240,000 2004/2005 Elantras Recalled

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Report Date : September 15, 2005 at 06:33 PM
SEARCH TYPE : VEHICLE
YEAR : 2004/2005
Make : HYUNDAI
Model : ELANTRA
Type : PASSENGER CAR

Make : HYUNDAI Model : ELANTRA Year : 2004/2005

Manufacturer : HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 05V395000 Mfg's Report Date : SEP 09, 2005

Component: AIR BAGS

Potential Number Of Units Affected : 240000

Summary:
CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) FAIL
TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.
208. "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE OCS INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT FRONT SEAT
OF THE VEHICLE MAY MISCLASSIFY A CHILD RESTRAINT SEAT (CRS) AS AN ADULT.
THIS MAY OCCUR IF THE CRS IS INSTALLED AFTER AN ADULT HAS BEEN SEATED IN THE
RIGHT FRONT SEAT. IF THERE HAS NOT BEEN A 'KEY ON' ' KEY OFF' CYCLE WITH THE
RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT EMPTY PRIOR TO INSTALLATION OF THE CRS.

Consequence:
THE POSSIBILITY OF MISCLASSIFICATION OF A CRS AS AN ADULT MAY ALLOW THE
RIGHT FRONT AIRBAG OR SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND COULD
RESULT IN INJURY TO THE RIGHT FRONT OCCUPANT.

Remedy:
DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE VEHICLE'S OCS ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) TO
REMOVE THE FEATURE THAT MAY CAUSE THE CRS TO BE RECOGNIZED AS AN ADULT. THE
RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT
HYUNDAI AT 1-800-633-5151.

Notes:
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY
ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY
1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Check to Request Research. Submit below.

 

Hyundaitech any word on if this is related to the OCS issue where a full
grown adult is missread and the bag light goes on and off randomly while
driving?

 

If this is a new recall, Hyundai has yet to release information on this
recall to the dealers. I check for new technical service bulletins nearly
every day and this hasn't come out yet.

I wonder, however, if you're referring to recall 919, where Hyundai will
reprogram the air bag control module. I've never seen why this was done
for recall 919. The TSB just indicates that we should reprogram the
control module and doesn't say what the reprogramming does. I do know
that those who say they have issues with the lamp staying on say they
continue to have the issues after the reprogramming.

Based on your post, I'd say the reprogramming to which it refers would
increase the sensitivity to minor changes in readings from the seat
sensor. I'd expect it to actually make the lamp come on more frequently
for those having this problem.

Hyundai also has released a TSB where they offer to reprogram the seat
sensor if the customer can demonstrate to the dealer-- with the passenger
in question seated properly-- the condition actually happening with a
small stature passenger. It's been rumored that Hyundai will require the
customer to sign some sort of statement, but I've never seen anything of
the sort. Mostly, this leads me to believe that the majority of people
that experience the issue aren't seated properly, but I'm large and heavy
enough that I don't think I'll ever be able to experience it seating
myself in the passenger seat.