Hyundai Recalls 239,000 Accent, Elantra Cars over Exploding Seatbelts

• Hyundai is recalling 239,000 vehicles for seatbelt pretensioners that may deploy in a way that sprays shrapnel throughout the cabin, potentially injuring the occupants.

• The recall affects 2019–2022 Accents, 2021–2023 Elantras, and 2021–2022 Elantra Hybrids.

• Owners of affected vehicles can have a cap fitted to the pretensioners at no cost to prevent the potential abnormal deployment.

It's ironic that a device meant to keep vehicle occupants safe could end up doing the exact opposite. That is the basis for a recall issued on May 19 that is affecting 239,000 Hyundai vehicles in the United States. The NHTSA recall document states that the seatbelt pretensioners in these Hyundais may deploy in an abnormal manner, potentially exploding and injuring those in the vehicle. So far, there are reports of two injuries in the U.S. as a result of this malfunction, as well as one in Singapore. The recall affects 2019–2022 Accents, 2021–2023 Elantras, and 2021–2022 Elantra Hybrids.