Tag Archives: airbag warning

Hyundai Santa Fe Air Bag Warning Light

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In April 2024, Hyundai became aware of a significant safety issue involving the main floor wiring harness in certain 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) models. This issue was first identified following reports of an inadvertent rear seat side airbag deployment in a Santa Fe vehicle in South Korea. As a result, Hyundai initiated a preliminary investigation, which was subsequently extended to include the North American market.

The defect centers on the main floor wire harness, which in the affected vehicles is susceptible to damage due to contact with the passenger-side, second-row bench seat’s folding hinge assembly. This contact can result in the wire harness becoming chafed, leading to several potential hazards:

  • Illumination of the Air Bag Warning Light: A damaged wire harness can trigger the air bag warning light on the vehicle’s dashboard, indicating a malfunction.
  • Inadvertent Air Bag Deployment: The damage can cause the airbags to deploy unintentionally, posing a significant risk to vehicle occupants.
  • Failure to Deploy Air Bags During a Crash: Conversely, the damage could also prevent the airbags from deploying in the event of a crash, reducing the effectiveness of this critical safety feature.

Hyundai’s investigation revealed eight unique incidents related to this defect in the U.S. market. These findings prompted the company to take immediate action to address the issue and ensure the safety of its customers.

Hyundai will notify affected vehicle owners via first-class mail, instructing them to bring their vehicles to an authorized Hyundai dealer for inspection and repair. The repair process will involve:

  1. Inspection of the Wire Harness: Dealers will check the condition of the main floor wire harness for any signs of damage.
  2. Securing the Wire Harness: If no damage is found, the harness will be properly secured to prevent future contact with the seat’s folding hinge assembly.
  3. Replacement of Damaged Wire Harness: If damage is detected, the wire harness will be replaced with a new one to ensure the vehicle’s safety systems function correctly.


As a precaution, Hyundai advises vehicle owners to be vigilant for any of the warning symptoms mentioned in the defect report, such as the air bag warning light illuminating. If any of these symptoms are present, owners are urged to immediately go for diagnosis and the necessary repairs.

Owner notification letters are scheduled to be mailed out on September 23, 2024. Hyundai has assigned the internal recall number 265 to this campaign, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has designated it as campaign number 24V-561.

Airbag May Not Deploy In Subaru Outback And Legacy Vehicles

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This matter came to light in February 2024 when Subaru initiated an investigation after receiving returned parts from reports indicating airbags failing to deploy as intended. Subaru collaborated with the supplier and submitted an equipment recall (24E-016) to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), signalling the commencement of evaluations regarding the safety implications for Subaru vehicles and the potentially impacted population. Subaru made the decision in March to launch a comprehensive safety recall campaign.

Digging into the technicalities of the issue, the defect report highlights a convergence of factors contributing to the capacitor cracking. It suggests that the utilization of alternate component sub-suppliers during short-term natural disaster recovery, combined with certain supplier processing methods, may have led to this vulnerability. Specifically, it’s noted that during a specific production period at a particular supplier, the ODS Sensor Printed Circuit Board (PCB) might have undergone deformation, thereby initiating cracks in the capacitor. Over time, these cracks could permit moisture ingress into the capacitor, ultimately resulting in a short circuit.

The ramifications of this malfunction are significant. When a short circuit occurs, indicators such as the SRS airbag system warning lamp and the front passenger’s frontal airbag OFF indicator illuminate. This signifies a potential failure of the front passenger airbag to deploy in specific crash scenarios, thus elevating the risk of injury to the occupant in the respective seat.

In response to this concern, Subaru has outlined a comprehensive course of action. Owners of the affected vehicles will be contacted and requested to visit authorized dealerships for the replacement of ODS sensors on the front passenger seat. Initial communication regarding the safety risk is anticipated to be dispatched by May 21, 2024, in the form of interim letters. A subsequent letter will follow once the remedy procedure is finalized. To facilitate communication and tracking, Subaru has assigned the recall number WRA-24, with the NHTSA campaign number denoted as 24V-227.

Driver Air Bag Could Deactivate In Ford Trucks

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Ford Motor Company is reaching out to owners of certain 2023 F-150 and Ford Super Duty vehicles, including the F250, F350, F450, F550, and F600 models. There is a concern with the driver’s frontal air bag not deploying during a crash.

The issue came to light in November 2023, when Ford’s main supplier, BCS Automotive Interface Solutions, alerted them about a potential problem. This was linked to airbag clock springs provided by American Furukawa, a sub-supplier to BCS. BCS discovered that some clock spring assemblies in the Steering Column Control Modules (SCCM) they supplied to Ford might have been tainted during production.

