Hyundai unleashed the second-generation Kona with much pomp and circumstance in December 2022. Available to configure in the United States for the 2024 model year, the small crossover has already been hit by its very first safety recall.
Published on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website, campaign 23V-650 lists no fewer than 2,354 potentially affected vehicles. Hyundai Motor America lists production dates of June 19, 2023 through September 2, 2023 for said vehicles. Joyson Safety Systems Korea is the company responsible for the recall condition, namely defective rear seat belt retractors that may prevent the belts from operating as intended.
On August 24, the automaker's North American branch identified a defective rear seat belt assembly in a 2024 model year Kona. The assembly in question had partly separated, thus resulting in the inability to retract or extend the webbing. Both the Data Review Committee and Technical Review Committee were tasked with assessing this issue, and Hyundai Motor America further conducted inventory audits for additional peace of mind.
Lo and behold, Hyundai Motor Company of South Korea and the aforementioned supplier identified 31 other defective retractors in 2024 model year Hyundai Kona vehicles intended for the US market. Given these circumstances, Hyundai couldn't weasel its way out of a safety recall. What's more, this condition also goes against federal motor vehicle safety standards 208 (for occupant crash protection) and 209 (for seat belt assemblies).
Photo: Hyundai
It should be noted that Joyson Safety Systems is one of the biggest offenders in the automotive space as far as recalls are concerned. We've covered plenty of recalls caused by improperly manufactured or assembled components supplied by JSS, a huge corporation based in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Dig a little deeper, and you'll find out that Joyson Safety System is a relatively new company owned by Ningbo Joyson Electronic Corp and Asian private equity firm PAG. Joyson Safety Systems used to be called Key Safety Systems before April 2018. The company's name was changed after JSS acquired Takata Corp's assets in June 2017.
Turning our attention back to the recall condition, the pin used to fasten the retainer covers to the rear seat belt retractors might not have been properly installed by Joyson Safety Systems. Under pressure from Hyundai, the supplier changed the equipment used to fasten the retainer cover pins to an automated machine. Given that such machines aren't errorproof, Joyson Safety Systems should pour some money into quality control as well.
Photo: Hyundai
Owners and dealers will be notified no later than November 21, 2023, with dealers instructed to inspect both rear seat belt retractors. If the recall condition is found, suspect retractors will be replaced at no cost to affected owners. Any owner who incurred any out-of-pocket expenses related to said problem prior to campaign 23V-650 is – obviously enough – entitled to reimbursement.
The 2024 model year Kona carries a sticker price of $24,100 in the United States, up from $23,475 for the final year of the first gen. A 2.0-liter NA four-cylinder lump is the standard engine, whereas better-equipped trims get a 1.6-liter turbo I4.
What's under the hood is very important for many peeps, but do bear in mind that mechanical differences go beyond the powertrain. For instance, front-wheel-drive models get a rear torsion beam as opposed to a multi-link setup with all-wheel drive. Being heavier, the Kona Electric gets multi-link rear suspension by default. The new Kona Electric isn't available to order. To whom it may concern, the 2023 model carries an MSRP of $33,550.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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