Hyundai is recalling 37,901 vehicles in the United States over a software issue that could cause the airbag system to deactivate, potentially preventing deployment during a crash.
The recall covers 29,058 Kona Electric vehicles from model years 2019–2023 and 8,843 Veloster N vehicles from model years 2019–2022, according to documents submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on November 4.
Software Error Could Disable Airbags
The problem involves the airbag control unit (ACU), where data may become corrupted during a system reboot or power interruption while information is being written to its memory.
Under certain driving conditions, the malfunction can trigger the airbag warning light and deactivate the airbag system.
Hyundai reported 331 alleged incidents related to the issue as of October 22, 2026. No crashes, fires or injuries have been reported.
Free Software Update Planned
Owners of affected vehicles can visit an authorised Hyundai dealer to receive an ACU software update at no cost.
Hyundai expects to send notification letters to owners beginning January 1, 2027. Customers can contact Hyundai at 1-855-371-9460, using recall number 311, for further information.
The NHTSA has assigned the campaign number 26V728. Vehicle owners can also check their recall status through the agency’s website or contact its Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.