The problem lies in the SCCM of the affected vehicles, where the clock spring assembly might have a weak weld between the bus bar and the ribbon cable. This issue traces back to the manufacturing stage, where clock spring bus bars were washed in isopropyl alcohol mixed with glycerin. This mix could weaken the weld between the bus bar and ribbon cable in the clock spring assembly.

This ribbon cable is crucial as it connects to the driver’s airbag. A weak weld can cause the ribbon cable circuits to disconnect, leading to a loss of electrical connection to the driver’s front airbag. This malfunction would trigger the airbag warning light and prevent the airbag from deploying as needed. Ford, alongside BCS, has been investigating this issue. They’re reviewing production and shipping records to identify which Ford vehicles might be equipped with the affected clock springs.

As of December 6, 2023, Ford received 19 warranty reports dating from May 1 to November 10, 2023, which could be linked to this clock spring issue.

Drivers might notice problems like non-functional steering wheel switches (like radio controls), a silent horn, and an illuminated airbag warning lamp.

Affected owners will be contacted to bring their vehicles to Ford dealers for an inspection and, if necessary, a replacement of the air bag clock spring. Initial notifications to owners explaining the safety risk are planned for January 8, 2024. A follow-up notice will be sent once the replacement parts are ready, expected in the second quarter of 2024. This recall is officially listed under the NHTSA campaign number 23V-847.

OCS Sensors May Short Circuit In Lexus And Toyota Vehicles

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Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) has announced a significant recall affecting a range of Lexus and Toyota vehicles from the 2020 to 2022 model years. This recall, necessitated by a defect in the Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor, underscores a critical safety issue that could potentially prevent the deployment of the front passenger airbag.

The recall spans a variety of models, including:

  • Lexus ES (2020-2021)
  • Lexus ES Hybrid (2020-2022)
  • Lexus RX and RX Hybrid (2020-2021)
  • Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid (2020-2021)
  • Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid (2020-2022)
  • Toyota Corolla, Highlander, and their Hybrid variants (2020-2021)
  • Toyota RAV4 and RAV4 Hybrid (2020-2021)
  • Toyota Sienna Hybrid (2021)

The issue originates from the Occupant Classification System sensors located in the front passenger seat. These sensors play a pivotal role in the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), determining the deployment of the front passenger airbag based on the occupant load. A defect has been identified wherein, during production, the sensor’s Printed Circuit Board (PCB) became deformed. This deformation can cause a crack in a capacitor, leading to moisture intrusion over time and resulting in a short circuit.

The malfunctioning of these sensors poses a significant risk. In the event of a short circuit, the SRS warning lamp and the “Passenger Airbag OFF” lamp will illuminate, accompanied by a message on the Multi-Information Display (MID). The most concerning consequence is that the front passenger airbag may not deploy in certain crashes, markedly increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

To address this issue, Toyota dealers will conduct inspections and replace the sensor where necessary. The recall is comprehensive in its scope, and owner notification letters are expected to be dispatched starting February 4, 2024.

Toyota has assigned the numbers 23TB15/23TA15 for Toyota and 23LB03/23LA03 for Lexus vehicles to this recall. Additionally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has registered this recall under campaign number 23V-865.

This recall by Toyota highlights the intricate nature of modern automotive safety systems and the critical importance of their proper functioning. Owners of the affected vehicles are urged to heed the recall notice and have their vehicles inspected and repaired as necessary to ensure their safety and that of their passengers.

2023 Kia Telluride Illuminated Air Bag Warning Light

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Certain 2023 Kia Telluride automobiles could experience an illuminated air bag warning light due to a manufacturing error affecting the second row seat side air bags. Owner notifications are expected to be sent out at the end of February.

Kia became aware of the problem late December 2022 when the Kia Technical Assistance Center received a report from a dealer about a damaged second row seat side airbag wire harness in a 2023 Telluride. Kia stopped shipping the 2023 Telluride vehicles and conducted an inspection of 2,219 vehicles at the plant. Twenty out of 2,219 vehicles had a wire harness that contacted the seat frame, though no damage to the harness was identified, there was no airbag warning light illuminations, and no wire harness contact with the seat frame was found in the remaining inspected vehicles. Kia Georgia informed Kia Safety Office of Inspection about the results of the investigation and a recall was initiated.

According to the defect report, the side airbag wire harness in the second row seat cushion assembly was manufactured with the incorrect length. The wire harness could become damaged if it contacts the seat frame when the seat is folded or adjusted. If the wire harness is damaged, the second row seat side airbag(s) may not deploy in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealerships to have the wire harness inspected and replace, or secure the air bag wire harnesses, as necessary. Kia’s number for this recall is SC262 and the NHTSA campaign number is 23V-035.

The potential number of 2023 Kia Telluride vehicles affected by this recall is 1,943.

