The defect
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG IS MOUNTED BENEATH THE RIGHT PORTION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL'S PADDED SURFACE. TEAR LINES ARE FORMED INTO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL'S PADDED SURFACE DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TOP PAD. THESE TEAR LINES ALLOW A PORTION OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SURFACE TO FOLD UPWARD IF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYS.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY PROPERLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER.
The remedy
HYUNDAI WILL REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 13, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT HYUNDAI OF AMERICA AT 1-800-633-5151, OR IF THE VEHICLE IS LOCATED IN PUERTO RICO, HYUNDAI OF PUERTO RICO AT 1-800-981-0188.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Tiburon | 2003 |
Components: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Tiburon | 2003 | 328 | 9 |
Other air bags recalls in 2003
10 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the air bags; HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY filed 48 campaigns in all.
| 03V426000 29 Oct 2003 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 03V421000 24 Oct 2003 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 03V356000 29 Sept 2003 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 03V322000 26 Aug 2003 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V150000 25 Apr 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 03V144000 9 Apr 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V082000 6 Mar 2003 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER MANUFACTUR INTERNATIONAL |
| 03V061000 27 Feb 2003 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003