2021 Hyundai Santa FE Passenger Air Bag Recall (21V185)

Recall 21V185 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Hyundai Santa FE in recall 21V185?

The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat.

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Santa Fe vehicles. The Occupant Detection System (ODS) module may not deactivate the air bag upon detection of a child restraint system in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Santa FE with recall 21V185?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: In the event of a crash, deployment of the front passenger air bag, with a child in that seat, can increase the risk of injury to the child.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Santa FE shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the front passenger, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V185?

Recall 21V185 covers 10 vehicles: 2021 Hyundai Santa FE.

NHTSA lists 10 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Santa FE passenger air bag recall?

Yes. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ODS module, free of charge.

Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ODS module, free of charge. All affected vehicles have been remedied as of May 12, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 202.

When was recall 21V185 announced?

Hyundai Motor America reported recall 21V185 to NHTSA on March 17, 2021.

This recall was filed 67 months ago. If your Santa FE was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Santa FE is part of recall 21V185?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V185 is open on your Santa FE, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Santa FE vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Santa FE owners do about recall 21V185?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V185000 applies to your Santa FE.
2. Call a Hyundai dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any front passenger symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Santa FE owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 166 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 21V185 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 166 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Hyundai Santa FE: 166 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Can recall 21V185 make my Santa FE a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V185