2024-2026 Hyundai Kona Seat Belt Buckle Recall (26V452)
Hyundai Motor America · 47,787 vehicles · Reported July 14, 2026
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 47,787 2024-2026 Hyundai Kona; 2024-2025 Hyundai Kona Electric vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash. A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 26V452 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 26V452000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 306 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 14, 2026 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor America |
| Vehicles | 2024-2026 Hyundai Kona; 2024-2025 Hyundai Kona Electric |
| Units affected | 47,787 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Rear / Other > Buckle Assembly |
| Safety risk | A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2024-2026 Hyundai Kona in recall 26V452?
The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
Is it safe to drive a 2024-2026 Kona with recall 26V452?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Kona shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the buckle assembly, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 26V452?
Recall 26V452 covers 47,787 vehicles: 2024-2026 Hyundai Kona; 2024-2025 Hyundai Kona Electric.
NHTSA lists 47,787 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2026 | Hyundai | Kona |
| 2024-2025 | Hyundai | Kona Electric |
What is the fix for the Kona seat belt buckle recall?
Yes. Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed.
Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 306. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 15, 2026.
When was recall 26V452 announced?
Hyundai Motor America reported recall 26V452 to NHTSA on July 14, 2026. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as September 2, 2026.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| February 13, 2026 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| July 14, 2026 | Hyundai Motor America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 26V452000. |
| September 2, 2026 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 2 months ago. If your Kona was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Kona is part of recall 26V452?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 26V452 is open on your Kona, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 26V452000 is open on your Kona, it will be listed there, along with Hyundai recall number 306. 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 Kona owners do about recall 26V452?
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 26V452000 applies to your Kona.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Hyundai dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any buckle assembly symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- 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 Kona owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the seat belts.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 26V452 was reported (1) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 105 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 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.
- 2024 Hyundai Kona: 52 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
- 2025 Hyundai Kona: 28 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2024 Hyundai Kona Electric: 15 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
- 2026 Hyundai Kona: 9 complaints in total, 1 about the seat belts
- 2025 Hyundai Kona Electric: 1 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
I purchased this vehicle new on July 28, 2026. NHTSA Recall 26V-452 / Hyundai Recall 306 was dated July 13, 2026, and the VIN showed the recall as incomplete when I discovered it. The dealer states that it was unaware of the recall at the time of sale.
2026 Hyundai Kona owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11758247, filed August 20, 2026
5 minutes into my drive my the whole dashboard (speedometer and music screen) all went black, & my headlights went out. this lasted for about 3 seconds. not sure what happened or why but not something that should happen with such a new car.
2024 Hyundai Kona owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11670123, filed June 29, 2025
Can recall 26V452 make my Kona 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 26V452000 does not automatically make your Kona 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))?
A seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2024-2026 Hyundai Kona affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt under California law.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2024-2026 Hyundai Kona has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
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.
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 Kona been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Hyundai Kona recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 26V452
Is the 26V452000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed September 2, 2026.
How do I know if my Kona is part of recall 26V452000?
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 26V452000 (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.