Hyundai to recall 220k cars in US due to air-bag faults

In this July 26, 2012, file photo, the logo of Hyundai Motor Co. is seen on its car at the company’s showroom in Seoul, South Korea. Hyundai Motor Co. is recalling some Santa Fe SUVs and Sonata sedans because of problems with their air bags. AP PHOTO/AHN YOUNG-JOON

CHICAGO—Hyundai is to recall more than 220,000 cars in the United States due to two separate air-bag defects, the Korean automaker said in filings to safety regulators released Monday.

The first defect – which was the subject of a class action lawsuit – could cause the airbag to fail to deploy in a crash if a “small statured” adult is in the front passenger seat.

That recall affects 199,118 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles from the 2007 through 2009 model years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said.

The second recall involves 22,512 Hyundai Sonata vehicles with model years 2012 and 2013, where a defect could cause the side curtain airbags to inflate even when a collision has not occurred.

Hyundai said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries as a result of the second defect but it did not provide accident or injury information about the first defect in its regulatory filings.

All repairs will be carried out free of charge.