2013 Hyundai Santa Fe on 2040-cars

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2012-2013 Hyundai Azera recalled for passenger airbag fault

Hyundai is recalling 5,200 units of its Azera sedan over a possible airbag sensor malfunction. The occupant detection system in models built between May 22, 2012 and November 23, 2012 might not be able to tell what kind of passenger (adult, child, or child seat) is in the front seat, which could cause improper deployment of the airbag.
Azeras from the 2012 and 2013 model year are affected. Hyundai hasn't yet said when owners will be notified, but once that happens, they'll be able to take their sedans to dealers to have the system recalibrated free of charge. There's a bulletin from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration below with more information.

Hyundai Palisade three-row crossover interior spied for the first time

Most other mainstream automakers have full-size three-row crossovers, but not the two Korean automakers. That's about to change. The Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade have both been previewed in concept form, but are making their way into the public eye. These new spy photos give us a good look at the new Hyundai's interior. It looks like a more premium environment than the one in the recently introduced 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe. Specifically, note the separate bands of silver buttons and other bits of alloy trim. These are different pieces than what you'll find in other Hyundai models, and are almost reminiscent of the original Hyundai Genesis cabin. However, it does seem to share the new Santa Fe's floating center screen and steering wheel. It's difficult to see if the digital instrument cluster carries over, too. The rear seats have been folded completely flat and we can see what appears to be power-folding controls. There also seem to be bins on each side of the third row, but they could also just be missing cupholder units. That seems likely since cupholder count is a pretty key three-row family crossover element (the Subaru Ascent has 19). The exterior is upright and boxy, though it's difficult to see through the camouflage if some of the Santa Fe's curves carried over. Even through the covering, the grille and headlights are definitely familiar. Expect some other elements from the Hyundai Grandmaster concept to make it to production, too. Related Video: Featured Gallery Hyundai Palisade 3-Row Crossover Spy Photos View 14 Photos Image Credit: KGP Photography Spy Photos Hyundai Crossover SUV hyundai palisade

Are old airbags killers?

Takata airbags may not be the only ones with some very serious problems. A new report from TheDetroitBureau.com claims that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened its second investigation into bad airbag inflators, and this time, they aren't from Takata. The focus of this latest case is on the airbag inflators in some 500,000 older Chrysler Town and Country minivans and Kia Optima sedans, all of which come from ARC Automotive. While the Takata case looks at problems stemming from the engineering and production process, the ARC investigation focuses on the age of the inflators. As TDB explains, airbag inflators are essentially what the military refers to as shaped charges, sort of like Claymores (for fans of the Call of Duty series). In combat, they blow up in a specific direction, protecting those behind the explosion, although in the case of airbags, the explosion "[creates] a precise rush of hot gases" that inflate the bags. NHTSA's worry is that with the increased average age of today's vehicles, years and years of being bounced, jolted, and shaken about and exposed to often-radical temperature changes have altered the nature of the explosives in these vehicles, causing too big of an explosion. "It may be a reasonable assumption that as these things age they deteriorate." – Analyst George Peterson "It may be a reasonable assumption that as these things age they deteriorate," analyst George Peterson told TheDetroitBureau.com. NHTSA boss Mark Rosekind backed up aging angle. "Cars are lasting on the road a lot longer than ever before," Rosekind told TDB, adding that seals could start breaking down. "Is aging now an issue? That's part of the investigation going on." NHTSA has only identified two "incidents" so far, although according to Center for Auto Safety Director Clarence Ditlow, there's genuine concern that there could be additional unidentified cases. "Could we have missed more? That could be the case," Ditlow told TDB, citing the misidentified deaths in the Takata investigation. Ditlow was quick to point out that, even in older vehicles, airbags are much more likely to protect than harm. "No one is saying you should disable your airbags," the safety advocate told TDB. "You're far more likely to be helped than hurt by one if they go off." At least one automaker, meanwhile, has already been advised of the investigation by NHTSA and is checking its airbags.