What You Should Know
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) issued a second recall in 2017 of roughly 444,000 family sedans, due to faulty seat belt linkages in the front seats, which can result in a failure to restrain car passengers in the event of a collision. Although Hyundai states that there has not been any deaths or serious injuries related to this issue, a faulty seat belt linkage suggests a significant increase in the risk of injury or death. The cars that are affected by this recall are 2011-2014 Sonatas and 2011-2015 Sonata Hybrids.
Deja vou?
For those who feel as though they may be experiencing a bit of Deja vou, yes, Hyundai also recalled these vehicles earlier last year for a relatively similar situation. Hyundai issued another recall later in 2017 because the company realized that the problem that they believed had been corrected could recur after the inspection. This could be caused in the instance of someone disconnecting and incorrectly reconnecting the pretensioner. Therefore, Hyundai proceeded by attaching a warning label to firmly reiterate that whomever is conducting the repair, to do so correctly. To further ensure this, Hyundai has also updated its repair manuals to guide technicians in properly attaching the belt and the pretensioner.
This repair is highly recommended
Perhaps you are wondering why Hyundai’s 2017 recall is being brought to your attention one year later? Well, it would appear that there are many Sonata owners who still have not brought in their vehicle for the recall. Luckily, Hyundai states that the repair takes less than 15 minutes once you bring your car into the mechanic. This repair is highly recommended in order to secure your safety and the passenger’s safety while operating your vehicle.
In addition to the driver and passenger’s safety, it is important to consider the likelihood that your vehicle identification number will eventually appear in the National Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) online database as unrepaired, which could pose an obstacle for the car owner when attempting to sell the vehicle later on.
The good news in this situation is that the repair, as stated previously, requires less than 15 minutes and is free, regardless of if your vehicle is brought in for the original recall or the more recent one. So take your safety into your hands and bring your Hyundai Sonata to your nearest dealer so you can get back on the road again, worry-free!
For more questions, do not hesitate to contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236, or visit
www.safercar.gov
.