Hyundai and Volkswagen Issue New Airbag-Related Recalls

Hyundai and Volkswagen both recently issued new airbag-related recalls. Notably, these recalls do not involve defective Takata or ARC airbags but instead involve issues with how the affected vehicles’ airbags were installed. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries due to an airbag defect, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation, and you should speak with an airbag attorney about your legal rights promptly.

Hyundai Recalls 2024 Sante Fe Due to Airbag Wiring Issue

On September 9, 2024, Hyundai announced that it was recalling more than 2,000 vehicles due to airbag safety concerns. The recall applies specifically to Santa Fe SUVs from the 2024 model year. As the company states in its recall notice, “[d]ue to a manufacturing issue, the airbag wiring harness under the rear passenger seat may not have been adequately secured,” and, “[a]s a result, it may become damaged over time due to seat adjustment leading to inadvertent deployment or an inability to deploy the rear seat side airbags.”

As Hyundai acknowledges, “[i]n the event of an accident, an airbag not deploying as intended could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.”

This underscores an important point: While most of the airbag recall-related news in recent years has focused on issues with Takata and ARC airbags, these are not the only issues that can put drivers and passengers at risk. Any issue that causes an airbag not to deploy (or to deploy improperly) can leave drivers and passengers facing life-altering or life-threatening injuries. As Hyundai’s latest recall demonstrates, this includes not only issues with airbags themselves, but also issues with other components in a vehicle’s airbag deployment system.

Additionally, while defective airbags and other defective components can cause serious or fatal injuries, so can flaws in the design of airbag deployment systems or the installation of system components. In the case of Hyundai’s latest recall, the issue appears to be not with any particular component of the 2024 Santa Fe’s airbag deployment system but rather with how certain components were installed.

Volkswagen Recalls 2023 and 2024 ID.4 Due to an Airbag Inflator Issue

The same day Hyundai issued its airbag-related recall for the 2024 Santa Fe, Volkswagen issued an airbag-related recall for the 2023 and 2024 ID.4. This recall affects 837 of the company’s electric SUVs. As reported by Kelly Blue Book, “[t]he company tells federal safety officials that the airbag inflator (the device that inflates the bag in an accident) may be out of position because of missing or misaligned screws.” This issue could cause the ID.4’s airbags not to inflate properly.

According to Kelly Blue Book, Volkswagen is not aware of any instances of the missing or misaligned screws causing an airbag failure. Rather, the issue was reportedly discovered by a worker in Volkswagen’s factory. But this doesn’t mean that accidents won’t happen, and anyone who owns a 2023 or 2024 ID.4 should find out if their vehicle has been recalled—and take their vehicle to the dealership if necessary.

Understanding the Risks of Airbag Deployment Failures

Regardless of why an airbag fails, the failure can have severe—if not tragic—consequences. In modern vehicles (like the 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2023-2024 Volkswagen ID.4), airbags are designed to work along with the vehicle’s seatbelts and other safety components. As a result, if an airbag fails, this can present multiple risks—as evidenced by the variety of types of injuries that are common when airbags deploy improperly or fail to deploy.

While airbag explosions generally present the greatest risks for drivers and passengers, if an airbag fails to deploy at all, this can also be extremely dangerous. Most airbag deployment systems are programmed to inflate the vehicle’s airbags when its crash sensors detect a collision involving speeds of just 10 to 12 miles per hour. If airbags are needed to protect occupants at these low speeds, it is not hard to see why it is absolutely critical that a vehicle’s airbags properly deploy in the event of a high-speed collision.

Whether due to an inflator defect, a sensor defect, improper installation or any other issue, an airbag failure can cause injuries ranging from chest and facial injuries to traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and spinal cord injuries (SCI). All of these injuries can be life-altering, and TBI and SCI can be fatal in some cases. When these injuries are preventable with proper airbag deployment, an airbag failure provides clear grounds for the victim or the victim’s family to seek just compensation.

What to Do After a Car, Truck or SUV Accident Involving an Airbag Failure

With all of this in mind, what should you do if you or a loved one has been seriously injured or a loved one has been tragically killed in a car, truck, or SUV accident involving an airbag failure? After prioritizing your physical and emotional health, your next priority should be to consult with an experienced airbag attorney about your legal rights. Generally speaking, airbag-related injuries should not happen. As a result, when they do happen, auto manufacturers can (and should) be held accountable.

If you have a claim for an airbag failure, an experienced airbag attorney will be able to seek just compensation on your behalf—and should do so at no out-of-pocket cost to you. This is known as “contingency fee” legal representation. The financial and non-financial costs of airbag failures can be substantial, and if you have a claim, you could be entitled to recover far more than you realize.

Speak with an Airbag Attorney About Your Legal Rights for Free

If you or a loved one has suffered injuries that you believe may be the result of an airbag failure, we encourage you to contact us for more information. Once you get in touch, we will arrange for you to speak with an experienced airbag attorney about your legal rights as soon as possible. To request a free, no-obligation consultation, call 866-247-2247 or tell us how we can reach you online now.