Hyundai Recalls 37,901 Vehicles Over Airbag Software Error
Affected Veloster N and Kona Electric models may have airbags and seatbelt pretensioners that fail to deploy.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Auto Parts
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Hyundai is recalling 37,901 vehicles, including 8,843 Veloster N and 29,058 Kona Electric models, because a software error in the Airbag Control Unit can corrupt data and prevent airbags and seatbelt pretensioners from deploying. Hyundai reported being aware of 331 incidents alleging the recall complaint but was not aware of any crashes, fires, or injuries.
Why it matters
The recall followed an increase in airbag warning light claims identified in August 2024, and a corrupted control unit can illuminate the airbag malfunction indicator light on the dashboard. Affected owners face a safety-critical defect in a system meant to protect occupants during a crash.
The recall population includes 8,843 Veloster N vehicles from 2019-2022 and 29,058 Kona Electric vehicles from 2019-2023. Hyundai reported 331 incidents alleging the complaint as of October 2026, with no known crashes, fires, or injuries.
The players
Hyundai
Hyundai is a South Korean automaker that manufactures the Veloster N and Kona Electric models covered by this recall.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
NHTSA is the U.S. federal agency responsible for vehicle safety standards and the oversight of motor vehicle recalls.
The details
Each affected vehicle's Airbag Control Unit instructs the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners to deploy, but the software may be corrupted if the system reboots while writing data to internal memory. Hyundai will reimburse owners for out-of-pocket expenses they incurred to get the fix before the recall was filed.
Timeline
August 2024: Increase in airbag warning light claims was identified.
October 2026: Hyundai was aware of 331 reported incidents alleging the recall complaint.
January 1, 2027: Recall notification letters are scheduled to be mailed to dealers and owners.
Roadmap
This recall proceeds through the federal recall process administered by NHTSA, in which a manufacturer files a defect report, identifies the affected population, and mails notification letters to owners and dealers. It follows a familiar pattern for software-driven safety defects in modern vehicles, where electronic control units now govern systems once controlled mechanically.
Owners of affected 2019-2022 Veloster N and 2019-2023 Kona Electric vehicles should watch for the airbag malfunction indicator light on the dashboard and check whether their vehicle is in the recall population. Owners who paid out of pocket to get the fix before the recall was filed are eligible for reimbursement from Hyundai.
The takeaway
Owners of the affected Veloster N and Kona Electric models should confirm their vehicle's recall status and watch for the airbag warning light, since a dashboard illumination signals the software issue. Keep records of any out-of-pocket repair costs, as Hyundai has agreed to reimburse them.
What happens next
Recall notification letters are scheduled to be mailed to dealers and owners on January 1, 2027.
Further reading
For related coverage of vehicle safety components, see Auto Parts in the United States section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Car and Driver.
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