Seatbelts are intended to keep passengers in a vehicle safe, but the complaint for this class action alleges that this may not be the case with certain seatbelts in vehicles from Hyundai Motor America Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, or Kia Motors Mexico, SA de CV. Instead, the complaint alleges that the seatbelt pretensioners in certain seatbelts can explode, shooting metal fragments throughout the vehicles.
The Nationwide Class is all persons and entities who bought or leased a class vehicle in the US or its territories. A Florida Subclass has also been proposed for those in the above class who bought or leased their class vehicle in Florida.
The class vehicles are
- 2019-2022 Hyundai Accents
- 2021-2023 Hyundai Elantras
- 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra Hybrids
The complaint alleges that Hyundai has known about the defective pretensioners since at least September 2021, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported the crash of a 2021 Hyundai Elantra, in which, the complaint alleges, “the driver-side seat belt pretensioner deployed abnormally, propelling metal fragments through the cabin of the Elantra and injuring a passenger’s leg.”
Two other such incidents occurred, in December 2021, with a 2020 Hyundai Accent in Puerto Rico, and in February 2022, with a 2022 Hyundai Elantra in Singapore.
The complaint alleges that the companies should have known about the defect much earlier, through their own testing, failure mode analysis, reports to repair locations, and complaints to the NHTSA. Even now, the complaint alleges, Hyundai has not sent recall notification letters to the owners or lessees of defective vehicles.
While certain vehicles have been recalled, the complaint alleges that the cause of the explosions is not yet known, although some investigation has been done and, in April 2022, the complaint claims a potential remedy was proposed. But the complaint calls the recall “untimely and ineffective at remedying the significant losses” to the owners and lessees of the vehicles.
According to the complaint, “seat belt failure requires expensive repairs and other miscellaneous costs. As a direct result of the Seat Belt Defect and Hyundai’s concealment … the recalled Hyundai vehicles have a lower market value and are inherently worth less than they otherwise would be.”
The complaint alleges that Hyundai touts its vehicles’ safety, with marketing that advertises the “2022 top safety pick,” “a car that has the best safety ratings on the market[,]” and the claim that “Safety is our top priority!” The complaint claims that the company has continued to market the vehicles as safe.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Automobile
Most Recent Case Event
Hyundai Exploding Seatbelt Pretensioners Complaint
June 3, 2022
Seatbelts are intended to keep passengers in a vehicle safe, but the complaint for this class action alleges that this may not be the case with certain seatbelts in vehicles from Hyundai Motor America Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, or Kia Motors Mexico, SA de CV. Instead, the complaint alleges that the seatbelt pretensioners in certain seatbelts can explode, shooting metal fragments throughout the vehicles.
Hyundai Exploding Seatbelt Pretensioners ComplaintCase Event History
Hyundai Exploding Seatbelt Pretensioners Complaint
June 3, 2022
Seatbelts are intended to keep passengers in a vehicle safe, but the complaint for this class action alleges that this may not be the case with certain seatbelts in vehicles from Hyundai Motor America Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, or Kia Motors Mexico, SA de CV. Instead, the complaint alleges that the seatbelt pretensioners in certain seatbelts can explode, shooting metal fragments throughout the vehicles.
Hyundai Exploding Seatbelt Pretensioners Complaint