Tag Archives: Seat Belt Pretensioner Defect

GM Issues Safety Recall for Chevrolet Bolt EVs Due to Seat Belt Pretensioner Fire Risk

Posted on by

Seat belt pretensioner problem Discovery and Investigation of the Defect

The issue was initially brought to GM’s attention on August 29, 2023, by an employee through the company’s Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program. This action followed a dealer report from Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine, indicating that 66 vehicles repaired under the earlier recall 22V930 had not been properly fixed. Subsequent investigations, initiated by GM on October 10, 2023, uncovered further evidence suggesting Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine’s failure to execute the necessary recall repairs.

Further investigations by GM revealed no direct complaints or incidents linked to this condition. However, the seriousness of the potential risk prompted the GM Safety Field Action Decision Authority (SFADA) to mandate a safety recall for all 22V930 repairs completed by Simpson Chevrolet of Irvine up to December 4, 2023.

Risks Associated with the Defect

The central concern revolves around the seat belt pretensioner. If a crash occurs and the recall remedy has not been implemented, the seat belt pretensioner’s deployment could ignite a fire near the B-pillar, elevating the risk of injury. After a collision, the pretensioner exhaust may set fire to carpet fibers in this area.

Remedy and Owner Notification

To address this issue, GM dealers will inspect both front seat belt pretensioners. If necessary, they will install metal foil at the carpet near the pretensioner exhaust, and some vehicles may also require a new pretensioner cover. These repairs will be conducted free of charge. GM plans to send owner notification letters by January 29, 2024. Notably, these vehicles had been previously recalled for the same issue under recall number 22V-793, necessitating the implementation of this new remedy. The GM recall number is N232421970, and the NHTSA campaign number is 23-845.

Repeated Repairs and California Lemon Law

The situation with the Chevrolet Bolt EV highlights an important aspect of consumer rights, especially in states like California with robust Lemon Laws. The California Lemon Law provides protection to consumers who have purchased or leased vehicles with warranty defects. If a vehicle requires repeated repairs for the same issue, owners may be entitled to compensation, including a refund or replacement vehicle. This law ensures that manufacturers are held accountable for their vehicles’ reliability and safety, offering peace of mind to consumers facing repeated repair issues.

In conclusion, GM’s steps in recalling and repairing these vehicles underscore the importance of automotive safety and consumer protection. Vehicle owners are advised to heed recall notices and ensure their vehicles receive the necessary repairs to mitigate any risks associated with this defect.

2023 Genesis G90 Abnormal Pretensioner Deployment

Posted on by

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) will be contacting the owners of certain 2023 Genesis G90 luxury sedans because of a defect affecting the seat belt pretensioners in their vehicles. The problem could result in an increased chance of injury to vehicle occupants.

In October 2022, Hyundai received information pertaining to an investigation into allegations of abnormal seat belt pretensioner deployments in vehicles associated with recalls 21V-796, 22V-069, 22V-123, 22V-218, 22V-354, and 22V-458. Recall 22V-816 was initiated as Hyundai continued to evaluate vehicles equipped with the same Samsong pretensioners that had not yet been recalled..

In January, during the continued analysis of the airbag control unit (ACU) crash pulse data recovered from a North Carolina incident, they found that the micro gas generator (MGG) separated despite having a lower pretensioner “time-to-fire”. This was the problem that was previously thought to be the contributor to over-pressurization of the pretensioner pipe. Because of this information, the North America Safety Office (NASO) decided to conduct a safety recall 012G (23V-094) of Genesis G80, GV60, GV70, and GV80 vehicles equipped with pretensioners without a vent valve. Recall 012G (23V-094) supersedes Recall 009G, obsoleting all affected population(s) of Recall 211/009G (21V-796).

In March, during the review of details surrounding Hyundai’s assessment of the open investigation into the recent recalls, Hyundai noted that the recent recalls address all U.S. vehicles equipped with the subject Samsong seat belt pretensioner excluding Genesis G90 vehicles. The G90 contains the same seat belt pretensioners but because it is installed facing outward and away from occupants, fragments entering the cabin area and injuring occupants are significantly less likely to happen. Based on this information, the NASO decided to conduct a safety recall (013G) of Genesis G90 vehicles equipped with pretensioners without a vent valve. NHTSA campaign number 23V-210.

