NHTSA opens side airbag burn probe covering 1.2 million Ford Explorers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a preliminary evaluation Nov. 6 into an estimated 1,236,155 2021–2026 Ford Explorer SUVs. The agency’s investigation resume states that seat-mounted side airbag deployment “may result in serious burn injuries to front seat occupants.”
NHTSA counts 11 unique incidents, 10 of them involving injuries, from eight consumer complaints and four early warning death and injury reports after removing a duplicate. Complainants say drivers and front passengers were burned when the side airbag deployed in a crash, typically with second- or third-degree burns that needed medical care. Some of the complaints involve law enforcement officers in Explorer Police Interceptors. The probe, PE26008, will assess the scope and frequency of the alleged defect and its potential safety consequences.
Honda and Acura recall 635,808 vehicles for power steering software
American Honda Motor Co. is recalling 2023–2025 Honda Pilot, 2022–2024 Acura MDX, and 2021–2025 Acura TLX models. According to its Part 573 report, a software configuration error may put the electronic power steering (EPS) system into failsafe mode in some operating conditions, cutting power assist. NHTSA lists 635,808 vehicles in the campaign.
When the fault occurs, EPS warning indicators light up and steering effort rises, which can raise the chance of a crash or injury. Under campaign 26V721, Honda and Acura dealers will update the EPS control unit software at no cost, and owner letters are scheduled to go out Dec. 14. As of Oct. 22, Honda had logged 146 warranty claims, one injury report, and no death reports.
Hyundai software fix targets airbag control unit data corruption
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 37,901 2019–2022 Veloster N and 2019–2023 Kona Electric vehicles under campaign 26V728. Its Part 573 report says data in the airbag control unit (ACU) may be corrupted under certain driving conditions if a reboot or power interruption occurs while the unit is writing to memory. That turns on the airbag warning light and deactivates the airbag system.
According to NHTSA’s recall record, the system may then fail to deploy the airbags or seat belt pretensioners in a crash, which raises the injury risk for occupants. Hyundai has tallied 331 U.S. incidents alleging the condition, with no related crashes, fires, or injuries. Dealers will install updated ACU software at no cost; it is designed to keep the last valid data if a memory write is interrupted. Dealer and owner notification is scheduled for Jan. 1, 2027.
