Hyundai recalls another quarter-million automobiles after seatbelts explode, sending potentially deadly shrapnel careening through vehicle

Hyundai has issued a recall for at least 239,000 cars in the U.S. after learning that seatbelt pretensioners can explode and send shrapnel throughout the vehicle, CBS News has reported.

At least three related injuries have been reported at this time.

What are the details?

The outlet reported that U.S. government regulators advised the Korean carmaker that the vehicle's seatbelt pretensioners on both the driver's and passenger's sides "can explode upon deployment and send shrapnel throughout the vehicle."

The recall includes approximately 61,000 2019-2022 Accents as well as 166,000 2021-2024 Elantras and 12,000 2021-2022 Elantra hybrid vehicles.

Hyundai is expected to reach out to impacted owners by July 15. Owners can then visit a local Hyundai dealership for refit pretensioners at no cost to them.

Hyundai owners with any questions are encouraged to directly reach out to Hyundai customer service at (855) 371-9460 and point to recall No. 229.

In related news ...

Hyundai in early May recalled more than 200,000 2013 and 2014 Sonata sedans after learning that fuel hoses can leak into the engine compartment and cause fires. Many of those vehicles, the outlet reported, were recalled for the same reason in 2020.

In February, Hyundai and Kia advised owners of nearly a half-million vehicles to park outside and away from all buildings due to spontaneous fire risk.

At the time, manufacturers said that a defect due to "foreign contaminants" could short-circuit the anti-lock brake system, causing some vehicles to burst into flame without warning.

The Hyundai recall involved all 2014 and 2015 Tucson SUVs, 2016-2018 Santa Fe SUVs, 2017 and 2018 Santa Fe Sport SUVs, and 2019 Santa Fe XL SUV models.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests owners visit www.nhtsa.gov and enter their 17-digit VIN to see if their vehicle is impacted by any recalls.