Hyundai Recall Strikes Again — Everything You Should Know
On Tuesday, CNBC reported a Hyundai recall concerning exploding seatbelt pretensioners. This recall affects 239,000 vehicles, including 2019-2022 Accents, 2021-2023 Elantras, and 2021-2022 Elantra Hybrids. Keep reading to learn the associated risks and what Hyundai plans to do to fix this safety issue.
Everything to know about the Hyundai recall
Seatbelts were designed with one purpose in mind: keep passengers protected. Today, their safety is in question again as Hyundai Motor Group faces its fourth recall on faulty seatbelt pretensioners. The pretensioners play an important role in preparation for a crash. Right before impact, seat belt pretensioners will tighten and detonate a small charge that retracts the belt. This action keeps passengers securely in their seat before an accident takes place. This innovation has saved millions of lives over the last few decades. But in concern of this recall, the tiny charge is unable to be contained, potentially sending shrapnel fragments throughout the interior cabin.
Here’s what we know thus far from Hyundai Motor Group:
What’s the Hyundai recall?
The NHTSA issued the Hyundai recall on May 19th, 2022. In the official safety report, the NHTSA mentioned the description of the detect as “The subject vehicles are equipped with driver/passenger pyrotechnic-type seat belt pretensioners that may deploy abnormally during a crash.” Though Hyundai is actively investigating the cause of this defect, their top priority is fixing the issue before more passengers are injured. So far, three injuries have been reported due to the pyrotechnic pretensioner deployment. Two of which are here in the U.S.
Unfortunately, this is not the first Hyundai recall concerning seat belt pretensioners. As mentioned earlier, this statement follows and replaces three prior recalls effecting 61,000 Accents, 166,000 Elantras, and 12,000 Elantra Hybrids. The amount of effected vehicles is increasing, which means more and more drivers should be alert of this safety issue.
What’s the solution?
While Hyundai Motor Group works on this ongoing safety issue, those affected can take their vehicles to local dealerships. At no cost, Hyundai will secure the pretensioners with a cap to prevent further abnormal deployments. All things considered, it’s best not to wait. Any time there is a safety recall, drivers should take immediate action. Plus, there’s a chance more reports will surface in the upcoming months. Contact your nearest dealership today to schedule an appointment. If you’re unsure if your Hyundai model is affected, you can visit the NHTSA website for more information.
Keep safety in mind
The team at Headlights Depot strives to give our readers the latest updates and news on automotive safety. Although several automakers have reached new safety accolades in recent years, the risk of a recall is always prevalent. To get more informed on car safety topics, check out the following articles:
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