Airbags have a very simple job: Detonate when the car crashes and cushion your impact before your head hits the steering wheel. So long as the bag goes off when triggered, doesn’t detonate unexpectedly, and isn’t made of shrapnel, you ought to be pretty safe in your shiny new car. Unless it’s a 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe, which somehow missed two of the three.
A new recall, issued for 49,719 Hyundai Santa Fe crossovers built between March and July of 2024, says that a wiring harness issue could cause unpredictable behavior in the airbag system. A section of harness can contact the hinge on which the second-row seat folds, which could damage the harness.
According to the recall, that harness damage can cause all sorts of airbag issues. A frayed, split, or stripped harness can cause warning lights, unprompted detonation, or — worst of all — the airbag simply doing nothing in the event of a crash.
Hyundai estimates that a small number of the nearly 50,000 recalled Santa Fes will actually have the wiring harness issue, but the company will notify every owner late next month. Dealers have already been informed, however, so they should be preparing for your Santa Fe’s arrival. Get it in there sooner rather than later, and ensure your crossover will actually be as safe as it’s intended to be should the worst come to pass.
NHTSA’s website has all the details on the recall, as well as a recall checker which can run your car’s VIN. If you own a new Santa Fe, take the thirty seconds to check your VIN against the database. Better safe than sorry.