Hyundai Recalls 37,901 Kona Electric and Veloster N Vehicles: Air Bag Control Software Error Can Disable Air Bags; Free Dealer Update
Hyundai Motor America told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in a November 4 letter that it is recalling 37,901 vehicles in total: 29,058 Kona Electric models from 2019 to 2023 and 8,843 Veloster N models from 2019 to 2022. A software error in the air bag control unit (ACU) can, under certain driving conditions, illuminate the air bag malfunction indicator light and deactivate the air bag system.
According to Hyundai's filing with NHTSA, if the air bag system deactivates, the air bags may fail to deploy in a crash, increasing the risk of injury to occupants. As of October 22, 2026, Hyundai was aware of 331 alleged incidents related to the issue, with none resulting in a crash, fire, or injury.
The remedy is a software update: dealers will update the air bag control unit software free of charge. Vehicle identification numbers (VINs) for the recalled vehicles become searchable on NHTSA's recall lookup page starting November 6, 2026, and Hyundai expects to mail owner notification letters on January 1, 2027.
Hyundai's recall number is 311, and the NHTSA campaign number is 26V728. Owners can also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：第一代现代 Kona Electric 电动车，本次召回涉及 2019 至 2023 款该车型。PantheraLeo1359531 摄，CC BY 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: A first-generation Hyundai Kona Electric; the recall covers 2019-2023 model years of the vehicle. By PantheraLeo1359531, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