According to the defect report, the subject vehicles are equipped with frontal/rear pyrotechnic-type seat belt pretensioners that could deploy abnormally in certain crash conditions. The problem is due to the over-pressurization of the pretensioner pipe. Depending on specific vehicle characteristics such as pretensioner load limiter specification, the airbag control unit logic, crash duration/severity, and micro-gas generator orientation, occupants could experience an increased risk of injury.

Owners of the affected vehicles will be notified with instructions to bring their vehicles to a Hyundai dealer to have the seat belt pretensioner’s micro gas generator and delivery pipe secured with a cap to prevent potential abnormal deployment.

Chevy Bolt EV Potential Fire After Seat Belt Pretensioner Deployment

Posted on by

General Motors (GM) has decided that a defect affecting seat belt safety exists in certain 2017-2023 Chevrolet Bolt EVs. GM will be contacting owners of affected vehicles with instructions to return to their dealership to have the problem corrected by installing fire barriers.

GM first became aware of the problem in September 2022 after receiving a report of a 2018 Chevy Bolt EV that experienced a fire. The fire seemed to originate in the right side lower pillar in the area of the pretensioner. GM opened an investigation into the incident and identified a total of three field incidents where exhaust from a deployed pretensioner ignited carpet fibers near the B-pillar. By December, GM’s Safety Field Action Decision Authority (SFADA) decided to conduct a safety recall.

The problem arises during certain crash conditions that require the front seat belt pretensioners to deploy. According to the defect report, the temperature of the exhaust from a deployed pretensioner may be sufficient enough to ignite carpet and other materials in close proximity to the pretensioner.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their dealership to have a metal foil barrier added between the carpet and pretensioner. Some vehicles will also require the installation of a pretensioner cover that will prevent the ignition of carpet material from pretensioner exhaust.

This recall will be launched in two phases, under bulletins N222383790 and N222383791. Notification to owners of vehicles that require only the installation of the foil barrier is estimated to begin on January 30, 2023. Owners of vehicles that also require installation of the pretensioner cover will begin receiving interim notification on January 30, 2023, with a second notification when parts become available. The NHTSA campaign number for this recall is 22V-930.

Chevy Bolt Seat Belt Pretensioner Fire

Hyundai Issues Seventh Seat Belt Pretensioner Recall

Posted on by

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) has issued a recall (22V-816) affecting certain 2023 Genesis G80 Electric, 2021-2022 Santa Fe Hybrid, and 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles have front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners that could explode under certain deployment conditions.

This is the seventh recall issued by Hyundai for seat belt pretensioner problems. Hyundai has determined that the subject vehicles were manufactured with driver/passenger pyrotechnic-type seat belt pretensioners that may deploy abnormally in certain crashes due to over pressurization of the pretensioner pipe. The potential of a pretensioner exploding is dependent on vehicle characteristics, pretensioner load limiter specifications, airbag control unit logic, crash duration and severity.

Hyundai first became aware of the problem in September 2021, when they were contacted by the NHTSA’s ODI about an incident involving a 2021 model year Hyundai Elantra. The driver-side seat belt pretensioner allegedly deployed abnormally, causing metal fragments to enter the rear cabin and injuring an occupant’s leg. The NHTSA was notified of the incident by a law firm representing the operator of the incident vehicle.

According to the defect report, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners in the subject vehicles were installed from a suspect production lot containing pyrotechnic-type pretensioners that may deploy abnormally during a crash. At the time, the cause of the abnormal deployment was unknown. Hyundai decided to recall vehicles equipped with pretensioners produced within the same production lot.

Recall 21V-796 vehicles affected include:

2021 Hyundai Elantra
2021 Hyundai Elantra HEV
2021 Hyundai Venue
2022 Genesis GV70
2021 Genesis GV80

Recall 22V-069 vehicles affected include:

2020-2021 Hyundai Accent

Recall 22V-123 vehicles affected include:

2022 Hyundai Elantra
2022 Hyundai Elantra HEV

Recall 22V-218 vehicles affected include:

2020 Hyundai Accent
2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra

Recall 22V-354 vehicles affected include:

2020-2022 Hyundai Accent
2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra
2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra HEV

Recall 22V-458 vehicles affected include:

2020-2022 Hyundai Venue

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to their Hyundai dealer to have the seat belt pretensioners secured with a cap. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 238/011G.