Windshield Defect Prompts Hyundai to Recall 26,000 Cars and SUVs

Hyundai is set to recall some 26,000 vehicles over a serious defect that the company says increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Windshields on recalled cars could detach in the event of an accident, Hyundai recently told federal regulators. The company blamed a paint coat error for the problem.

“The subject vehicles may have been assembled with non-conforming clear coat paint which could lead to inadequate adhesion of the front windshield to the vehicle structure,” Hyundai said in a notice filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“A windshield that is not adequately retained could increase the risk of an injury in a crash,” the company added.

The recall covers certain 2020 Sonata and Elantra sedans, as well as some 2020–2021 Santa Fe sport utility vehicles. 

The company told NHTSA that it planned to notify recalled car owners by late February. Owners are being asked to bring their cars to local dealers for a fix, free of charge. Hyundai also said it would reimburse owners for any out-of-pocket expenses related to fixing the problem.

In the meantime, the company said owners may notice signs of trouble.

“The operator may experience wind noise or water leaking from the front windshield,” Hyundai told NHTSA.

Hyundai Defects: California Car Owners Have Rights

Some Hyundai owners are all too familiar with car defects and recalls.

Take the 2016 Sonata Hybrid, for example. Some of those vehicles have been recalled as many as five times in five years. And then there are the roughly 1.5 million vehicles that Hyundai and Kia have been forced to recall as a result of engine fire risks. The companies are currently the subject of a related federal investigation.

Fortunately, car owners in California have some important rights and protections under the state’s lemon law.

Also known as the Song Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the lemon law requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces manufacturers to buy back - or, in some situations, replace - vehicles that they cannot or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price of the vehicle, as well as financing fees, rental car expenses and other related costs.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts that must happen before the buyback requirement kicks in. A California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you understand your rights and options. The law requires carmakers to pick up the tab for any legal fees that you incur while enforcing your rights.

Speak 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.