There have been no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of the defect so far, Hyundai said.
Hyundai is recalling more than 140,000 Tucson crossover utility vehicles due to a flaw where air bag assembly may come loose from its mounting on the steering wheel, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Reuters reports.
According to Reuters, the recall affects 137,500 Tucsons in the United States and 3,500 in Puerto Rico, from model years 2011 to 2014. The South Korean auto manufacturer revealed that the two bolts attaching the driver’s air bag module to the steering wheel may not have been properly tightened during assembly. This flaw could cause the air bag module to become detached from the steering wheel, possibly resulting in injury during a crash.
The issue came to Hyundai’s attention in December 2013, the Times of India reports, when the automaker began to receive reports of dealership service departments tightening the bolts under warranty. Owners of the affected models should bring their vehicles in to have the bolts checked. Hyundai will repair the air bag module for free starting next month.
There have been no reports of accidents or injuries as a result of the defect so far, Hyundai said.
The recall announcement comes on the heels of Friday’s news of NHTSA’s imposition of a record $35 million fine on General Motors for its failure to promptly recall cars with faulty ignitions linked to at least 13 deaths.
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