The unidentified supplier of the defective part had been changed.
The latest Hyundai recall affects more than 200,000 Veracruz and Santa Fe SUVs because of a defective part that can make the driver airbag fail in a crash. Hyundai Veracruz SUVs manufactured from December 26, 2006, through March 21, 2008, and model year 2007-2008 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles manufactured from April 19, 2006 through March 20, 2008 are covered by the airbag recall.
The recall appears to have been prompted by a request for an explanation about a high number of Hyundai warranty claims in data looked at by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
In a subsequent filing with NHTSA, which was the Hyundai response, Hyundai said a clock spring contact assembly for the driver’s air bag supplemental restraint system may become damaged through usage over time. The driver’s air bag electrical circuit will then experience a high resistance problem, potentially causing the driver’s air bag to not deploy. Hyundai said it would recall the vehicles, and that the unidentified supplier of the defective component had been changed.
Hyundai dealers will replace the vehicle’s driver’s air bag clock spring contact assembly as necessary free of charge as is required by law – if the airbag warning light is on. Hyundai is also putting in effect a lifetime warranty on the vehicles. Critics maintain that this potentially leaves unsafe vehicles on the road.
Owners may contact Hyundai Customer Connect Center at 1-800-633-5151 about Hyundai safety recall campaign number 103. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or go to the web at http://www.safercar.gov.
