U.S. Government Launches Investigation Into Hyundai And Kia Airbags

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation Friday into problems with air bags in Hyundai and Kia vehicles. NHTSA says it is currently aware of six crashes in which air bags failed to deploy. The crashes led to four deaths and six injuries.

The models being investigated are 2011 Hyundai Sonatas and 2012 and 2013 Kia Fortes, according to a document posted on the NHTSA website. The scope of the probe includes an estimated 425,000 vehicles.

Four of the crashes in question involved Hyundai vehicles and two of the crashes involved Kia vehicles, the document states. According to a statement from Hyundai spokesperson Jim Trainor, the company knows of "three rare and unique accidents where airbag control circuitry was confirmed to be damaged, and a fourth accident is under investigation."

The specific concern with the air bags is an electrical overstress condition (EOS), which happens when an electronic device experiences a current or voltage beyond its specified limit. In this case, according to the NHTSA document, the device affected air bag control units supplied by the auto part manufacturer ZF-TRW. The air bag control units in the Hyundai models detect collisions, control the deployment of air bags and can also tighten seat belts in anticipation of a crash. The NHTSA document says the agency understands the 2012 and 2013 Kia Fortes being investigated also used similar ZF-TRW-supplied air bag control units.

Hyundai was already aware of problems with air bag control units as of Feb. 27, when the company filed a defect information report that led to a recall of 154,751 model-year 2011 Hyundai Sonatas. Trainor confirmed to NPR that the NHTSA investigation opened yesterday is directly related to this recall, and Hyundai will notify all affected vehicle-owners about further recalls by April 20. A spokesperson for Kia could not be reached for comment.

The NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation will be looking into whether the scope of Hyundai's recall was appropriate, whether the Kia vehicles in question in fact used the same or similar air bag control units and what led the air bag control units to malfunction. The investigation will also look into which other manufacturers used the same or similar ZF-TRW air bag control units. The NHTSA document says the Office of Defects Investigation is already aware of a previous recall in which the air bag control units of certain Fiat Chrysler vehicles also seemed to experience electrical overstress condition.

In 2014, NPR's Eyder Peralta reported that Hyundai and Kia agreed to pay a $100 million civil penalty and $250 million in other punitive measures after they overstated the gas mileage on 1.2 million vehicles. The settlement, which the Justice Department deemed "unprecedented," is the largest civil penalty in Clean Air Act history.

Hyundai acquired part of Kia after Kia filed for bankruptcy in 2007. According to Hyundai's website, Kia "still operates independently" and has separate design, marketing and branding departments.</s>The United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into a series of deadly crashes in which airbags in Hyundai and Kia cars failed to inflate.

The administration's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) "is currently aware of six crashes with significant collision related damage events involving Hyundai and Kia models where air bags failed to deploy in frontal crashes," which killed four people and injured six, it said in document on its website.

The "failure of the air bag control unit (ACU) may prevent the frontal air bags from deploying in the event of a crash," it said.

Hyundai filed a report on the issue at the end of last month that led to a recall, but "has not identified a remedy."

The ODI investigation, which was opened Friday, will evaluate the scope of the Hyundai recall, determine if Kia and other manufactures are using the same or similar air bag control unit as Hyundai, and review factors that may be causing the failures, it said.

An estimated 425,000 cars may be affected by the issue.</s>The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Saturday it is opening a probe into why some airbags failed to deploy in Hyundai and Kia vehicles after crashes in which four people were reportedly killed and another six injured. The agency said it was reviewing 425,000 2012-2013 Kia Forte and 2011 Hyundai Sonata cars. It also said it will determine if any other manufacturers used similar airbag control units and if they posed a safety risk. Hyundai Motor Co issued a recall last month for 154,753 US Sonatas after non-deployment reports were linked to electrical over stress in the airbag control unit, but said it did not have a final fix yet.

Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor said the South Korean automaker is aware of reports of two deaths in its vehicles, which he said occurred in head-on collisions at extremely high rates of speed. Trainor said the automaker is working with NHTSA in the investigation, and that it has not seen any issues with any vehicle apart from the 2011 Sonata. "We are working on getting the fix as fast we can," Trainor said.

NHTSA, which announced the start of the probe in documents posted on a government website, said it was aware of six crashes in which six people were injured when airbags failed to deploy in frontal crashes, including four in 2011 Hyundai Sonatas and two in 2012 and 2013 Kia Fortes. The 2013 Forte crash occurred in Canada.

The agency said the airbag control module was built by ZF Friedrichshafen-TRW, a German auto supplier that acquired TRW Automotive Holdings Corp in 2015.

