Hyundai’s exploding seatbelt recall hits Australia

Owners of a top-selling model will need to hand their cars in to a dealership for repair to address an issue that has the potential to injure occupants.

Hyundai has recalled the i30 sedan to rectify a serious safety issue.

Hyundai Australia has recalled the latest i30 Sedan to address defective safety equipment that can explode, injuring occupants.

The Australian recall notice for more than 5000 Hyundai i30 Sedan models built between 2020 and 2022 says the seatbelt pre-tensioner, a component that automatically tightens seatbelts during an accident, could be faulty.

Hyundai i30 N-Line Sedan models are included in the recall.

“Due to a manufacture issue, the seat belt pre-tensioner inflator may fracture when deployed in the event of an accident,” it says.

“If the seat belt pre-tensioner inflator fractures, metal fragments may be propelled at high speed towards the vehicle occupants causing serious injury.”

The problem affects all i30 Sedan variants.

The US recall notice for the same issue says American safety authorities are aware of at least one instance where “the driver-side seat belt pre-tensioner allegedly deployed abnormally causing metal fragments to enter the rear cabin and resulting in injury to an occupant’s leg”.

The local recall affects all i30 Sedan models including the high performance i30 N model.

Turbocharged i30N sedans are part of the campaign.

Hyundai Australia has already issued a similar recall for a few dozen examples of the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe.

The recalls are more widespread in the US, where more than 200,000 vehicles are affected.

Hyundai Australia recalled 107,000 cars in late 2019 to address airbags and seatbelt pre-tensioners in the i30 hatchback that could “inadvertently deploy without impact”.

More information: Hyundai Customer Care 1800 186 306

Originally published as Hyundai’s exploding seatbelt recall hits Australia