National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has recalled 280,000 Hyundai, Kia and Subaru Autos.
Hyundai Santa Fe and Veracruz 2007 and 2008 model years:
A total of 205,233 units manufactured between Dec. 26, 2006 and March 21, 2008 may contain a clock spring contact assembly for the driver’s air bag supplemental restraint system that could become damaged through usage over time.
Officials believe the driver’s air bag electrical circuit will experience a high resistance condition, potentially causing the driver’s air bag to not deploy.
If the clock spring develops high resistance, NHTSA said in the event of a crash, the driver’s air bag will not deploy and not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.
Hyundai has instructed its franchised dealers to replace the vehicle’s driver’s side air bag clock spring contact assembly, as necessary, for free. The automaker expects to begin notifying potentially effected owners and recall repair work this month.
HYUNDAI / SANTA FE 2007-2008
HYUNDAI / VERACRUZ 2007-2008
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V472000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Potential Number of Units Affected: 205,233
Summary: HYUNDAI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 HYUNDAI VERACRUZ VEHICLES 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. THE CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY FOR THE DRIVER’S AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) MAY BECOME DAMAGED THROUGH USAGE OVER TIME. THE DRIVER’S AIR BAG ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT WILL EXPERIENCE A HIGH RESISTANCE CONDITION, POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE DRIVER’S AIR BAG TO NOT DEPLOY.
Consequence: IF THE CLOCK SPRING DEVELOPS HIGH RESISTANCE, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVERS AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AND WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURIES.
Remedy: HYUNDAI DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VEHICLE’S DRIVER’S AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING CONTACT ASSEMBLY AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING SEPTEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI CUSTOMER CONNECT CENTER AT 1-800-633-5151 1-800-633-5151.
Kia Sorento Air Bag Issue
The recall of 10,631 Kia Sorento units from the 2007 and 2008 model years involves crossovers manufactured between June 15, 2006 and Nov. 27, 2007. NHTSA stated the front passenger air bag may be turned off when an adult is in the passenger seat.
Federal officials explained the front passenger air bag is designed to be turned off in limited circumstances, including when children and small adults are seated in the front passenger seat or if there is a child restraint in that seat or the seat is not occupied.
The vehicle’s occupant classification system (OCS), which classifieds the occupant in the front passenger seat, may misclassify an adult passenger as a child or child seat and improperly turn off the passenger side air bag.
KIA / SORENTO 2007-2008
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 11V473000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 10,631
Summary: KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2008 SORENTO PASSENGER CARS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 15, 2006 THROUGH NOVEMBER 27, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG MAY BE TURNED OFF WHEN AN ADULT IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS DESIGNED TO BE TURNED OFF IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDING WHEN CHILDREN AND SMALL ADULTS ARE SEATED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, THERE IS A CHILD RESTRAINT IN THAT SEAT OR THE SEAT IS NOT OCCUPIED. THE VEHICLE’S OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS), WHICH CLASSIFIES THE OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, MAY MISCLASSIFY AN ADULT PASSENGER AS A CHILD OR CHILD SEAT AND IMPROPERLY TURN OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. WHEN THE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED THE “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE ON THE CENTER INSTRUMENT PANEL.
Consequence: THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG IS TURNED OFF WHEN THE OCS MISCLASSIFIES AN ADULT PASSENGER. WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF, THE FRONT PASSENGER WILL NOT HAVE THE PROTECTION OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS IN SOME FRONTAL COLLISIONS, THUS INCREASING THE RISK OF OCCUPANT INJURY.
Remedy: KIA WILL UPDATE THE PROGRAMMING IN THE SORENTO OCS CONTROL MODULE AT NO CHARGE. THE RECALL REMEDY IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE UNDER SERVICE CAMPAIGN SC076. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-333-4542
Subaru Recall:
Coming on the heels of separate recalls, Subaru told NHTSA it is bringing back a total of 69,590 units manufactured between Aug. 3, 2010 and July 1.The recalled models — 2011 Legacy and Outback — have moonroof glass that may come loose or detach.
NHTSA explained the moonroof glass can loosen and detach from the vehicle during driving, resulting in a potential road hazard for other drivers and increasing the risk of a crash.
Beginning next month, federal officials said Subaru intends to notify owners to take their units to franchised dealers that will inspect the glass adhesion condition. Dealers will either apply additional adhesive or replace the moonroof glass for free.