"ZF is aware of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's recently announced investigation," a ZF spokesman said in a statement. "ZF continues to work with its customers and NHTSA to support the ongoing investigation."

NHTSA said it believed that the 2012-2013 Forte cars also use similar airbag control units supplied by ZF-TRW. Kia Motors Corp said in a statement it has "carefully monitored the quality and safety performance of the 2012-2013 Kia Forte."

The company added it "has not confirmed any airbag non-deployments arising from the potential chip issue." Kia said it will work closely with NHTSA on the investigation, "including monitoring and conducting additional crash testing as appropriate."

The agency also said that electrical overstress appeared to be the root cause of a 2016 recall by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles of 1.4 million U.S. vehicles for airbag non-deployments in significant frontal crashes.

In 2014, Hyundai agreed to pay a $17.35 million fine to settle an NHTSA investigation into delays in the recall of 43,500 Genesis cars to fix a brake defect. NHTSA said in 2014 Hyundai "must change the way they deal with safety-related defects." Hyundai vowed to make improvements.

In 2017, NHTSA opened a formal investigation into the recall of nearly 1.7 million vehicles by Hyundai and Kia over engine defects. A South Korean whistleblower reported concerns in 2016 to NHTSA, which is probing the timeliness of three recalls carried out in the United States and whether they covered enough vehicles.

For the latest auto news and reviews, follow CarAndBike on Twitter, Facebook, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.</s>The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into a series of deadly crashes in which airbags in Hyundai and Kia cars failed to inflate.

The administration's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) "is currently aware of six crashes with significant collision-related damage events involving Hyundai and Kia models where airbags failed to deploy in frontal crashes," which four people died and six were hurt, its website said.

The "failure of the airbag control unit (ACU) may prevent the frontal airbags from deploying in the event of a crash," it said.

Hyundai filed a report on the issue at the end of February that led to a recall, but the firm said it had not yet "identified a remedy."

The recall involved 155,000 Hyundai Sonata vehicles produced between December 2009 and September 2010 at their plant in the southern state of Alabama.

"Hyundai is aware of three rare and unique accidents where airbag control circuitry was confirmed to be damaged and a fourth accident is under investigation," the South Korean automaker said.

"We are actively investigating what exactly causes the airbag control unit to become damaged in these specific types of accidents," it said.

Kia is partially owned by Hyundai, and together they form the world's fifth largest automaking group. A Kia spokesperson was unavailable for comment.

The ODI investigation, which was opened Friday, will evaluate the scope of the recall, will determine if Kia and other manufacturers are using the same or similar airbag control unit as Hyundai, and review factors that may be causing the failures, it said.

An estimated 425,000 cars may be affected by the issue.</s>FILE - In this April 26, 2017, file photo, the logo of the Hyundai Motor Co. is displayed at the automaker's showroom in Seoul, South Korea. Air bags in some Hyundai and Kia cars failed to inflate in crashes and four people are dead. Now the U.S. government's road safety agency wants to know why. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it's investigating problems that affect an estimated 425,000 cars made by the Korean automakers. The agency also is looking into whether the same problem could happen in vehicles made by other companies. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)

The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened an investigation into a series of deadly crashes in which airbags in Hyundai and Kia cars failed to inflate.

The administration's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) "is currently aware of six crashes with significant collision-related damage events involving Hyundai and Kia models where airbags failed to deploy in frontal crashes," which four people died and six were hurt, its website said.

The "failure of the airbag control unit (ACU) may prevent the frontal airbags from deploying in the event of a crash," it said.

Hyundai filed a report on the issue at the end of February that led to a recall, but the firm said it had not yet "identified a remedy."

The recall involved 155,000 Hyundai Sonata vehicles produced between December 2009 and September 2010 at their plant in the southern state of Alabama.

"Hyundai is aware of three rare and unique accidents where airbag control circuitry was confirmed to be damaged and a fourth accident is under investigation," the South Korean automaker said.

"We are actively investigating what exactly causes the airbag control unit to become damaged in these specific types of accidents," it said.

Kia is partially owned by Hyundai, and together they form the world's fifth largest automaking group. A Kia spokesperson was unavailable for comment.

The ODI investigation, which was opened Friday, will evaluate the scope of the recall, will determine if Kia and other manufacturers are using the same or similar airbag control unit as Hyundai, and review factors that may be causing the failures, it said.

An estimated 425,000 cars may be affected by the issue.</s>Following four fatal crashes in which frontal airbags did not deploy federal regulators are investigating whether about 425,000 Hyundai and Kia models should be recalled.

