NHTSA Recall Number 22V354000 has been active since May 18, 2022. The dealership says no dealers in the area have received the part to fix it. The recall itself carries serious safety concerns as the seatbelt will explode metal fragments in an accident. The dealer has also told me that 35 other people are waiting for the recall to be fixed as well. This is ridiculous, Hyundai needs to get these…
2021 Hyundai Elantra seatbelts problems
critical Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Elantra have filed 21 NHTSA complaints about the seatbelts at roughly $500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See seatbelts across all vehicles →
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$500
| Model year | seatbelts complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Elantra | 5 |
| 2018 Elantra | 3 |
| 2019 Elantra | 3 |
| 2021 Elantra (this page) | 21 |
| 2022 Elantra | 22 |
1crash
1injury
1fatality
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of Hyundai Elantra in our records for seatbelts problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA seatbelts complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue is NHTSA campaign 22V354000, a seat belt pretensioner explosion hazard active since May 18, 2022. Twenty of the 21 complaints center on this recall: owners received notices but dealers have no parts available months after the recall was issued. Multiple owners report dealers confirmed parts not in stock, with some citing month-long or longer wait times. One owner's case involved a fatal accident where the vehicle received the recall notice after the crash; Hyundai closed the case without resolution despite owner requests to reopen it.
Two additional distinct failures emerged: one owner reported a rear center seat belt that snagged on a child's car seat and refused to retract, tightening around the child's chest and neck until two adults cut it free. Another owner reported simultaneous failure of the horn and seat belt chime after fuses tested good.
The pretensioner defect carries severe consequences—owners and dealers describe metal fragment ejection hazard during crashes. The combination of a known safety defect and prolonged parts unavailability has left owners expressing frustration about driving vehicles with unrepaired critical safety systems.
Same Hyundai Elantra seatbelts reports on nearby years: 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Seat belt pretensioner explosion hazard
Front seat belt pretensioners at risk of exploding and sending metal fragments into occupants during crash events. Owners report being notified of this defect via NHTSA recall campaign 22V354000 active since May 18, 2022.
When: During crash/high-impact collision
Symptoms owners cite: Pretensioner explosion during accident; Metal fragment ejection; Serious occupant injury from fragments
Codes mentioned: 22V354000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall parts unavailable as of complaint dates; extended lead times reported (one month or longer mentioned). Multiple owners cite dealer confirmation that parts not in stock.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 22V354000 (Seat Belts) issued May 18, 2022. Hyundai notified of delays; manufacturer confirmed parts unavailable in multiple cases. One case closed by manufacturer without resolution despite owner demand for reopening.
Seat belt entrapment in rear center seat
Rear center seat belt snagged on underside of child car seat and failed to retract properly, trapping child with belt tightening around upper chest and neck. Two adults unable to release mechanism.
When: While child occupant in rear center seat with car seat installed
Symptoms owners cite: Belt snagged on car seat underside; Retraction mechanism failed; Belt tightened around child's chest and neck with movement; Cannot be manually released by occupants
Repairs/costs cited: Belt cut to release child and prevent strangulation.
Seat belt chime and horn electrical failure
Seat belt warning chime and horn both failed simultaneously. Owner had fuses checked and confirmed functional, indicating issue beyond simple electrical connection.
When: Occurred suddenly, timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Horn non-responsive to manual press and key fob activation; Seat belt chime non-functional; Simultaneous failure of both systems
Repairs/costs cited: Fuses verified functional; root cause not diagnosed by owner.
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The horn is not working when I press the horn or on the key fob. I had it checked and the fuses were fine. The seat belt chime also does not work out of nowhere, same time the horn stopped working.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Elantra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V354000 (Seat Belt) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
Had seatbelts trouble with your 2021 Hyundai Elantra?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the seatbelts problem on the 2021 Hyundai Elantra?
It's a serious issue. 21 complaints have been filed, including 1 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the seatbelts typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $500 for seatbelts repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to seatbelts?
No active recalls currently cover seatbelts issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Hyundai/Elantra.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.