Hyundai Recalls Thousands of Vehicles for Exploding Seat Belt Parts

In May of 2022, Korean automaker Hyundai recalled 239,000 vehicles in the United States. The recall was due to an exploding part in the seat belts of some 2019 to 2023 Hyundai vehicles. These exploding parts had already caused some injuries in Singapore and the United States when the recall was issued.

Affected Vehicles

The recall affects the following three models released in the United States:

• 2019 – 2022 Accent
• 2021 – 2023 Elantra
• 2021 – 2022 Elantra hybrid electric vehicles

All other models of Hyundais and all other years of these models are not affected by the recall.

A Critical Part of the Vehicle

The part of these vehicles that has been recalled is the seat belt pretensioner in the front driver and passenger seat belts. This device tightens the seat belt just before an accident occurs. However, in some cases, when it deploys it explodes, sending shrapnel flying throughout the vehicle. This problem has injured three people so far.

Because the part is critical to the safety of the vehicle, it can’t simply be removed. Instead, owners of the vehicles are directed to bring the vehicle to a Hyundai dealership. Dealerships will fit the pretensioner with a cap that solves the problem at no cost to the owner of the vehicle.

When Will Owners Be Notified?

According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), all owners should be notified by July 15, 2022. Los Angeles owners who haven’t been notified by that date should speak with a lemon law lawyer in Los Angeles.

Failure to notify is both a safety hazard and an actionable offense that a lemon law lawyer in Los Angeles might be able to get you money for.

Will Additional Information Be Made Available?

In cases like this, information can be difficult to come by. Auto manufacturers and auto dealers want to avoid liability, so they provide the minimum information required by law. But that doesn’t mean additional information won’t come out and be available.

Owners of these vehicles can contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and request information about recall number 229. Additionally, they can also contact the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline or visit their website to see if additional information has been released to the public.

Finally, owners can speak to a lemon law lawyer in Los Angeles. Lawyers stay updated on this type of information and are often a great source for details about recalls.

What Can You Do If You’ve Been Injured by an Exploding Pretensioner?

If you own one of the Hyundai models described above and you’ve been injured due to an exploding pretensioner, you probably qualify for compensation under lemon laws.

Contact a lemon law lawyer in Los Angeles immediately. Your lawyer will advise you of your rights and likely compensation and will file your lawsuit with the court as soon as possible. The earlier you file, the more you are likely to get from the lawsuit.

What About Other Hyundai Models or Years?

Hyundai claims that these are the only models and years affected by this exploding pretensioner, but that may not be entirely true. It isn’t uncommon for recalls to be expanded or have additional vehicles added to them. This recall replaces previous recalls that Hyundai had issued, and a future recall might replace this one.

Therefore, if you have a different Hyundai model from these years or one of these models from a different year, you should probably speak with a lawyer. Even if you aren’t currently affected, a lawyer can help you protect yourself in case a future recall does affect you.

The Big Picture

Hyundai has issued a major recall in the United States that affects over 200,000 car owners. If you own any recent Hyundai model, you should contact Hyundai customer service or the NHTSA vehicle safety hotline immediately. Failure to get information could result in you suffering injuries from a defective seat belt part in the vehicle.

And if you have already been injured by this defective seat belt part, you should speak to a lawyer immediately. You likely are owed compensation for your injuries and the damage to your car, and a lawyer can get that compensation for you quickly.