Table of contents
- Latest Hyundai Airbag Lawsuit Updates
- May 14, 2026: Hyundai Files Elantra Inflator Recall Report
- January 29, 2026: Palisade Side Curtain Airbag Recall Reported
- December 18, 2025: Hyundai Issues Settlement Notification
- September 29, 2025: Judge Reviews Hyundai-Kia Settlement
- June 25, 2025: Notice of Proposed Settlement Issued
- September 8, 2023: NHTSA Issues Initial Decision on ARC and Delphi Inflators
- May 12, 2023: ARC Refuses NHTSA Recall Request
- April 27, 2023: NHTSA Sends ARC a Recall Request
- December 15, 2022: Panel Centralizes ARC Inflator Cases
- What Is a Hyundai Airbag Defect?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Recall and Regulatory Background
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Potential Compensation
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is There a Hyundai Airbag Lawsuit Settlement?
- Which Hyundai Models Have the ZF-TRW Airbag Control Unit Defect?
- Has Hyundai Recalled Vehicles for Airbag Problems?
- What Does the Research Say About ARC Airbag Inflators?
- How Did the ZF-TRW Airbag Litigation Start?
Hyundai airbags are the subject of federal class actions over inflators that can rupture and control units that may fail in a crash. Plaintiffs allege ARC airbag inflators can spray metal fragments into the cabin.
Two multidistrict litigations name Hyundai. MDL No. 3051 covers ARC inflators in a Georgia federal court. MDL No. 2905 covers ZF-TRW airbag control units, and a $62.1 million Hyundai-Kia settlement had its fairness hearing on September 29, 2025.
NHTSA has also made an initial decision on ARC and Delphi inflators, and Hyundai recalled 3,493 Elantra vehicles in May 2026.
Latest Hyundai Airbag Lawsuit Updates
May 14, 2026: Hyundai Files Elantra Inflator Recall Report
Hyundai Motor America sent NHTSA Part 573 recall report 26V307 on May 14, 2026 [1]. It covers 3,493 vehicles with ARC dual-stage driver inflators from certain production lots.
The vehicles are 3,474 model year 2015-2016 Elantra and 19 model year 2016 Elantra GT cars. They were built between March 2, 2015 and August 24, 2015.
January 29, 2026: Palisade Side Curtain Airbag Recall Reported
CP24 reported on January 29, 2026 that Hyundai is recalling 2020-2025 Palisade SUVs [2]. The side curtain airbags may not deploy properly. Transport Canada posted the recall on January 22, 2026.
The recall covers nearly 44,000 vehicles in Canada and nearly 569,000 in the United States. The airbags were supplied by Autoliv.
December 18, 2025: Hyundai Issues Settlement Notification
Hyundai issued a ZF-TRW airbag control unit settlement notification to dealers on December 18, 2025 [3]. It lists the affected vehicles and the settlement benefits.
The notice gives April 8, 2027 as the claim date, which is 18 months after the court’s final approval order. It states that Hyundai has not been found liable for any claims in the lawsuit.
September 29, 2025: Judge Reviews Hyundai-Kia Settlement
U.S. District Judge John A. Kronstadt reviewed the proposed $62.1 million Hyundai and Kia settlement on September 29, 2025 [4]. The Daily Journal reported that final approval was still pending.
The case is pending in the Central District of California. Hyundai and Kia deny wrongdoing and settled to avoid lengthy litigation.
June 25, 2025: Notice of Proposed Settlement Issued
JND Legal Administration issued notice of the proposed Hyundai and Kia class settlement on June 25, 2025 [5]. The settlement totals $62.1 million.
It resolves claims in In re ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation. Exclusion and objection requests were due August 25, 2025. The notice says the court has not decided who is right.
September 8, 2023: NHTSA Issues Initial Decision on ARC and Delphi Inflators
The Federal Register notice of NHTSA’s initial decision was scheduled for publication on September 8, 2023 [6]. It says ARC and Delphi frontal airbag inflators made through January 2018 contain a safety defect.
A public meeting was set for October 5, 2023. ARC disputes the decision, which NHTSA says may still change before it becomes final.
May 12, 2023: ARC Refuses NHTSA Recall Request
NPR reported on May 12, 2023 that ARC Automotive refused NHTSA’s request to recall 67 million airbag inflators [7]. ARC said no defect exists.
NHTSA later lowered its estimate of the affected inflators to about 52 million. That figure covers both ARC and Delphi inflators.
April 27, 2023: NHTSA Sends ARC a Recall Request
NHTSA sent ARC a recall request letter on April 27, 2023. The letter stated NHTSA’s tentative conclusion that the inflators pose an unreasonable risk of death and injury.
The agency’s notice describes both letters under Docket No. NHTSA-2023-0038. ARC replied on May 11, 2023 and disagreed with that conclusion.
December 15, 2022: Panel Centralizes ARC Inflator Cases
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized the ARC airbag inflator class actions as MDL No. 3051 on December 15, 2022 [8]. The cases are in the Northern District of Georgia before Judge Eleanor L. Ross.
