 23 city / 33 highway / 26 combined mpg.