Hyundai, Kia Recall 2022 Seat Belts for Shrapnel Explosions

Seventeen years in the making: Five Million Vehicles from Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama.

Hyundai Motor America and Kia Motors America are recalling seat belts because during a crash the front passenger-side seat-belt pretensioner may explode upon deployment sending metal fragments into the interior.

The actual incident that remains under investigation occurred in February in Singapore on a 2021 Hyundai Avante, marketed as the Elantra in the US. The Samsung supplied pre-tensioners have an undetermined problem at this time.

Hyundai 2022 Elantra and Elantra HEV models are involved. Kia 2022 Sorento Hybrid and Sorento Plug-in Hybrid vehicles are also included. At this time, owners won’t be notified until May. (AutoInformed: Bad Airbags – Kia Recalls 411,000 Model Year 2017-19 Vehicles)

During February, Kia worked with Hyundai and Samsung to confirm potential scope of 2022 MY Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid vehicles based on Hyundai vehicle and supplier production lot records. Kia HQ informs Kia NA Safety Office of the 2022MY Sorento Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid VINs equipped with the same seat-belt pretensioner production lot used for Hyundai Avante. Kia HQ review global field data and confirms no similar incidents in Kia vehicles.

Although there have been no abnormal pretensioner deployment incidents involving the 2022 MY Kia Sorento Hybrid & Plug-in Hybrid vehicles, Kia is conducting this recall as a precautionary measure in light of the abnormal seat-belt pretensioner deployment incident in Singapore involving a Hyundai vehicle. Kia NA will collect replaced seatbelt pre-tensioners under the recall for further evaluation of whether an issue exists and, if so, determination of root cause. No fatalities, injuries, crashes or fires.

Dealers will replace the seat-belt pre-tensioners, free of charge as required by US regulations. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed 2 May 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 220. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-796 (2021 Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, Genesis GV80 and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles.) and 22V-069.

Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia’s number for this recall is SC231. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov.