2021 Hyundai Elantra Seat Back Inspection & Replacement (Recall 204)

April 28, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V302000

Seat Back Recliners Improperly Welded

An improperly welded seat back recliner could separate from the seat back frame during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V302

Manufacturer Hyundai Motor America

Components SEATS

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,464

 

Summary

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Elantra vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat back recliners may have been improperly welded.

 

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the seat back frame assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-888-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 204.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check if your Hyundai has a Recall

 


 

 

Q&A

 

Q&A: Recall 204 – CN7 Seat Back Frame

Q1: What is the issue?

A1: The driver/passenger seat back frame assemblies in the subject vehicles may have been assembled with seat back recliners that were improperly welded during manufacturing by the seat frame supplier.

 

Q2: What are the affected vehicles?

A2: 1,464 model year 2021 Hyundai Elantra vehicles produced from October 19, 2020 through November 5, 2020 by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (“HMMA”) for sale in the U.S. market.

 

Q3: What is the safety concern?

A3: An improperly welded seat back recliner could lead to separation of the seat back from the frame in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.

 

Q4: Have there been any accidents or injuries?

A4: As of the date of this filing, Hyundai is not aware of any confirmed crashes or injuries attributable to the recall condition.

 

Q5: What will be done during the recall service at the dealer?

A5: Hyundai plans to notify owners to bring their vehicles to the nearest Hyundai dealership for inspection and, if necessary, replacement of the seat back frame assembly.

The remedy procedure will be performed at no charge. Hyundai will provide reimbursement to owners for repairs according to the plan submitted on May 16, 2018.

 

Q6: When will owners be notified?

A6: Owners will be mailed notification letters beginning in late June 2021.

 


IMPORTANT

*** Dealer Stock and Retail Vehicles ***

Dealers must perform this Recall prior to customer retail delivery and whenever an affected vehicle is in the shop for any maintenance or repair.

 

When a vehicle arrives at the Service Department, access Hyundai Motor America’s “Vehicle Information Screen (VIS)” via WEBDCS to identify open Campaigns.

 

Description: On certain 2021MY Elantra (CN7a) vehicles, the driver/passenger seat back frame assemblies may have been assembled with seat back recliners that were improperly welded during manufacturing. An improperly welded seat back recliner could lead to separation of the seat back from the frame in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to occupants. This bulletin describes the service procedure to inspect, and if necessary, replace the front seat back frame assembly.

 

Applicable Vehicles: Certain 2021MY Elantra (CN7a) vehicles

 

Parts Information:

PART NAMEPART NUMBER
FRAME ASSY-FRONT SEAT BACK [POWER] (LH)88310-AB030
FRAME ASSY-FRONT SEAT BACK [MANUAL] (LH)88310-AB010
FRAME ASSY-FRONT SEAT BACK (RH)88410-AB010

 

Service Procedure:

1. Remove the front seat back panels (A) on both LH and RH front seats by lifting in an upward motion while holding the top and bottom.

2. Loosen the seat covers on both LH and RH front seats by removing the J-clips and detaching the Velcro as shown in the photos.

 

3. Inspect the heat markings on the side rails of both LH and RH front seats.

If necessary, recline the seats past the center console.

Refer to the inspection criteria in the next step to determine if replacement is necessary.

 

  1. Review the inspection criteria below for No Good (NG) and Good (OK) seat back assemblies.

Using STUI, take clear picture(s) of the heat markings on both sides of the LH and RH front seats.

Please include the VIN or copy of the RO with the VIN in the STUI picture of the seats.

 

NOTICE

Refer to the “GDSM and STUI Tips” section on the Hyundai Tech Info website for the complete guide on how to capture pictures and videos using STUI.

 

5. If a front seat back does not meet the inspection criteria, replace the front seat back frame assembly.

The front seat back pad(s) and front seat cover(s) can be reused.

Refer to the shop manual section below for the front seat back frame replacement procedure:

Shop Manual ⇒ Body (Interior and Exterior) ⇒ Front Seat ⇒ Front Seat Frame Assembly

 

6. Reinstall all removed parts in the reverse  order of disassembly.

7. The service procedure is complete.

 


NHTSA Recall Number: 21V-302

Hyundai Recall Number: 204

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL

2021 Elantra

Front Seat Back Frame

 

This is an important Safety Recall.

  • Please contact your nearest Hyundai dealer to schedule the repair as soon as possible.
  • This repair will be performed at NO CHARGE to you.
  • To locate your nearest Hyundai dealer and schedule your appointment please visit:

www.HyundaiUSA.com/Campaign204

 

This notice applies to your Hyundai, VIN:

 

Dear

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. Hyundai has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in your vehicle, with the VIN shown above. Hyundai is conducting a safety recall in the United States to address a condition with the driver/passenger seat back frame assemblies in certain model year 2021 Hyundai Elantra vehicles produced for sale in the U.S. market.

