Hyundai is recalling almost 38,000 vehicles in the U.S. for an airbag system that may not activate in a crash. An increase in airbag warning light warranty claims prompted an investigation into the matter, which affects certain Hyundai Kona Electric and Veloster N models. While no crashes or injuries have been linked to the condition, there have been 331 reports of the problem since 2019, and any airbag-related problem presents a potentially dangerous safety concern. Here’s what owners need to know.
Software Error Linked To Faulty Airbag System
2019 Hyundai Veloster N
Hyundai
Following the investigation, it was found that the airbags and seat belt pretensioners may not activate in a crash, which could considerably increase the risk of an injury in a crash. A software error in the airbag control unit has been identified as the problem, as detailed in the recall report on the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) website.
The following models and model years are impacted by this recall:
- 2019-2022 Hyundai Veloster N (8,843 units)
- 2019-2023 Hyundai Kona Electric (29,058 units)
In total, 37,901 Hyundai models are involved in this recall, but none of them are still in production.
“The subject vehicles are equipped with an Airbag Control Unit (“ACU”) that detects crash signals and commands deployment of the airbag(s) and seat belt pretensioner(s),” states the recall report. “Under certain driving conditions, data may become corrupted during routine writing to the ACU’s memory, causing the airbag malfunction indicator light (“MIL”) to illuminate and the airbag system to deactivate.”
Next Steps For Hyundai Owners
Hyundai
A simple software update will be performed by dealers to fix the problem, at no cost to owners of these Hyundai vehicles. Anyone with out-of-pocket expenses to remedy the issue will also be reimbursed. However, it will be a bit of a wait before a fix is available, as owner notification letters are only expected to be mailed on January 1, 2027. The software update is expected to become available shortly thereafter.
Owners of Kona Electric or Veloster N models can use the search tool on the NHTSA’s website to check if their vehicle is involved in the recall. To do this, owners will require their vehicle identification numbers.
Hyundai’s customer service is available at 1-855-371-9460 for more information about this recall, and owners can use the recall number 311 when calling.
If the airbag light illuminates before the software update is performed, owners should be aware that this could indicate a deactivated airbag system and that driving the car in this condition is a safety risk. However, a Do Not Drive warning has not been issued for these models.
Not Hyundai’s First Airbag Recall In 2026
Hyundai
Hyundai has already issued a few other airbag recalls this year, although these are not known to be directly related to the Kona Electric/Veloster N recall. In January, almost 570,000 Palisade SUVs were recalled because it was found their third-row airbags may not properly deploy in a crash. That recall was particularly concerning, given the high number of models involved and the fact that smaller children often sit in the third row.
In April, almost 3,000 more Hyundai models were recalled for potentially having misassembled side-impact sensors in the B-pillars, which could also interfere with airbag deployment. In this recall, certain versions of the Tucson and Elantra were involved.
As airbags have become progressively more advanced and effective—deploying only when needed or at forces matching the size of the occupant—the surrounding tech is ever more complex. Another major concern relates to the millions of recalled airbags that haven’t yet been repaired, as many car owners never get their vehicles fixed, according to a 2025 report from The Wall Street Journal.
If your vehicle is involved in an airbag recall, whether you drive an Hyundai or not, we encourage you to get repairs done as soon as possible.
