More Auto Recalls by Hyundai
South Korean car manufacturer Hyundai is recalling 220,000 cars in the US because of potential airbag problems, according to the Philippines'Inquirer. This is down to not one, but two, separate defects that affect the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Hyundai Sonata. The problem with the Sonata is not thought to have caused any injuries so far, although it potentially could, but Hyundai have been tight-lipped about the problem with the Santa Fe, which is the subject of a class action lawsuit.
Reutersreports that information on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website claims that 199,118 Santa Fe SUVs manufactured between 2006 and 2008 are being recalled because the front airbags appear to have been fitted with an “improper occupant classification system.” The issue with this is that if a “small-statured” person, such as a child, is sitting in the seat and there is an accident, the airbags may not deploy correctly, which could obviously be life-threatening. However, with some recalibration, the system should work correctly, thereby meeting safety recommendations.
The Sonata recall involves 22,512 vehicles with model years of 2012 and 2013 because of an issue with the side curtain airbags. Some vehicles may have a defect which allows the airbags to inflate randomly.
Airbags are installed to inflate at the point of collision, thereby cushioning the driver or passenger’s head from hitting the windscreen. The airbag is triggered by a sensor which detects a collision. As aWashington Universitywebsite explains:
“One of the simplest designs employed for the crash sensor is a steel ball that slides inside a smooth bore. The ball is held in place by a permanent magnet or by a stiff spring, which inhibit the ball's motion when the car drives over bumps or potholes. However, when the car decelerates very quickly, as in a head-on crash, the ball suddenly moves forward and turns on an electrical circuit, initiating the process of inflating the airbag.”
Despite concern in some quarters that airbags are not the best way of preventing accidents because they can often fail, or deploy when not necessary, according tosafercar.gov, airbags have saved over 25,000 lives between the years of 1987 and 2008. However, the website is quick to point out that people should not come to rely on airbags, no matter how safe a particular manufacturer’s history. Children under 13 should always be placed in the backseat to protect them from serious impact and drivers and passengers should always take the time to ensure that the on/off switch is correctly used.
Passengers should also ensure that they use their seatbelts rather than just relying on the airbags. A PDF document found on thesafercar.govsite points out that people have been killed by airbags – but in almost all cases, it was discovered to be because the victims were sitting too far forward in their seats, quite probably because they weren’t wearing seatbelts.
Hyundai points out that there will be no charge for any work that needs to be done.
