Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 9% | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2022 | 23 | 23% | — |
| 2021 | 27 | 20% | — |
| 2020 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2019 | 6 | 2% | 14,000 miles |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% | 46,000 miles |
| 2017 | 8 | 1% | 66,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 1% | 35,000 miles |
| 2015 | 3 | 1% | 106,000 miles |
| 2014 | 6 | 2% | 20,000 miles |
| 2013 | 17 | 1% | 83,000 miles |
| 2012 | 6 | 1% | 45,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 0% | 0 miles |
| 2010 | 7 | 2% | 73,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 1% | 134,000 miles |
| 2008 | 4 | 1% | 75,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 3% | 119,000 miles |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% | 6,000 miles |
| 2005 | 6 | 4% | 9,000 miles |
| 2004 | 12 | 7% | 65,000 miles |
| 2003 | 11 | 5% | 57,000 miles |
| 2002 | 16 | 5% | 38,000 miles |
| 2001 | 7 | 2% | 96,000 miles |
| 2000 | 15 | 8% | 58,000 miles |
| 1999 | 7 | 5% | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 4% | — |
| 1997 | 2 | 2% | 38,000 miles |
| 1996 | 2 | 2% | — |
| 1995 | 6 | 5% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I received a recall notice for 22V-354 (Hyundai recall 229) on 8/1/2022. The recall states that this is an important safety recall and Hyundai is preparing a remedy, but it's not ready yet. It states that owners are strongly recommended to park vehicles outside and away from structures. It states that the driver/passenger seat belts can explode and project metal shrapnel into the vehicle occupant compartment. However, the dealership advised they don't have the parts or personnel to fix it right now and they don't have any timeline on when it can be repaired either. I need my car (that I just purchased in April 2022) to go to work every day. I don't have other transportation options available as I drive from client to client and am self employed. I live in a high traffic area and am scared that my seat belt will kill or maim me if involved in an accident. …
I was advised of the current recall on my new 22 Elantra. I took my vehicle to the Hyundai dealership where it was purchased (Cookeville) from a mere few months ago. I advised I needed the recall on the seat belts fixed. I was then told that they wouldn't be able to fix this recall for awhile (over a month) because they needed to fix the cars currently on the lot. THE UNSOLD CARS THAT ARE JUST SITTING THERE. Not only is this reckless, it shows a complete disregard to my safety and others that may be in the vehicle or near it if something were to happen while being driven. Mind you, I bought this car completely new from them and have zero issues up until this point. I feel that my vehicle should be given priority over a vehicle that isn't even sold. The Cookeville Hyundai is prioritizing money over public safety and I will as though it should be addressed immediately.
The contact's mother-in-law owned a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that while her son was driving the vehicle, he had begun to make a left turn onto a highway as an oncoming vehicle struck the front passenger side of the vehicle at a high rate of speed. The impact sent the vehicle spinning as both her son and her mother-in-law were tossed around inside the vehicle due to the impact. The air bags did deploy. Both of the occupants inside the vehicle were transported to the hospital. The contact's mother-in-law suffered blunt force injury to her chest and multiple rib fractures to both sides of her ribs. She also suffered lacerations to her liver and left leg, as well as fractures to her right tibia and left ankle. The contact's mother-in-law died as a result of her injuries. …
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle shut off. The message "Put Car In Neutral And Restart Engine" was displayed. The contact stated that she shifted into neutral (N) and restarted the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred persistently. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown activator needed to be replaced. The part was replaced. However, the contact stated that days after the repair, the vehicle would not exceed 25 MPH while driving. The contact pulled into a parking lot. The contact stated that a police officer was able to assist her with correcting the issue under the supervision of the dealer who was on the phone. The contact resumed driving and the vehicle responded as needed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. …
The driver side seatbelt is pulled out and will not retract. Our safety is at risk every time we drive this vehicle as the seatbelt won't protect the driver from being flung into other passengers or prevent from being flung out of the vehicle. This issue has been confirmed by Walser Hyundai in Brooklyn Park, MN on 11/7/23. There were no warning signs of the issue except for seat belt seeming to retract slow for the last5/1/ couple years.
I hit a small center divider in a parking structure going about 1 MPH which hit under the car. The three front airbags deployed. There is no body damage to the front of the car so I don't think that the airbags should have deployed. My local dealership can't fix it and I have reached out to Hyundai USA and they are not responding.
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Elantra. The contact stated that the seat belt was inoperable. The contact stated that the air bag was falling out of the air bag enclosure. The vehicle failed to start immediately but was started after several attempts. The air bag and seat belt warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the battery terminal posts were inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who tightened the battery post. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 46,000.
Heater and defrost does not work. I was unable to see out windshield. I took it for repair at dealership under warranty. They replaced a thermostat and there was no heat or defrost after. It is dangerous to drive in winter. My passenger seatbelt alarm goes off when the seat is empty. I have to pull over to lock the seatbelt to make it stop. Dealership states cannot duplicate. I have several videos of it happening.
Related recalls (4)
Seat belts › Front
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Accent, 2021-2022 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioner(s) with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 28, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Seat belts › Front
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 31, 2022.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2022 Elantra and Elantra HEV vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front passenger-side seat belt pretensioner may explode upon deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 19, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
Seat belts › Pretensioner
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, Genesis GV80 and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 10, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
NHTSA investigations
Seat Belt Pretensioners May Rupture
On August 8, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) based on 3 incidents alleging front seat belt pretensioners that may rupture during deployment, on model year (MY) 2020-2022 of various Hyundai and Kia Models, resulting in 3 injuries (note: one incident occurred outside the U.S.
Frequently asked questions
Which Hyundai Elantra years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2021 (27), 2022 (23), 2013 (17), 2002 (16) and 2000 (15) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 20% of all complaints for the 2021.
Is there a recall for Hyundai Elantra seat belt problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 22V-354 (front, May 19, 2022); 22V-218 (front, Apr 1, 2022); 22V-123 (pretensioner, Mar 3, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hyundai Elantra seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 61,000 miles; 49% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › retractor (16 mentions), followed by the front (12).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.