Ford, Hyundai and Kia Issue Recalls for Air Bags
The recalls, triggered by defective side curtain air bags, affect more than 13,300 SUVs in the 2018 model year.
Photo of Ford Escape courtesy of Ford.
Photo of Ford Escape courtesy of Ford.
Three automakers — Ford, Hyundai and Kia — are issuing recalls so their dealers can replace faulty side-curtain air bags manufactured by Autoliv, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In these vehicles, the driver- and passenger-side curtain air bags may have a subcomponent — called a top hat diffuser — that can detach and cause the air bags to malfunction. Additionally, the diffuser might become a projectile during air bag deployment, posing a safety risk to vehicle occupants, NHTSA said.
Ford is recalling 10,157 2018 Escape SUVs, Hyundai is recalling 1,201 2018 Santa Fe Sport SUVs, and Kia is recalling 2,014 2018 Sorento SUVs for the problem.
The Ford recall (17S44) is expected to begin Jan. 29. The Hyundai recall (171) is expected to begin Feb. 9. The Kia recall (SC159) is set to get under way this month.
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