English translation of the original Korean report. Images and source documents may contain Korean text.

Kona Electric and Veloster N 37,901 units recall…Starting in 2024, joint investigation with German automotive parts manufacturer ZF

It has been revealed that Hyundai Motor investigated the possibility of application of airbag control software to other models before recalling 37,901 units of Kona Electric and Veloster N in the US. Although there is a defect that airbags and safety belt pretensioners may not function properly during collisions, there is no disclosed information on whether the same software is applied to vehicles sold domestically and whether separate investigations were conducted domestically.

According to the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the 6th, Hyundai Motor reported the recall due to airbag control device defects to the US authorities on the 2nd of this month. Previously, the recall was decided on October 22nd, and the target vehicles are 29,058 units of 2019-2023 model year Kona Electric and 8,843 units of 2019-2022 model year Veloster N, totaling 37,901 units.

It has been confirmed that there is a possibility that airbags and safety belt pretensioners may not function properly during collisions due to a software error in the airbag control unit (ACU). Pretensioners are devices that tighten the safety belt at the moment of collision to protect the occupant, and this recall will be carried out through a free software update.

Hyundai Motor has been investigating the related defects since August 2024, about 2 years and 2 months before the recall decision. After identifying an increase in warranty repairs related to airbag warning lights, they started an investigation with the parts supplier, German ZF Group. Subsequently, they analyzed the recovered control units and conducted tests according to voltage changes, and although the defect could not be reproduced in actual vehicles, it was reported that software errors could be induced with test equipment.

■ Investigation expanded to other models in the US…No disclosure on whether domestic vehicles are included

According to the investigation progress submitted to NHTSA, Hyundai Motor expanded the investigation scope on September 18th, realizing the possibility that the same airbag control software could be applied to other models. However, the public report did not specify the specific list of additional investigation models or whether domestically sold vehicles are included.

The part numbers of the airbag control units for the US recall target vehicles are 95910-K4100 for Kona Electric, and 95910-K9100 and 95910-K9150 for Veloster N. Hyundai Motor has identified 331 related reports, and no accidents or injuries due to this defect have been confirmed. In the US, the defect will be corrected through a free software update.

In the public materials of the Korean Automotive Recall Center, there is no notice of domestic remedial measures for the same defect as this US recall. Even for the same model, whether the defect applies can vary depending on the country of sale, production time, and software specifications. Although Hyundai Motor investigated the possibility of application of this defect to other models in the US, it has not publicly disclosed whether the same software is applied to vehicles sold domestically, whether separate investigations were conducted, or the inspection results.