2014 Hyundai Equus

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the driver's side head restraint suddenly deployed from the seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the head restraint needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred with the passenger's side headrest, and the headrest was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,156.

I am reporting a recurring safety-related defect in the headrest mechanisms of my 2014 Hyundai Equus. The first incident occurred in the front passenger seat. While driving, I lightly leaned my arm on the passenger headrest when it suddenly popped up with a loud, startling noise and occurring an road incident . The internal components crumbled instantly, requiring a complete replacement. This was a costly repair, which I first inquired about with the service department at AutoNation Hyundai in Columbus, GA. It was eventually repaired and completed at Columbus Body Collision, Columbus, GA On [XXX], the driver’s headrest failed in the same way. It popped out of position unexpectedly, and the internal structure again appears to have broken and crumbled, while I was parked at QuikTrip fuel station. Alpharetta, GA. This incident has made me concerned about occupant safety, especially regarding whiplash protection and the risk of the headrest becoming a projectile or collapsing under impact. Since both front seat headrests have failed in the same way, I believe this may indicate a design or manufacturing defect. I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this issue and consider a recall so that affected Hyundai Equus owners are not left with expensive and unsafe repairs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2014 Hyundai Equus. The contact stated that while his wife was outside on a hot day, upon opening the door, the front headrest air bag deployed without impact. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was possibly caused due to the heat. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that there no previous reports of the failure. The contact was informed to scheduling an appointment to have the vehicle diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 79,850.

THE HINGES FOR THE REAR SEAT FLIP-UP ARMREST BROKE WHEN I SAT IN THE BACK SEAT. THIS ARMREST IS ALSO THE COVER FOR THE SMALL STORAGE COMPARTMENT UNDER IT. NOW THERE'S NO COVER ON THE COMPARTMENT AND NO PLACE FOR REAR PASSENGERS TO PUT THEIR ELBOWS. THE HINGES ARE ONLY PLASTIC, BUT HYUNDAI WON'T ALLOW THE DEALER TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY.

I WANT TO NOTIFY YOU ABOUT A SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OF THE 2014 HYUNDAI EQUUS ULTRA. WHEN THE BACK SEAT PASSENGER PUSHES THE RECLINE BUTTON ON THE RIGHT REAR PASSENGER SEAT CONTROLS, THE FRONT SEAT STARTS TO COLLAPSE. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT STARTS TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BACK OF THE SEAT MOVING IN A COLLAPSING MOTION PINNING THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AGAINST THE DASHBOARD. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY SWITCH THAT DEACTIVATES THE RECLINE CONTROL OF THE BACK SEAT WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO HAVE HYUNDAI CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE SUFFERS SERIOUS INJURY. *TR

THIS IS THE E-MAIL THAT I SENT TO HYUNDAI TO NOTIFY THEM OF A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE W. THEIR NEW EQUUS: I WANTED TO ALERT YOU ABOUT A POTENTIALLY SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE THAT HAPPENED TO OCCUR WHILE MY 13 YR OLD SON & I WERE EXAMINING THE EQUUS AT THE CHARLOTTE AUTOSHOW. I WAS SITTING IN THE DRIVER SEAT, MY SON WAS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT & ANOTHER COUPLE, WHO WE DID NOT KNOW, WERE IN THE BACK SEAT CHECKING OUT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS. SUDDENLY, THE PASSENGER SEAT STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD & AT THE SAME TIME THE SEAT BACK BEGAN TO FOLD FORWARD. MY SON SHOUTED OUT THAT THE SEAT WAS MOVING, BUT NEITHER HE NOR I WERE TOUCHING ANY OF THE CONTROLS. THE COUPLE IN BACK NOTICED THIS, BUT CONTINUED TO EXAMINE/TRY THE CONTROLS ON THE REAR SEAT CENTER ARM REST. MY SON SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, WHICH HAD NOW MOVED COMPLETELY FORWARD, WITH THE SEAT BACK STILL CONTINUING TO MOVE, COULD NOT REACH THE DOOR HANDLE TO ESCAPE. WITHIN A FEW SECONDS HE BECAME PINNED AGAINST THE DASH BOARD & WAS CRUSHED BETWEEN THE SEAT BACK & THE DASH. I YELLED OUT FOR EVERYONE TO STOP TOUCHING BUTTONS IMMEDIATELY, WHILE I ALSO TRIED TO MOVE THE SEAT TOWARD THE REAR USING THE BUTTONS ON THE TOP/SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE SEAT STOPPED MOVING FORWARD & I WAS THEN ABLE TO MOVE IT REARWARD, FREEING MY SON. HE WAS GASPING FOR AIR AT THE POINT & ANOTHER AUTO SHOW ATTENDEE OPENED THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE, ALLOWING MY SON TO ESCAPE. I CALLED ONE OF THE HYUNDAI SHOW REPS OVER TO THE CAR TO POINT OUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE & HE TOOK NOTE. THE ROOT CAUSE WAS THE REAR SEAT COUPLE WAS TRYING TO ADJUST THEIR SEATS, BUT THEY WERE UNKNOWINGLY USING THE CONTROL THAT MOVES THE PASSENGER SEAT FORWARD FOR MORE REAR LEG ROOM. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO SAFETY SENSOR THAT PREVENTS THIS. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY SWITCH, USING THE FRONT PASSENGER WEIGHT TO DEACTIVATE THE REAR SEAT CONTROLS FOR THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT.