Via The Detroit News
Washington -- Hyundai Motor Co. said Saturday it will recall 141,000 2011-2014 Tucson crossovers because the airbag may not have been properly attached to the steering wheel.
The Korean automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it has reports of 141 incidents of improperly tightened bolts, but no reports of crashes or injuries related to the issue. Hyundai said it is possible that the two bolts attaching the driver’s airbag to the steering wheel assembly were not properly tightened. Over time it could cause a rattle noise, or if both bolts become loose and detach the driver’s airbag from the steering wheel, which could then fail to operate properly in a crash.
In December, Hyundai service engineers noted about 100 “labor only” (no parts), low cost (under $50) warranty claims in which the bolts securing the air bag to the steering wheel were fixed by tightening them to factory specifications. Hyundai said the claim rate was 0.06 percent and no customer complaints were lodged.
On average, the 100 vehicles with warranty claims had been on the road for about 13 months. Hyundai then received an additional 41 warranty claims in the first four months of 2014. "Based on this information, Hyundai determined that a safety recall would be appropriate to ensure that all vehicles in the field are properly" tightened, the automaker said.