If you are having repeated problems with your 2023 Kia Telluride and you think it could be a Lemon, or if you have any questions about your rights under the California Lemon Law, please call our office at 1-888-395-3666 and get some great Lemon Law advice!

2022 Ford Maverick
Side Curtain Air Bag Malfuntion

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Certain 2022 Ford Maverick pickup trucks could experience an improper air bag deployment that could increase the chance of injury during an accident. Because of this improper deployment, these vehicles fail to meet the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) for “Ejection Mitigation”.

Ford became aware of the problem in June 2022 when they were contacted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, regarding the results of a compliance audit on a 2022 model year Maverick. The compliance audit showed that the displacement results for the front lower primary target exceeded the federal regulation of 100 mm. Ford opened an investigation that included comparing their data to the NHTSA test vehicle data, but they were not able to determine the cause of the problem. The cause of the airbag problem is still under investigation.

According to the defect report, trucks included in this action were built with side curtain air bags that may not meet the displacement requirements of FMVSS 226 S4.2.1 for the first row lower primary target location. A vehicle that does not comply with FMVSS 226 increases the risk of occupant injury in a crash. Approximately 65,000 – 2022 model year Ford Maverick vehicles with build dates from February 3, 2021, through July 9, 2022, are affected by this air bag recall.

Owners who receive notices will be instructed to take their Maverick to a Ford dealer to have the left and right side curtain air bag modules replaced with modules of a new design. Ford’s number for this recall is 22C20 and the NHTSA campaign number is 22V-594.

The NHTSA urges all vehicle owners to take immediate action after receiving a notice of a safety defect with their vehicle. Despite recall notices and public warnings, some vehicle and vehicle equipment recalls are never repaired. In 2019 in the United States, there were 966 safety recalls affecting more than 53 million vehicles and motor vehicle equipment. While not all recalls are high profile, all recalls are important. Don’t risk your safety, that of your loved ones, or others on the road!

Cadillac, Chevrolet & GMC Vehicles Investigated For Airbag Safety Problem

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Automotive Defect Investigation
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE21-010) to investigate complaints of malfunctions with the driver frontal air bags in certain Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles.

The ODI has received fifteen consumer complaints about certain vehicles experiencing an airbag warning light illumination and/or a failure of the airbag to deploy during an accident with significant frontal damage. Nine of the consumer complaints say the air bag malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) was illuminated and six of the incidents had significant frontal damage with failure to deploy the airbags.

A TSB, issued in March 2021, addresses air bag MIL illumination accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes B0001-1B or B0012-0D. It also reports rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver airbag inflator as the cause of the airbag MIL illumination. Illumination of the airbag MIL under these circumstances may result in a non-deployment of the driver’s airbag during a frontal collision and increased risk of injury to the driver.

The vehicles under investigation include:

2020-2021 Cadillac CT4
2020-2021 Cadillac CT5
2020-2021 Cadillac Escalade
2020-2021 Cadillac Escalade ESV
2020-2021 Cadillac XT5
2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 4500HD
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 5500HD
2020 Chevrolet Silverado 6500HD
2020-2021 Chevrolet Suburban
2021 Chevrolet Suburban 1500
2020-2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
2020-2021 GMC Sierra 1500
2020-2021 GMC Sierra 2500
2020-2021 GMC Sierra 3500
2020 GMC Sierra Denali
2020-2021 GMC Yukon
2020-2021 GMC Yukon XL

ODI have opened this preliminary investigation to determine the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues. If the investigation results in a recall, an estimated 749,312 vehicles could be affected.

2018 Cadillac Escalade Manufacturer Buyback Of Lemon Vehicle

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Our client bought a 2018 Cadillac Escalade and was very happy.

His first visit was on December 13, 2018 to the authorized Cadillac dealership because the airbag light came on.

He was back at the dealership 3 months later on March 12th because the airbag light was on again.

He had to bring his Escalade back in on May 30th because the airbag light was on again for a third time. The check engine light was on, too. And the A/C was blowing hot from the left side even though the temperature was set to full cold.

Our client was frustrated with the dealership not being able to fix the problem. It was at this point that a friend told him about the California Lemon Law and he called our office and spoke with Lemon Law Attorney, Barry L. Edzant to find out if his vehicle might be a lemon. He sent some documents to our office for Barry to review. Shortly thereafter he signed up with our firm and a demand letter was sent to General Motors Corporation.

GMC decided to repurchase our clients defective vehicle. The manufacturer reimbursed our client for his down payment, all payments made so far, his registration, paid off the loan less a mileage deduction allowed under the California Lemon Law. GMC also paid attorney fees.

Having problems with your vehicle and think you may be driving a lemon? Please call The Law Office of Barry L. Edzant at 888-395-3666 for a free consultation.