2010 Hyundai Santa Fe Airbags Problems

I am the original owner of a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. It currently has less than 100,000 miles on it as I drive it infrequently. On June 12, 2023, my airbag light lit on the display and has since remained. I immediately contacted the local Hyundai dealership and made the next available appointment. I was concerned because I had recently completed the Knock Sensor Detection System (KSDS) service campaign on 4/3/2023. Initially, I took my vehicle to an auto repair facility where a diagnostic test determined my SUV had a B1620 error code and was advised to take it to a Hyundai dealership. My Hyundai appointment was on 6/23/2023. I shared the information about the error code with the technicians. The dealership confirmed I had a B1620 error code where the Supplemental Restraint System Control Module (SRSCM) shorted out. I also showed the dealership employees an Extended Warranty Notification letter I received from Hyundai about faulty clock springs, but the dealer stated the module was completely separate and not part of the recall. The repair estimate was quite costly at around $2,600. From my understanding, the SRSCM controls all safety features. The dealership informed me the air bag light/error code means my entire safety system is completely disabled. This is not a mechanical issue but rather a safety red flag.

NHTSA ID

11532175

Incident

Jun 12, 2023

The contact owns a 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11424359

Incident

Jul 10, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER SON WAS DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SIDE-CURTAIN AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN IMPACT. THE PRESSURE FROM THE AIRBAG RIPPED THE SEAMS OF THE PASSENGER'S AND DRIVER'S SEATS. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED WINN HYUNDAI OF SANTA MARIA AT: (805)349-8500 AND WAS REFERRED TO THE CORPORATE CONSUMER AFFAIRS OFFICE. THE OFFICE SENT FORMS FOR THE CONTACT TO COMPLETE AND RETURN, ALONG WITH ANY PICTURES. THE DEALER ALSO REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN IN TO BE DIAGNOSED WHICH WAS STILL PENDING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

11330874

Incident

Jun 23, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR WITH 40K MILES ON IT AND IT NOW HAS 63K MILES. SINCE I HAVE HAD IT, I HAVE REPLACED THE RADIO DISPLAY, SPEAKER, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CONTROLS, STARTER AND A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS. THE CLEAR COAT IS ALSO COMING OFF ALL THE DOOR HANDLES AND IT IS FADING THE PAINT. I NOTIFIED HYUNDAI AND THEY DID NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

10864079

Incident

May 9, 2016

Mileage

40,000 mi

DASHBOARD SEAT BELT LIGHT DIDN'T GO OFF AFTER NORMAL START UP. DIAGNOSTIC COMPLETED AT LOCAL SERVICE CENTER. DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY AIR BAG MODULE. MECHANIC PURCHASED MODULE FROM LOCAL HYUNDAI DEALER. DEALER PARTS EMPLOYEE STATED THAT THIS WAS THE THIRD MODULE PURCHASED THAT WEEK.

NHTSA ID

10825962

Incident

Jan 6, 2016

Mileage

86,064 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN RESET THE AIR BAGS SENSOR. WITHIN TEN MINUTES OF RESETTING THE AIR BAG SENSOR, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. A WEEK LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAT SENSOR OR THE SEAT BELT LATCH MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ID

10825471

Incident

Jun 21, 2013

Mileage

71,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TELEPHONE POLE HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACE AND HEAD INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SALVAGE LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508600

Incident

Feb 4, 2013

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE. WHILE SEATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, THE CONTACT NOTICED THE AIR BAG OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO AND THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE CONTACT'S WEIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED THE SAME RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500.

NHTSA ID

10381297

Incident

Aug 4, 2010

Mileage

8,500 mi

A 2010 HYUNDAI SANTA FE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END IMPACT . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL BODY SHOP FOR REPAIRS. IN THE NORMAL COURSE OF REPAIRS, THE SHOP REPLACED THE COMPONENTS OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY RESTRAINT SYSTEM AND SENT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO CHECK FOR ERROR CODES AND TO RESET THE SYSTEM. ONE OF THE ERROR CODES WOULD NOT CLEAR. THE DEALER, IN WASHINGTON STATE ADVISED THE REPAIR SHOP AND US THAT PURSUANT TO A TSB,01-90-013, HYUNDAI RECOMMENDS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS ALSO MUST BE REPLACED IN ADDITION TO THE STANDARD PARTS OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, WHEN THE AIR BAGS ARE DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO DIRECT DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS AND THIS APPEARS TO BE SOME UNIQUE REQUIREMENT DESIGNED INTO THE HARNESS BY HYUNDAI. IT IS UNCLEAR WHY THIS IS REQUIRED OR WHAT UNIQUE FEATURE WAS BUILT INTO THE HARNESS THAT DEMANDS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE HARNESS. THIS ADDED REQUIREMENT ADDS AN ADDITIONAL $6,767.75 TO THE REPAIR COST OVER AND ABOVE THE REGULAR COLLISION RELATED COST. WHEREAS THIS REQUIREMENT IS UNIQUE TO THE NEW 2010 SANTA FE MODEL AND IS NOT FUNCTION REQUIRED DURING THE STANDARD REPLACEMENT OF AIR BAGS IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE THAT WE ARE AWARE OF, WE MUST ASK IS THIS A DEFECT, IS THIS SIMPLY A DESIGN FEATURE TO ENHANCE PROFIT FROM REPAIRS OR IS THERE SOME UNIQUE FEATURE TO THE WIRE HARNESS DESIGN THAT SERVES SOME OTHER PURPOSE OR FUNCTION? ANY INFORMATION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10368655

Incident

Jul 24, 2010

Mileage

3,685 mi