NHTSA safety recall National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Hyundai Kona Electric and Kona recall: The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain

Recall published 3 months ago

The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.

The hazard: Seat belt or seat defect

A seat or seat belt defect prompted this notice. Vehicles with this fault drive and feel entirely normal.

What the notice says: A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.

Why it matters: A seat belt, buckle, anchorage or seat frame may not restrain an occupant properly in a crash. The fault is invisible in normal driving because the part is never loaded until it is needed.

Recall details

Recall number
26V452000
Published
July 14, 2026
Risk level
NHTSA safety recall
Status
Open safety recall
Issued by
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Brand
Hyundai
Product type
Seat Belts
Distribution
Nationwide
Vehicles
Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric
Lot / code info
NHTSA campaign number 26V452000

Products covered by this recall

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.

Vehicles in this campaign

Check your product

The notice names 2 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Vehicle

Match this against the make and model on your registration.

  • Kona Electric
  • Kona

Codes are lifted verbatim from the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Seat belt

Hyundai — A seat or seat belt defect prompted this notice. Vehicles with this fault drive and feel entirely normal.

  1. Check every belt and seat in the vehicle for the symptom the notice describes, including the ones nobody usually sits in.
  2. Keep the repair order the dealer hands you. It is your proof the campaign was closed out, and it matters at resale.
  3. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you do anything else. A campaign covers a build range, not every car of that model year, and the VIN lookup is the only thing that confirms yours is included.
  4. Call any franchised dealer for the brand, give them the campaign number from this page, and ask them to confirm parts are in stock before you book — part supply, not labour, is what delays a fresh recall.

What the recall repair costs you

Nothing, and that is a legal obligation rather than a goodwill gesture. The question worth asking is what else is covered.

  • Recall work is free for as long as you own the vehicle, with no mileage limit, no age limit for the current owner, and no requirement that you bought the car from that dealer.
  • If you already paid an independent garage for the same fix, submit the invoice to the manufacturer under their reimbursement plan.
  • Get the closed campaign noted on your service record. Buyers and insurers both check.
  • Ask about a loaner or rental when you book, not when you arrive. On a parts-delayed campaign it is frequently available and almost never volunteered.

Remedy named in the notice: Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 306. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 15, 2026.

Company contact: Hyundai Motor America

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Hyundai seat belts recalled?

The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash. A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

The notice does not publish package codes for this recall. Compare the product name, size and the purchase window against the official NHTSA — Vehicle safety recalls record, and contact the company if you are unsure.

What should I do with it right now?

Check every belt and seat in the vehicle for the symptom the notice describes, including the ones nobody usually sits in.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 306. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 15, 2026.

Does the repair cost me anything?

No. Safety recall repairs are performed free of charge at a franchised dealer for as long as the campaign is open, whether or not the vehicle is still under warranty.

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