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Hyundai door and trunk latch recalls: are you affected?
These three Hyundai recalls all concern latches, and two of them are the same problem. A trunk latch base that can become damaged, leaving the trunk impossible to open from the inside, covers 2017-2018 Sonata, 2016-2018 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2020 Accent and 2016-2017 Azera in one campaign, then 2020 Sonata and Sonata Hybrid plus the 2019 Genesis G70 in a second. Both are failures to comply with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard rather than on-road crash risks. The outlier is the 2019 Veloster, where certain side-impact crashes can damage the driver's door latch housing and locking cable and allow the driver's door to open.
Warning signs to watch for
- The inside trunk release does not open the trunk when pulled
- Signs of a damaged trunk latch, such as a trunk that does not latch or release normally
- The Veloster door latch gives no everyday warning — the failure appears only in a side-impact crash
- No dashboard warning light is described in any of these three notices
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of these three recalls tells owners to stop driving or park outside. The two trunk latch recalls are compliance issues: the car drives normally, and the risk is to a person shut inside the trunk who cannot get out, so keep children away from the trunk until the latch base is replaced. The 2019 Veloster door latch recall also allows normal driving, but the danger shows up in a side-impact crash, when the driver's door could open, so have it repaired promptly.
What the free repair involves
On the 2019 Veloster, dealers replace the driver's side door latch assembly and the lower channel. On the trunk recalls, dealers replace the trunk latch base; in the 2020 Sonata and Genesis G70 campaign they inspect the latch first and replace the base only as necessary. All parts and labor are free of charge, and no software update is involved.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 1 |
| medium | 2 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-03-28 | Hyundai Sonata and Genesis G70 trunk release may fail | medium |
| 2021-08-06 | Hyundai Sonata and Accent trunks may not open from inside | medium |
| 2019-04-17 | Hyundai Veloster driver's door may open in crash | high |
Common questions
Is my car unsafe to drive with a faulty trunk latch?
The notices describe no driving hazard from the trunk latch. The concern is that someone inside the trunk, especially a child, could not open it from the inside. Keep the trunk closed and inaccessible to children until the latch base is replaced.
Why is a trunk latch a federal safety recall?
Both trunk campaigns are noncompliances with a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requiring the trunk to be openable from inside. That makes them recalls even though Hyundai does not describe any risk while the vehicle is being driven.
Why is the Veloster door latch recall rated more serious?
Because the failure happens during a crash. In certain side impacts, the driver's door latch housing and locking cable can be damaged, allowing the driver's door to open — exactly when the door should be holding shut.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.