2026 Hyundai Elantra Side Impact Recall (26V254)

Recall 26V254 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2026 Hyundai Elantra in recall 26V254?

The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.

Is it safe to drive a 2026 Elantra with recall 26V254?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the side impact.

Which vehicles are included in recall 26V254?

Recall 26V254 covers 2,931 vehicles: 2026 Hyundai Elantra; 2025 Hyundai Elantra N; 2026 Hyundai Tucson; 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid; 2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-IN Hybrid.

NHTSA lists 2,931 vehicles in this campaign, built September 2, 2025 to October 15, 2025. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Elantra side impact recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 299. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 22, 2026.

When was recall 26V254 announced?

Hyundai Motor America reported recall 26V254 to NHTSA on April 20, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 11, 2026.

This recall was filed 5 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 43 days. 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 26V254?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V254 is open on your Elantra, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V254000 is open on your Elantra, it will be listed there, along with Hyundai recall number 299. You can also ask any Hyundai dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Elantra owners do about recall 26V254?

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 26V254000 applies to your Elantra.
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. Write down when symptoms involving the side impact 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 98 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the air bags.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 26V254 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 98 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 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.

• 2026 Hyundai Tucson: 61 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid: 27 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
• 2025 Hyundai Elantra N: 7 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2026 Hyundai Elantra: 2 complaints in total, 1 about the air bags
• 2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-IN Hybrid: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

my car was t-boned on the passenger side at the b pillar and airbags did not deploy. yes the body shop confirmed the airbags did not deploy. no warnings or messages.

2026 Hyundai Elantra owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11759642, filed August 26, 2026

The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while slowly driving into a parking space, the vehicle suddenly stopped and then suddenly jolted forward and crashed into a guard rail and steel fence in front of the local Post Office.

2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid owner, MA, NHTSA complaint 11747172, filed June 29, 2026

Can recall 26V254 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 26V254000 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))?

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.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2026 Hyundai Elantra has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Elantra went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to 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 26V254