The Hyundai Santa Fe (named after the city in New Mexico) is a distinctly American name for a Korean automobile. When it first came out, it helped the brand establish a solid reputation in the United States. The vehicle quickly went on to become one of their best-sellers.
However, that doesn’t mean it hasn’t had a recall.
How many recalls has the 2019 Santa Fe had?
As of August 2020 – one. On October 11, 2018, it was found that some Santa Fes had an issue with their side curtain airbags (SCAB). In the affected models, the mounting bolts could interfere with the airbags, potentially causing damage during deployment.
Thankfully, in this article, we will cover this recall in detail. We’ll also review how to check if your vehicle is affected and what to do if it is.
Bolts Damaging the Side Curtain Airbag
NHTSA Campaign ID: 18V715000
On October 11, 2018, it was found that certain Santa Fes had an issue with the side curtain airbag (SCAB). In affected vehicles, there was a potential for the mounting bolts to interfere with the airbags, possibly causing damage during deployment.
An airbag is essentially compressed air within a cloth balloon. When damaged, the compressed air on its own isn’t going to help in the event of an accident. It’s easy to guess what will happen to an airbag if it has a hole poked in it.
Airbags are carefully designed and calibrated to catch the full weight of an adult moving 30, 60, or 70 miles an hour to break the impact in a fraction of a second. Any interference with the process can render the airbags useless.
While this recall only affected an estimated 8,204 potential units, it’s worth checking your vehicle is included as it can potentially be a severe safety concern.
The fix? Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the SCAB installation bolts, free of charge.
How Do You Handle a Recall on a 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe?
The first step is to see if your 2019 Santa Fe is included in this recall. You can do this by calling
Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
You can also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
