The Genesis G80 Electric and several versions of the Hyundai Santa Fe have become embroiled in a U.S. recall campaign due to a problem that might not even affect North American models.
Genesis will recall 218 model year 2023 G80 electric vehicles, while Hyundai will recall 10,626 model year 2021-2022 Santa Fe Hybrids, as well as 4,084 model year 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrids (for a total of 14,928 vehicles), in the U.S. as a result of this issue.
The recall is related to a problem that was first noticed in non-North American models. Testing of the front seatbelt pretensioners found that the micro gas generator could separate from the pretensioner pipe when it went off.
That could lead to the pyrotechnic-type seatbelt pretensioner deploying abnormally in certain crashes due to the over-pressurization of the pretensioner pipe. The likelihood of this happening depends on the vehicle characteristics, the pretensioner load limiter specifications, the airbag control unit logic, as well as the duration and severity of a crash.
In the worst case scenario, the abnormal deployment of the pretensioner could cause metal fragments to enter the passenger compartment, which could lead to injuries. This is, however, unlikely to happen in North American vehicles, according to Hyundai.
The automaker writes, in a document submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that it has confirmed no separation of the micro gas generator for the North American spec Genesis G80 and Hyundai Santa Fe due to different airbag control unit logic.
Despite that, Hyundai and American regulators decided to launch a recall campaign on vehicles equipped with a pretensioner that does not have a vent valve out of an “abundance of caution.”
Hyundai will start reaching out to owners on December 30 via first-class mail. They will be asked to return their vehicle to the dealership, where a technician will secure the seatbelt pretensioner’s micro gas generator and delivery pipe with a cap to prevent abnormal deployment. The repairs will be made free of charge.
