The defect
HYUNDAI IS RECALLING 393,308 MY 2006-2008 SONATA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED AIR BAG SYSTEM WHICH FEATURES AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE PURPOSE OF THE OCS IS TO DISABLE THE RIGHT PASSENGER SEAT FRONT AIR BAG WHEN IT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF A CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM OR SMALL CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT. THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG IS DISABLED TO PREVENT INJURIES TO A CHILD THAT MAY RESULT FROM A RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG INFLATION DURING A CRASH.
The risk
MISCLASSIFICATION OF A SMALL STATURE ADULT AS A CHILD IN THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE RIGHT FRONT AIR BAG TO NOT INFLATE IN AN ACCIDENT THAT MERITS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT AND MAY RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL VERIFY THAT THE OCS DOES NOT PROPERLY RECOGNIZE A PROPERLY SEATED ADULT OCCUPANT. AFTER VERIFICATION, DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT CUSHION ASSEMBLY AND SHIP IT TO AN EVALUATION AND REPAIR FACILITY. THIS FACILITY WILL EVALUATE AND REPAIR OR REPROGRAM THE SEAT CUSHION AND OCS AS NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT MAY 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Hyundai Sonata | 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Components: AIR BAGS
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 Sonata | 2006 | 1,047 | 9 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 2007 | 696 | 5 |
| Hyundai Sonata | 2008 | 425 | 3 |
Other air bags recalls in 2008
12 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the air bags; Hyundai Motor Company filed 32 campaigns in all.
| 08V690000 29 Dec 2008 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 08V582000 5 Nov 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V532000 14 Oct 2008 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 08V533000 14 Oct 2008 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 08V517000 6 Oct 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V384000 5 Aug 2008 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 08V178000 17 Apr 2008 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 08V082000 25 Feb 2008 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008