Hyundai recall exploding seat belts

Hyundai is recalling 239,000 vehicles over exploding seat belts.

This is because there are reports that a “pyrotechnic” element connected to its seat belts may cause them to malfunction, sending shrapnel throughout the car.

A notice filed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned that abnormal deployment of the component, called a pretensioner, could cause metal fragments to disburse throughout the vehicle, resulting in injuries.

A pretensioner is attached to a standard seat belt.

A pretensioner is supposed to deploy in the event of a collision or under hard braking to restrict the movement of a passenger.

According to the Associated Press, at least two people in the U.S. and one in Singapore, have been injured by the exploding seat belts.

Affected vehicles which have been recalled include;

1. 2019-2022 Hyundai Accents,
2. 2021-2023 Hyundai Elantras, and
3. 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra HEVs.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified by July 15 with instructions so that they bring their vehicles to a Hyundai dealer to have the seat belt pretensioner secured with a cap to prevent potential abnormal deployment.