Recall date: 4/6/2026
NHTSA ID: 26V218
MFr. Campaign Number: 298-032G
Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Affected Components: Front Seat Belt Assembly (Snap-on Lower Anchor)
Potential Number of Units Affected: ~294,128
This recall covers four model lines across the 2023–2026 Hyundai and Genesis lineup, spanning gas, hybrid, and electric powertrains. Hyundai estimates that approximately 1% of the 294,128 vehicles in the recall population carry the defect, meaning roughly 2,900 vehicles are likely affected.
The defect involves the front seat belt’s snap-on lower anchor. In affected vehicles, the anchor may not be sufficiently attached to the seat frame. The root cause is not a manufacturing flaw at the assembly plant; Hyundai’s review of assembly and in-plant repair records found no issues there. The damage occurs in the field when the snap-on anchor is removed or reinstalled improperly during routine maintenance or seat repair. Forceful or incorrect handling of the anchor can compromise it in a way that is not visible to the driver but leaves the seat belt inadequately secured to the frame.
There is no warning that a seat belt anchor has been compromised. The belt appears to function normally and latches as expected. The risk surfaces in a crash, when the anchor is placed under load, and a weakened attachment point may give way, reducing the restraint system’s ability to protect the occupant. Hyundai is aware of six U.S. reports related to insufficiently attached seatbelt anchors. There are no crashes, injuries, or fatalities attributed to this condition in the U.S.
The fix requires a dealer visit. Technicians will inspect the front seat belt anchor on affected vehicles and apply a reinforcement insert to the snap-on lower anchor. If the anchor cannot be adequately reinforced, the full seat belt assembly will be replaced. The repair is covered at no cost to owners, regardless of whether the vehicle is still under Hyundai’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Hyundai will also reimburse owners who previously paid out of pocket for a related repair, in accordance with the reimbursement plan submitted to NHTSA on March 2, 2026.
VINs became searchable in the NHTSA recall database on April 8, 2026. Both dealers and owners are scheduled to receive notification by June 5, 2026, as a phased recall. Owners can verify their vehicle’s recall status at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
This recall traces back to September 30, 2025, when Hyundai’s North America Safety Office (NASO) received a Consumer Affairs case flagging the defect condition on a 2025 Santa Fe. Within weeks, NHTSA shared Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) alleging detached front seatbelt anchor clips in rear-end collisions, and the investigation expanded.
The investigation was methodical. NASO visited Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) in December 2025 to review installation processes and quality controls, and recovered parts from VOQ vehicles that confirmed the presence of damaged anchor clips. The assembly line was cleared as a source. By January 2026, NASO had replicated the damage through forceful removal of the snap-on anchor, consistent with what happens when a technician removes or reinstalls the anchor incorrectly during a seat repair. Additional field inspections of auction vehicles in January and February through March 2026 found no spontaneous issues, reinforcing that the damage is service-induced rather than inherent to the part.
On March 30, 2026, Hyundai’s North America Safety Decision Authority (NASDA) decided to conduct a recall. A redesigned snap-on anchor was implemented across all affected models in production by March 2026. The Part 573 report was submitted to NHTSA on April 6, 2026.
For a full view of Hyundai’s recall activity and other major OEM recalls this quarter, see BizzyCar’s most recent quarterly recall report.
Read the latest BizzyCar Quarterly Recall Report
With 294,128 vehicles in the recall population and owner notification not scheduled until June 5, there is a two-month window where affected Santa Fe, IONIQ 6, and Genesis G90 owners have no official word from Hyundai. For Hyundai and Genesis dealers carrying these models in their customer database, that gap is time that can be put to use.
BizzyCar’s Recall Outreach product identifies which vehicles in a dealer’s customer base carry open recalls and reaches those owners through automated two-way SMS, before NHTSA letters arrive, before the service drive backs up, and before customers are left in the dark. A seat belt inspection and anchor reinforcement is a quick service visit. For dealers, proactive outreach on a straightforward safety fix is one of the cleanest ways to bring a customer back through the door. Book a Demo