What Happened
Both Hyundai and Kia have issued a recall that will affect 1.9 million vehicles due to problems with air bags and brake light switches. Of the two issues the brake light switch malfunction is responsible for 1.7 million of the vehicles. This problem is a faulty switch in the vehicle that can stop the brake lights from illuminating when the brakes are applied. Also, the cruise control may not turn off when a driver steps on the brake, push-to-start buttons may not work, and a feature that stops the driver from shifting out of park without a foot on the brake may fail. According to the NHTSA, “Failure to illuminate the stop lamps during braking or inability to disengage the cruise control could increase the risk of a crash.”
Hyundai models affected by the brake light switch recall include the 2007 to 2009 Accent and Tucson, the 2007 to 2010 Elantra, the 2011 Sonata, the 2007 to 2011 Santa Fe, the 2008 to 2009 Veracruz and the 2010 to 2011 Genesis Coupe. Kia models include the 2007 to 2010 Rondo and Sportage, the 2011 Optima, the 2007 to 2011 Sorento, the 2010 to 2011 Soul and the 2007 Sedona.In the Elantra air bag recall, a support bracket can come loose when the side air bags are inflated and cause injuries.
The air bag recall was issued by Hyundai for 194,000 of its 2011 to 2013 Elantra because a bracket can come loose when the side air bags are inflated and injure passengers.
Here is a picture of an Elantra effected by the air bag recall.
The Personal Injury Lawyers’ Perspective
In recent years it seems that more and more cars are being recalled for vehicles that use cheaper parts on multiple models. However, these cheaper parts can easily lead to malfunctions that may cause the consumer to become injured. In 2009-2010 a recall was issued for more than 8 million Toyota vehicles involving sticky accelerator pedals that allegedly led to 34 deaths.
It’s common for auto manufacturers to blame the driver in the event of an accident when in reality the accident was caused due to a defect in the design of the car. When safety is a concern it’s important to hold the manufacturer responsible for their mistakes. If you or a loved one has been injured in a situation involving a recalled vehicle, you should contact a Virginia (VA) personal injury attorney for a confidential analysis of your legal rights. When choosing an attorney, you will want to choose a Virginia (VA) defective product lawyer with a proven track record of success and is not afraid to fight for their clients.
Potentially Helpful Info
Defective and dangerous products come in all shapes and sizes, from cars to cribs. If you or a family member has been injured, sickened or killed by an unsafe product you can begin to learn about your legal rights and options by reading this free guide.
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We maintain a library of attorneys’ answers to frequently asked questions regarding recalled products.
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