The problem
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 201, "Occupant protection in interior impact." During testing, the 3-door hatchback exceeded the performance criterion in the standard midway along the length of the windshield support pillar (a-pillar).
The risk
An occupant's head that contacts the a-pillar during a crash could experience an increased risk of a head injury as a result of this condition.
The fix
Dealers will install new energy management brackets to support the a-pillar covers and increase the energy absorbing performance of the a-pillar in the relevant area. Owner notification began october 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact hyundai at 1-800-633-5151.
Contacts
Customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Hyundai dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 02V167000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.