Seventeen actions were pending in twelve districts at that time. ARC inflators have been installed in at least 30 million vehicles.
What Is a Hyundai Airbag Defect?
According to NHTSA, the air bag inflator is the part that generates the gas that fills the air bag cushion [9]. Some inflators may rupture when the air bag is commanded to deploy.
That can cause metal debris to be forcefully ejected into the passenger compartment. In Hyundai vehicles, MDL No. 3051 concerns ARC inflators. MDL No. 2905 concerns ZF-TRW airbag control units, which plaintiffs say can fail in a crash.
Who May Be Affected?
You may match one of these circumstances if you owned or leased a 2011-2019 Sonata or Sonata Hybrid on April 14, 2025. The same applies to a 2018-2023 Kona or Kona N, or a 2019-2021 Veloster.
These are the ZF-TRW settlement class vehicles. Previous owners and lessees count, and eligibility is determined by VIN. Whether you qualify depends on an individual legal review.
You may also own a 2015-2016 Elantra or 2016 Elantra GT with ARC inflators covered by recall 26V307, or a 2020-2025 Palisade covered by the side curtain airbag recall.
NHTSA says ARC inflators of the type it addressed were made through January 2018. Twelve automakers used them, including Hyundai Motor America.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The Federal Register notice says rupturing air bag inflators have injured at least seven people and killed one in the United States. It covers about 41 million ARC inflators and about 11 million Delphi inflators.
A confirmed rupture killed the driver of a 2009 Hyundai Elantra in Canada on July 11, 2016. The module was produced by Mobis with a single stage ARC inflator.
Plaintiffs in MDL 3051 allege shrapnel injuries or deaths and economic losses such as diminution in value and loss of use. Plaintiffs in MDL 2905 allege airbags may fail to deploy in a collision.
In recall 26V307, Hyundai has not confirmed a rupture. The report lists no incidents, crashes, fires or injuries related to this condition in the U.S. market. Allegations and reports do not prove that a defect caused every incident.
Recall and Regulatory Background
NHTSA’s 2023 decision is not a final order. NHTSA will make a final decision only after manufacturers and interested persons can present information. A Supplemental Initial Decision followed, and Hyundai responded in October 2024.
Recall 26V307 offers a free inflator inspection and replacement at a dealer. Owner letters are planned from July 13, 2026.
The Palisade recall covers 568,576 vehicles in the United States, according to FOX 13 [10]. A recall does not prove liability.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep the original documents and make copies. Your VIN shows which recall or settlement list may cover your vehicle. These items may matter in a Hyundai airbag claim:
- Vehicle identification number and registration
- Purchase or lease agreement and the dates you owned the vehicle
- Recall notices and dealer repair orders
- Photographs of the airbag, steering wheel and damage
- Police or crash reports
- Medical records and bills
- Receipts for repairs, rental cars, towing and other out-of-pocket costs
- Communications with Hyundai or the dealer
- The vehicle itself and any removed airbag parts
Filing Deadlines
Filing deadlines come from state law, and they differ depending on where you live. They can also start when you discovered the injury, loss or defect. Check with a lawyer promptly to protect your options.
Potential Compensation
Where a claim is supported, damages may include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and vehicle repair or replacement costs. A death case may include wrongful death losses.
The proposed ZF-TRW settlement offers residual payments of up to $350 for recalled vehicles and up to $150 for unrecalled vehicles. It also offers reimbursement of certain out-of-pocket expenses.
A 10-year new parts warranty follows final approval. Claims go to www.ACUSettlement.com or 1-866-287-0740. Compensation amounts vary by case. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Potential compensation through the settlement requires a submitted claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Hyundai Airbag Lawsuit Settlement?
Yes, the ZF-TRW litigation has a Hyundai airbag lawsuit settlement. Co-Lead Counsel asked for up to 33% of it, or up to $20,493,033.30, for fees and costs. They also asked for up to $2,500 for each class representative.
Which Hyundai Models Have the ZF-TRW Airbag Control Unit Defect?
The Hyundai models with the alleged ZF-TRW airbag control unit defect include the 2011-2013 Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid, which Hyundai lists as recall vehicles. The wider settlement class also includes Kona, Kona N and Veloster models.
Has Hyundai Recalled Vehicles for Airbag Problems?
Yes, Hyundai has recalled vehicles for airbag problems. In Elantra recall 26V307, the driver’s inflator part number is 3Y569-30010. Hyundai estimates that 1% of the recalled vehicles may have the condition.
What Does the Research Say About ARC Airbag Inflators?
Research on ARC airbag inflators comes from NHTSA. It believes ruptures may result from weld slag produced by friction welding. ARC calls them occasional or isolated failures that are an inevitable part of any volume manufacturing process.
How Did the ZF-TRW Airbag Litigation Start?
The ZF-TRW airbag litigation started in August 2019, when more than 20 class actions were sent into one multidistrict litigation. The lawsuits moved forward after motions to dismiss in July 2020 and were consolidated in May 2022.