NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Recall Query RQ13-004: Headliner Bracket Detachment

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Recall Query RQ13-004 on December 4, 2013 and closed it on June 24, 2014. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2009–2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring for it and links recall 14V-310 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: RQ13-004 (also written RQ13004)
Investigation type: Recall Query An investigation into whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or whether its remedy works, run much like a Preliminary Evaluation.
Status: Closed June 24, 2014
Opened: December 4, 2013
Closed: June 24, 2014
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Components: Air Bags — Side/Window; Structure — Body — Roof and Pillars; Unknown or Other
Recall linked by NHTSA: 14V-310: Headliner Support Bracket may cause Injury, reported June 10, 2014
Vehicles and equipment: 2009–2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Recall Query RQ13-004.

try.vin does not copy NHTSA's investigation documents; NHTSA's investigation record lists the ones NHTSA has published.

Hyundai is conducting a safety recall to reinforce the attachment of the metal support bracket to the headliner assembly in approximately 35,000 model year (MY) 2010-2012 Hyundai Elantra Touring vehicles built from December 15, 2009 through May 7, 2012 (see NHTSA recall 14V-310 for more information).

These Elantra Touring vehicles have a common headliner bracket design while the earlier MY 2009-2010 Elantra Touring vehicles have a headliner bracket design that utilizes a shorter length bracket which, should it become separated from the headliner, is unlikely to be displaced into the path of the driver or any occupant.

During this investigation, ODI identified a MY 2010 subject vehicle in a salvage yard with a deployed driver-side curtain air bag that showed the headliner bracket displaced downward into the driver's window area.

Also, during a static side curtain air bag deployment test conducted by Hyundai, the headliner bracket almost completely separated from the headliner.

The headliner tested came out of a MY 2010 subject vehicle.

Finally, ODI identified two warranty claims on the subject vehicles that indicate potential headliner bracket issues.

Warranty records for these claims indicate vehicle owners complaining of noise or rattling coming from the headliner area and Hyundai dealer technicians reported finding brackets that came loose or unglued from the headliner.

ODI is not aware of any related injury allegations.

This investigation was opened to evaluate the scope of NHTSA Recall (13V115) influenced by an earlier ODI investigation (EA12-008).

EA12-008 involved the same defect issue on MY 2011-2013 Elantra models, and a similar remedy approach was utilized in the 13V115 recall action.

Based on the recall action taken by Hyundai, this investigation is closed.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Recall Query RQ13-004. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Hyundai

Hyundai Elantra Touring
- 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012

All Hyundai recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Hyundai VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for RQ13-004

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.