HyundaiAccent2004Overview/hyundai/accent/2004/base/

2004 Hyundai Accent

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2004 Accent.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 2004 Hyundai Accent is a passenger car equipped with a 3.5-quart engine oil capacity, requiring 5W-20 or 5W-30 viscosity oil meeting API specifications. This model year recorded 33 total owner complaints during its production run, with air bags cited as the primary concern area, though notably zero recalls were issued for the 2004 model. In the broader context of the Accent's complaint history spanning 1991 to 2022, where complaint counts ranged from a peak of 167 in 1995 to a low of just 1 in 1993, the 2004 Accent positioned itself among the more refined iterations of this economy vehicle platform, with complaint levels well below the model's historical highs. The absence of recalls combined with relatively modest owner-reported issues suggests this generation benefited from mature production processes that the Accent had accumulated over its first decade of production.

Model year202220212020201920182017201620152004

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque65-80 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 121R · 500 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 · 500 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP175-60R13OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.1 in
Overall width66.1 in
Overall height55.1 in
Wheelbase96.1 in
Curb weight2187 lb
Track (front / rear)16.9 / 55.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

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.

10.0–10.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.00 sec — 2003 GT 3-door Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2003GT 3-door Hatchback 1.6L I-410.00 sec17.40 sec103 hpFWD
2000GL Sedan 1.5L I-410.90 sec17.90 sec92 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 5W-20 / 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. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHyundai SP-III
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.5
Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-20 · 5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs15-20 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings24-26 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts89-96 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts11-15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18-22 ft-lbs
Main Bearings41-44 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0-33.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs9-11 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub159-192 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub147 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)100 rpm
Ignition Coil Primary Resistance.78-.96 ohms
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance11,050-14,950 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0-21.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.16-1.27 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.74-6.41 oz
Standard BCI Group Number121R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance500 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)49.8 psi
Injector Primary Resistance15.55-16.25 @ 68 degreesF ohms
Engine Compression203-218. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure21.33 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPMIdle rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle65-80 ft-lbs
Torque Caliper to Bracket51-62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.75 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.75 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1103-111 ft. lbs., step 2: 140-150103–111 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
122 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3loosen all bolts
422 ft. lbs.22 ft. lbs
590

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; coolant every 7,500 mi. The big-interval services (every 7,500 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 12,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBrake Drum Assembly (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 52,500 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Vacuum Line (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miTiming Belt (replace)
At 105,000 miTransmission Assembly (drain & refill)

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 2004 Accent sits at the low point of a clear improvement arc: after complaints peaked at 144 in 2002, they fell to 37 in 2003 and 33 in 2004, the lowest annual total since the 1995 redesign, while recalls dropped to zero for two consecutive years and TSBs declined steadily from 66 in 2001 to 38. This pattern suggests Hyundai resolved the bulk of early-generation issues — air bags (9 complaints), power train (5), and hydraulic brakes (3) lead the 2004 list, but the data doesn't specify root causes — and the 11 crash and 2 fire complaints align with the low overall volume. By 2005, complaints rose to 49 with a recall reappearing, and the subsequent generation (2006 onward) shows higher baseline activity, confirming 2003–2004 as a distinct quality window. The 2004 model benefits from matured production without the recall spikes that bracket it. For a buyer prioritizing documented federal-record stability, this is a good year to buy.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
38
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
33
Owner complaints
11 involved a crash · 2 a fire

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 33 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags9
Power Train5
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Suspension2
Steering2
Tires2
Vehicle Speed Control1
Steering,Air Bags,Visibility/Wiper1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 38 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
DTN DL2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of…
DTN DCS2026-04-10Air BagsThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety…
25-BD-012H TSB2025-11-05Exterior LightingThis bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated…
24-BD-001H2024-02-14VisibilityThis bulletin contains information about the proper removal of the windshield wiper blade…
23-EM-005H2023-10-13Engine And Engine CoolingThis bulletin provides important checkpoint guidelines when performing engine oil and…

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

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VIN
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Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

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

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2004 Accent take?

3.5 qt of 5W-20 OR 5W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 2004 Accent have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.