What is the problem?

The driver/passenger seat back frame assemblies in the subject vehicles may have been assembled with seat back recliners that were improperly welded during manufacturing by the seat frame supplier. An improperly welded seat back recliner could lead to separation of the seat back from the frame in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury to occupants.

 

What will Hyundai do?

Your Hyundai dealer will inspect, and if necessary, replace the front seat back assemblies. This procedure will be performed at NO CHARGE to you.

 

What should you do?

Please contact your nearest Hyundai dealer to schedule the recall repair as soon as possible.

The actual time required to perform the repair will take less than one hour, however your vehicle may be needed longer. Therefore, we recommend scheduling a service appointment to minimize inconvenience. If the Malfunction Indicator Light is illuminated in your vehicle, you should seek service at your Hyundai dealer as soon as possible.

 

If you have other questions

If you require further assistance, you may contact the Hyundai Customer Care Center at 1-855-371-9460. If you believe that the dealer or Hyundai has failed or is unable to remedy the defect within a reasonable time, you may submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E., Washington, D.C. 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hot Line at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153), or go to https://www.safercar.gov.

 

Thank you for your attention to this important safety matter. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.

 

Hyundai Motor America

 

Importante Retiro del Mercado por Motivos de Seguridad — Si tiene preguntas llama 1-800-633-5151 y oprima “8”

 

If you are a vehicle lessor, Federal law requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

 

Reimbursement Notification

If you paid for repairs related to this recall prior to receiving this notification letter, you may submit your reimbursement request electronically or obtain additional information at www.HyundaiUSA.com/Campaign204 or 1-855-371-9460.

 

No longer own this vehicle?

Changes to your name, address, or if you no longer own this vehicle — Update your information online at: https://owners.hyundaiusa.com/content/myhyundai/us/en/contact-us/update-vehicle-ownership.html

You can easily connect to this web page by using your cell phone to point your camera (or QR code reader app) at the code below. Then select the link which will be displayed on your phone.

 


RECALL 204 ATTACHMENT A

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS LEADING UP TO DEFECT DECISION

 

  • December 2020

On December 1, 2020, HMMA became aware of a warranty claim involving a model year 2021 Hyundai Elantra vehicle alleging potential improper welding of the seat back frame assembly.  The incident part was requested for further evaluation and received on December 8, 2020.  HMMA immediately sent the incident part to the seat assembly supplier for further inspection and analysis.  Upon conclusion of its investigation, the supplier notified HMMA that the laser weld lens protective cover was replaced due to damage, affecting its laser weld output, on October 20, 2020.  The supplier implemented an inspection requirement for all end-of-line products to assess containment and potential flow-out.  HMMA began monitoring incoming warranty claims for field incidents.

 

  • January 2021

On January 8, 2021, HMMA reviewed a second warranty claim alleging potential improper welding of the seat back frame assembly in a 2021 Elantra vehicle.  During this time, the supplier conducted reliability testing using “worst case” test parts; however, according to testing results sent to HMMA on January 22, 2021, no abnormalities regarding weld strength was found on any of the test samples.

 

  • February 2021 – March 2021

On Feb 8, 2021, HMMA informed HMC of its investigation findings.  HMMA requested the supplier to conduct additional seat back weld strength testing using certain conditions observed in analyzed warranty data.  On March 30, 2021, the supplier informed HMMA that the test samples did not meet strength requirements while testing under the revised conditions.

 

  • April 2021

On April 9, 2021, HMMA informed HMA’s NASO of its pending investigation into the seat back frame weld condition on the subject vehicles.  NASO met with HMMA on April 19, 2021 to discuss HMMA’s findings.  NASO also quickly conducted a U.S. market study and identified five (5) warranty claims potentially related to the subject condition.  Based on these findings, on April 21, 2021, HMA convened its North American Safety Decision Authority (“NASDA”) and decided to conduct a safety recall to address the subject condition in all affected vehicles in the U.S. market.

 

As of the date of this filing, Hyundai is not aware of any crashes or injuries attributable to the recall condition.

 


 


1 Affected Product

Vehicle

MAKEMODELYEAR
HYUNDAIELANTRA2021

 


9 Associated Documents

Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2021-2

RCLQRT-21V302-3673.PDF 211.134KB

 


Recall 573 Report – Amendment 1

RCLRPT-21V302-1483.PDF 213.311KB

 


Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-21V302-5788.pdf 328.452KB

 


Remedy Instructions and TSB

RCRIT-21V302-1393.pdf 852.018KB

 


Chronology

RMISC-21V302-8738.pdf 85.696KB

 


Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-21V302-5936.pdf 645.966KB

 


Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V302-4603.PDF 213.278KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Front Seat Back Frame Inspection & Replacement

RCMN-21V302-3557.pdf 325.119KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2021-4

RCLQRT-21V302-6017.PDF 211.325KB

 


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