Hyundai recalls 205,233 SUVs in U.S. on front air bag defect

Hyundai Motor Co. said it is recalling 205,233 Santa Fe and Veracruz sport-utility vehicles in the U.S. because front air bags may not deploy when needed.



Hyundai said the electrical parts used to deploy air bags may not conduct current properly, causing them to not work in the event of a crash. The automaker announced the recall today on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Web site.



Hyundai told the regulator in a Sept. 8 letter posted on the Web site that it has received about 7,800 warranty claims for air-bag defects in the vehicles and isn't aware of any accidents or injuries caused by it.



In the year model 2007-2008 SUVs being recalled, the clock spring contact assembly for drivers' front air bags may become damaged, leading the air bag's electrical circuit to experience high resistance and potentially causing it to not deploy, Hyundai told the regulator. If this happens, the air-bag warning light on the instrument panel will turn on.



"Hyundai is voluntarily initiating this action to ensure the safety and quality of vehicles and the continued satisfaction of our customers," Miles Johnson, a U.S.-based spokesman, said in an e-mail.