Hyundai has issued a recall affecting nearly 50,000 2024 Santa Fe models due to a potential airbag malfunction. The issue stems from the main floor wiring harness, which can chafe against the second-row seat, potentially preventing airbag deployment or causing unintended activation.
Hyundai attributes the problem to inconsistent wiring harness routing or improper securing. To address the issue, dealers will reinstall and secure the harness. The automaker has implemented three production improvements since March to rectify the problem, including reducing wire length and adding band cables.
While eight incidents related to the issue have been reported in the US, fortunately, no injuries have occurred. Owners will receive recall notifications in September.
Hyundai’s Santa Fe journey began in Ulsan, South Korea, in 2000, but it wasn’t until 2006 that the crossover found its American home in Montgomery, Alabama.
This domestic production is reflected in the VINs, which start with a ‘5’ instead of a ‘K’. Unlike its plug-in hybrid Tucson sibling, the Santa Fe maxes out at a self-charging hybrid variant.
Powertrains diverge between the standard 2.5-liter turbocharged engine paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission and the hybrid’s 1.6-liter turbocharged engine coupled with a 6-speed automatic.
While the larger engine delivers a combined 23-24 mpg, the hybrid shines with an EPA-estimated 34 mpg. Despite its fuel efficiency edge, the standard Santa Fe remains a sales stalwart, outpacing the Palisade but trailing the Tucson in the first half of 2024.