That’s according to a report posted Saturday on the website of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The action comes less than a month after Hyundai told federal officials it was recalling almost 155,000 2011 Sonata models because an electronic component could fail due to “electrical overstress” and prevent the airbags from deploying.

In that recall Hyundai was aware of three accidents in which airbags did not deploy, resulting in two deaths and three injuries in head-on crashes at “high rates of speed,” spokesman Jim Trainor said in an email.

In its report Saturday, N.H.T.S.A. said it is now aware of six crashes that were severe enough that the airbags should have deployed - but did not. Four involved the 2011 Sonatas, a mid-size sedan. The others were 2012 and 2013 Fortes, a compact model made by Hyundai’s sister company, Kia.

While some frontal crashes may be so severe that they are not survivable, the agency's concern is that the airbags - which can mitigate injuries - should have deployed.

The agency said its investigation will focus on whether Hyundai has recalled enough vehicles and whether Hyundai and Kia used the same component to trigger the airbags. If so, a recall may be required by Kia.</s>DETROIT – Airbags in some Hyundai and Kia cars failed to inflate in crashes and four people are dead. Now the U.S. government’s road safety agency wants to know why.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it’s investigating problems that affect an estimated 425,000 cars made by the Korean automakers. The agency also is looking into whether the same problem could happen in vehicles made by other companies.

In documents posted on its website Saturday, the safety agency says the probe covers 2011 Hyundai Sonata midsize cars and 2012 and 2013 Kia Forte compacts. The agency says it has reports of six front-end crashes with significant damage to the cars. Four people died and six were injured.

The problem has been traced to electrical circuit shorts in airbag control computers made by parts supplier ZF-TRW. NHTSA now wants to know if other automakers used the same computer.

On Feb. 27, Hyundai recalled nearly 155,000 Sonatas due to airbag failures, which the company blamed on the short circuits. Hyundai’s sister automaker Kia, which sells similar vehicles, has yet to issue a recall.

In a statement Saturday, Kia said that it has not confirmed any airbag non-deployments in its 2002-2013 Kia Forte models arising from “the potential chip issue.” The company said it will work with NHTSA investigators.

“Kia will act promptly to conduct a safety recall, if it determines that a recall would be appropriate,” the company said.

But a consumer complaint cited in NHTSA’s investigation documents said Kia was informed of a crash near Oakland in which airbags failed to deploy and a passenger was killed.

In October 2015, the complainant told NHTSA that a 2012 Forte was involved in a serious front-end crash that occurred in July 2013. A passenger was killed and the driver was injured. According to the complaint, Kia was notified, the airbag computer was tested and it was “found not to be working.”

People who complain to the NHTSA are not identified in its database. It was unclear whether the agency verified the complainant’s statement. A message was left Saturday for agency spokeswomen.

Kia spokesman James Bell said he could not comment beyond the company’s statement.

In addition, no deaths or injuries were disclosed in Hyundai’s recall documents, which were posted by NHTSA in early March.

Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor says the problem occurred in rare high-speed head-on collisions that were offset from the center of the vehicles. “It’s very unusual to have that kind of collision,” he said Saturday.

Dealers will consider offering loaner cars to owners until the problem can be repaired, he said. “We certainly would do everything we can to help our customers,” Trainor said.

Hyundai said in a statement that the airbag control circuitry was damaged in three crashes and a fourth crash is under investigation.

ZF-TRW said in a statement that it is prevented by confidentiality agreements from identifying other automakers who bought its airbag control computers. The company said it is working with customers and supports the NHTSA investigation.

According to NHTSA, Hyundai investigated and found the problem was “electrical overstress” in the computers. The company didn’t have a fix developed at the time but said it was investigating the problem with ZF-TRW. Hyundai does not yet have a fix for the problem but said it expects the Sonata recall to start April 20. The problem also can stop the seat belts from tightening before a crash.

In the documents, NHTSA said it understands that the Kia Fortes under investigation use similar airbag control computers made by ZF-TRW. The agency noted a 2016 recall involving more than 1.4 million Fiat Chrysler cars and SUVs that had a similar problem causing the airbags not to deploy. Agency documents show those vehicles had airbag computers made by ZF-TRW.

The agency says it will evaluate the scope of Hyundai’s recall, confirm Kia’s use of the same or similar airbag control computers and look into the cause. It also will investigate whether “any other vehicle manufacturers used the same or similar” ZF-TRW computers and whether there have been any similar airbag failures.

The agency says four crashes occurred in Sonatas and two happened in Fortes. One Forte crash happened in Canada. All six crashes were reported to NHTSA between 2012 and 2017, but it was unclear when they occurred.

