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Hyundai airbag recalls: are Santa Fe and Palisade curtain airbags safe?
Side curtain airbags are the thread running through Hyundai's airbag recalls. Mounting bolts that can damage the bags during deployment hit the 2019 Santa Fe and 2020 Palisade, both fixed with a protective cover; a component that can detach hit the 2018 Santa Fe Sport; improper installation hit 2025-2026 Tucson, Santa Cruz, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid and 2026 Genesis GV70; and third-row curtain deployment fails FMVSS 226 on 2020-2025 Palisade. Santa Fe and Palisade repeat most. The occupant detection system appears twice — a 2021 Santa Fe module that may not switch the airbag off for a child seat, and 2024 Palisades with dark premium suede seats that may not detect an occupant. Wiring chafe, B-pillar sensors and a driver airbag emblem round out the group.
Warning signs to watch for
- The passenger airbag OFF indicator staying on with someone sitting in the seat (2024 Palisade with suede seats)
- The passenger airbag failing to switch off when a child restraint is installed (2021 Santa Fe)
- Airbags deploying unintentionally, which the chafed 2024 Santa Fe wiring harness can cause
- Most of these give no warning at all — the vehicle drives normally and the defect only shows up in a crash
Is it safe to keep driving?
No Hyundai airbag recall here orders owners to stop driving or park outside, and none of these defects changes how the vehicle drives. The restrictions are about who sits where. On the 2021 Santa Fe, do not place a child restraint in the front passenger seat until the occupant detection module is replaced — Hyundai reported all affected vehicles remedied as of May 2021. On the 2024 Palisade, a front passenger rides without airbag protection until the software update. The 2024 Santa Fe wiring chafe should not wait.
What the free repair involves
Remedies match the defect and are all free. Dealers replace curtain airbags, install protective covers over the mounting bolts, or reinstall bags fitted incorrectly. For occupant detection, one recall replaces the module and another updates software at the dealer — not over the air. Others inspect and repair or replace the chafed wiring harness, replace B-pillar impact sensors or the driver airbag, and add protective film with padding removed on Palisades.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 8 |
| medium | 2 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-21 | Hyundai Elantra and Tucson airbags may deploy late | high |
| 2026-01-23 | Hyundai Palisade third-row curtain airbags may deploy improperly | medium |
| 2025-11-21 | Hyundai SUVs: side curtain airbags may be installed wrong | high |
| 2024-07-26 | Hyundai Santa Fe wiring may cause airbag problems | high |
| 2023-08-25 | Hyundai Palisade passenger airbag may switch itself off | high |
| 2022-08-18 | Hyundai Elantra driver airbag emblem may break loose | medium |
| 2021-03-17 | Hyundai Santa Fe airbag may not switch off for child seats | high |
| 2019-11-07 | Hyundai Palisade side curtain airbags may not inflate properly | high |
| 2018-10-11 | Hyundai Santa Fe side airbags may be damaged | high |
| 2017-12-13 | Hyundai Santa Fe Sport side curtain airbags may fail | high |
Common questions
Why do so many Hyundai recalls involve the side curtain airbags?
Across this group the curtain bags are damaged or compromised in different ways — mounting bolts cutting them, a component detaching, incorrect installation, and third-row deployment that fails FMVSS 226. The shared result is an airbag that may not protect occupants as intended.
My Palisade shows the passenger airbag off with someone seated there.
On 2024 Palisades with dark premium suede seats, the occupant detection system may fail to detect an occupant and deactivate the passenger-side front airbags. Dealers update the ODS software free of charge; owner letters were mailed September 26, 2023.
Is the third-row Palisade curtain airbag recall fixed yet?
It covers 2020-2025 Palisades and is at the interim stage, with letters describing the safety risk mailed beginning March 13, 2026. The remedy is installing protective film over the rear window and removing padding as necessary, free of charge.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.