Hyundai Recalls More Cars Over Exploding Seatbelts

Hyundai drivers have another safety concern to be worried about. This time it is exploding seatbelts.

The Korean auto manufacturer recently announced that it is recalling some 15,000 Santa Fe Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid sport utility vehicles and Genesis Electrified G80 sedans. The seatbelts in those cars could explode in the event of a crash, according to the automaker.

“The subject vehicles are equipped with driver/passenger pyrotechnic-type seatbelt pretensioners that may deploy abnormally during a crash,” Hyundai said in a defect notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “An abnormal pyrotechnic pretensioner deployment could cause metal fragments to enter the vehicle occupant compartment, which may result in injury to vehicle occupants.”

At least three people have been injured as a result of the defect - two in the U.S. and one in Singapore - according to Consumer Reports. 

The recall covers certain 2019-2022 Hyundai Accents, 2021-2023 Hyundai Elantras, and 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra HEVs. Many of those cars have previously been recalled.

“Earlier this year, it recalled over 239,000 Elantra and Accent sedans and more than 72,000 Venue SUVs. And Kia recalled more than 17,000 Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-In Hybrid SUVs to fix a similar problem,” Keith Barry writes for Consumer Reports.

“Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia share the same corporate owner, and all three automakers used seatbelt pretensioners made by the same supplier.”

Hyundai says it still has not identified the “root cause” of the problem, which the company is “actively investigating.” In the meantime, the company is asking owners of recalled cars to bring their vehicles in to have caps placed on seatbelt pretensioners.

Hyundai Owners: Do Not Get Stuck With a Lemon

This is far from the only safety issue impacting Hyundai vehicles and putting everyone on the road at risk.

The companies were forced to pay a combined $210 million, for example, after NHTSA found that they slow-played the recall of 1.6 million vehicles for engine problems. More recently, Hyundai announced it was recalling some 26,000 vehicles whose windshields could detach in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injuries. 

There is some good news for Hyundai owners in California. You do not need to wait around for a recall in order to get a defective or malfunctioning vehicle fixed.

The California lemon law requires car manufacturers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. 

The law also forces auto companies to buy back (or replace, in some cases) cars that they cannot or will not fix. That includes compensating the owner for the vehicle’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs and other related expenses.

Talk with a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.