WASHINGTON — Hyundai Motor America stated it’s going to recall 281,000 automobiles in North America over seat belt pretensioners that might explode and undertaking metallic fragments, inflicting accidents.

The recall, which comes after three harm studies, covers some 2019-2022 Accent, 2021-2023 Elantra, and 2021-2022 Elantra hybrid automobiles. Within the occasion of a crash, entrance driver or passenger-side seat-belt pretensioners might explode upon deployment. Sellers will safe seat-belt pretensioners with a cap.

Seat-belt pretensioners are a part of the a system that locks the seatbelt in place throughout a crash to supply further safety to occupants.

This recall expands and replaces 4 earlier remembers. All Accent, Elantra, and Elantra HEV automobiles already repaired beneath the earlier remembers might want to have the brand new recall repair accomplished, the Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration stated Tuesday.

The brand new recall consists of 239,000 automobiles in america and about 42,000 in Canada, Hyundai stated. Two accidents have been reported in america and one in Singapore.

In September, NHTSA instructed Hyundai of a crash incident involving a 2021 Elantra, the place the driver-side seat belt pretensioner allegedly deployed abnormally, inflicting metallic fragments to injure an occupant’s leg. The company had requested Hyundai to evaluate the incident.

Hyundai, which has extensively investigated the basis reason behind the problem, stated it was nonetheless actively investigating Venue and Genesis GV70/GV80 automobiles that have been beforehand recalled.