Sometimes exploding airbags are actually too much of a good thing.
Hyundai Motor Company in the United States is recalling 2007 through 2009 Elantra models for two safety defects that interfere with proper air bag deployment. Electrical sensor problems are responsible for both potential safety defects.
The largest Hyundai Elantra recall involves 188,697 model year 2007-2009 Elantra cars manufactured from July 14, 2006, through November 1, 2008. The front passenger seats in these Elantra models have a weight sensor designed to turn off the powerful right front airbag when occupants are underweight, a measure to prevent injuries to small people. The electrical connector for the weight sensor, under the center console between the front seats, could become “contaminated” if a drink is spilled in the cupholder above, Hyundai said in a recall notification to NHTSA.
This means that the front passenger airbag will explode in a crash regardless of the weight of the occupant and possibly hurt an undersized person.
The second Elantra airbag recall affects model year 2007 and 2008 Elantras. Here the two-stage airbags – lower pressure for drivers whose seat is closer to the steering wheel – might not function properly because of a defective position sensor for the seat track. A full-force airbag explosion is possible during a crash even for smaller occupants, thereby increasing the risk that the airbag will hurt the driver.
Owners may contact Hyundai’s customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151. Owners can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