In May of last year, NHTSA opened an investigation into whether Hyundai and Kia moved quickly enough to recall more than 1.6 million cars and SUVs because the engines can stall, increasing the risk of a crash. The investigation into three recalls by the two brands is pending. The agency also said it’s investigating whether the automakers followed safety reporting requirements.</s>WASHINGTON - The United States (US) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Saturday it is opening a probe into why some airbags failed to deploy in Hyundai and Kia vehicles after crashes in which four people were reportedly killed and another six injured.

The agency said it was reviewing 425,000 2012-2013 Kia Forte and 2011 Hyundai Sonata cars. It also said it will determine if any other manufacturers used similar airbag control units and if they posed a safety risk.

Hyundai Motor Co issued a recall last month for 154,753 US Sonatas after non-deployment reports were linked to electrical overstress in the airbag control unit, but said it did not have a final fix yet.

Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor said the South Korean automaker is aware of reports of two deaths in its vehicles, which he said occurred in head-on collisions at extremely high rates of speed. Trainor said the automaker is working with the NHTSA in the investigation, and that it has not seen any issues with any vehicle apart from the 2011 Sonata.

“We are working on getting the fix as fast we can,” Trainor said.

NHTSA, which announced the start of the probe in documents posted on a government website, said it was aware of six crashes in which six people were injured when airbags failed to deploy in frontal crashes, including four in 2011 Hyundai Sonatas and two in 2012 and 2013 Kia Fortes. The 2013 Forte crash occurred in Canada.

The agency said the airbag control module was built by ZF Friedrichshafen-TRW, a German auto supplier that acquired TRW Automotive Holdings Corp in 2015. A ZF spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Saturday.

Kia Motors Corp did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

NHTSA said it believed that the 2012-2013 Forte cars also use similar airbag control units supplied by ZF-TRW.

The agency also said that electrical overstress appeared to be the root cause in a 2016 recall by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles of 1.4 million US vehicles for airbag non-deployments in significant frontal crashes.</s>March 18 (UPI) -- The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating several Hyundai and Kia vehicles after air bag failures caused deaths in multiple crashes.

The front air bags failed to deploy in six crashes, which resulted in a total of four deaths and six injuries, according to an investigation report by the Office of Defects Investigation.

Four of the crashes involved Hyundai Sonatas made in 2011 and the other two involved Kia Fortes made in 2012 and 2013.

Hyundai recalled nearly 155,000 Sonatas after determining electrical overstress caused the airbags to fail to inflate in three of the crashes.

The cause of the crashes is being investigate with the air bag control unit supplier ZF-TRW, which provides similar components to Hyundai and Kia.

"We are actively investigating what exactly causes the airbag control unit to become damaged in these specific types of accidents, but are announcing this recall now to ensure the safety of our customers," Hyundai said in a statement, according to Bloomberg.

Kia also issued a statement saying it "remains focused on the safety of its customers and it will work closely with NHTSA on the ongoing investigation, including monitoring and conducting additional crash testing as appropriate."

The NHTSA's investigation seeks to evaluate the scope of Hyundai's recall, confirm Kia's use of similar airbag control units, review the root cause analysis of all involved parties and review factors relating to the airbag control units or the vehicles that may be causing the failures.</s>Having already been named 2018 Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) earlier this year, Kia still had a little bit more work to do for before its Optima model became worthy of snatching the top accolade from the organization.Called Top Safety Pick+, the distinction requires a vehicle to get a good rating in the driver-side roof strength and head restraint tests, an acceptable or good rating in the passenger-side crash tests and advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention systems. Good headlight rating is also mandatory.For Optima , that meant making some adjustments so that the car faired better during passenger-side small overlap front crashes. Although built on the same platform as the Hyundai Sonata, the Optima was slightly different when it came to sturdiness on the passenger side, and for that to improve some changes had to be made.Starting this January, Kia modified the construction of the model by reinforcing the passenger-side door sill, lower door-hinge pillar and toepan, to match the Sonata.“IIHS has verified that the car's passenger-side structure is now functionally identical to the Sonata's, so the Sonata's passenger-side rating applies to the Optima,” says the organization.According to IIHS, the models’ optional front crash prevention system performed very well during track tests at 12 mph and 25 mph, allowing the model to avoid collisions altogether.The Hyundai-Kia branded cars are IIHS favorites, this year alone several of their cars getting Top Safety Picks. The last to do so was the Hyundai Elantra IIHS’ rating system is based on five tests to determine which car gets the awards each year. Together with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), IIHS rates cars on how safe they are for both occupants and pedestrians.The two organizations have different testing methods, detailed here
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States launches an investigation into potential defects in the airbag control systems of some Kia and Hyundai models.