2021 Hyundai Elantra Seat Belt Pretensioner Recall (21V796)

Recall 21V796 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Hyundai Elantra in recall 21V796?

In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioner(s) may explode upon deployment.

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.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Elantra with recall 21V796?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An exploding seat belt pretensioner could project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An exploding seat belt pretensioner could project metal fragments into the vehicle, striking vehicle occupants and resulting in injury.

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

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V796?

Recall 21V796 covers 978 vehicles: 2022 Genesis GV70; 2021 Genesis GV80; 2021 Hyundai Elantra; 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid; 2021 Hyundai Venue.

NHTSA lists 978 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Elantra seat belt pretensioner recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge.

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. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 211 and 009G. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall numbers 22V-354 for Elantra and Elantra HEV vehicles, 22V-458 for Venue vehicles, and 23V-094 for Genesis vehicles. Elantra, Elantra HEV, Venue, and Genesis vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedies completed.

Manufacturer recall number: 211/009G.

When was recall 21V796 announced?

Hyundai Motor America reported recall 21V796 to NHTSA on October 13, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as February 10, 2022.

This recall was filed 60 months ago. If your Elantra was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Elantra is part of recall 21V796?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V796 is open on your Elantra, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V796000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should Elantra owners do about recall 21V796?

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 21V796000 applies to your Elantra.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Hyundai dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the pretensioner happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
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 Elantra owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 340 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 34 of them about the seat belts.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 340 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 34 of them involve the seat belts. 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 Elantra: 131 complaints in total, 26 about the seat belts
• 2022 Genesis GV70: 93 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
• 2021 Genesis GV80: 59 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
• 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid: 29 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 Hyundai Venue: 28 complaints in total, 4 about the seat belts

A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):

Manufacturer recall number012g nhtsa recall numberawaiting1 recall statusrecall incomplete summary hyundai/genesis is initiating safety recall 012g to address a condition previously referenced in recalls 211/009g, 219, 220, 223, 229, 231, and 238/011g regarding the seat belt pretensioner.

2022 Genesis GV70 owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11508349, filed February 21, 2023

Hello, I am writing to file a complaint regarding the seatbelt mechanism in my Genesis vehicle and to request an investigation into the issue. The seatbelt system in my car rapidly retracts with no slack. This excessive force can potentially cause serious injuries.

2022 Genesis GV70 owner, NJ, NHTSA complaint 11521279, filed May 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2021 Genesis GV80. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in Hyundai Campaign Number: 012G, however, the parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.

2021 Genesis GV80 owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11508369, filed February 21, 2023

Can recall 21V796 make my Elantra 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.

Recall 21V796000 does not automatically make your Elantra a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.

This is not the first recall for this problem. When a manufacturer has to recall the same pretensioner again, that suggests the earlier fix did not work. If your 2021 Hyundai Elantra has had this repair more than once, keep every repair order.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 22V354000, 22V458000, 23V094000.

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 21V796