2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra Front Seat Belt Recall (22V218)
Hyundai Motor America · 6,240 vehicles · Reported April 1, 2022
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 6,240 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment. Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 22V218 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 22V218000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 223 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 1, 2022 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor America |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra |
| Units affected | 6,240 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Front |
| Safety risk | Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra in recall 22V218?
In the event of a crash, the front driver and passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
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.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Elantra with recall 22V218?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Exploding seat belt pretensioners can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result 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 front, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 22V218?
Recall 22V218 covers 6,240 vehicles: 2021-2022 Hyundai Elantra.
NHTSA lists 6,240 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Hyundai | Elantra |
What is the fix for the Elantra front seat belt recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the seat belt pretensioners, free of charge.
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. A second notice will be sent once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 223. This recall is replaced by NHTSA recall number 22V-354. Vehicles already repaired under this recall will need to have the new remedy completed.
When was recall 22V218 announced?
Hyundai Motor America reported recall 22V218 to NHTSA on April 1, 2022.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 1, 2022 | Hyundai Motor America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 22V218000. |
| May 31, 2022 | Letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 54 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 22V218?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V218 is open on your Elantra, 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 2021-2022 Elantra 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 Elantra owners do about recall 22V218?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V218000 applies to your Elantra.
- Call a Hyundai dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the front happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Elantra owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 232 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 49 of them about the seat belts.
Since recall 22V218 was reported on April 1, 2022, owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 1 of them (2%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the seat belts and were received on or after April 1, 2022, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related seat belts issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 232 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 49 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 Hyundai Elantra: 101 complaints in total, 23 about the seat belts
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
FAULTY REARVIEW CAMERA My 2022 Hyundai Elantra sedan rearview camera fails to display clear image or displays no image when shift gear is in reverse position. 2021 and 2022 Hyundai Elantra sedan models were recalled – Recall #271.
2022 Hyundai Elantra owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11646783, filed March 6, 2025
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Elantra. The contact was notified by a ride share platform that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 202V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available.
2022 Hyundai Elantra owner, CO, NHTSA complaint 11465697, filed May 23, 2022
The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belts) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
2022 Hyundai Elantra owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11467845, filed June 6, 2022
Can recall 22V218 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 22V218000 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 campaign follows an earlier recall for the same issue. A second recall can mean the first remedy failed, and repeated repair attempts on the same defect are the core of most lemon law claims.
Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 22V354000.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Elantra been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Hyundai Elantra recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 22V218
Did the recall 22V218 fix work?
Since recall 22V218 was reported on April 1, 2022, owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 1 of them (2%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 22V218000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Elantra is part of recall 22V218000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
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.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 22V218000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Hyundai. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.