Hyundai Kona Recall: Rear Center Seat Belt Buckle Risk
Hyundai recalls 2024–2026 Kona and 2024–2025 Kona Electric vehicles. Do not use the rear center seat until the seat belt buckle is replaced.
Hyundai is recalling 47,787 vehicles because the rear center seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash. The current scope of campaign 26V452000 includes certain 2024–2026 Kona and 2024–2025 Kona Electric vehicles. Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall repair is performed.
What the recall means for owners
HYUNDAI: KONA, KONA ELECTRIC
Dealers will replace the rear center seat belt buckle assembly free of charge. The August 31 amended report expands the earlier vehicle list, and NHTSA’s current record says owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. The updated scope includes additional model years beyond the original 2026 Kona and 2025 Kona Electric population.
Official record — checked September 16, 2026
- NHTSA recall ID: 26V452000
- Vehicles listed: HYUNDAI KONA (2026, 2025, 2024); HYUNDAI KONA ELECTRIC (2025, 2024)
- Potentially affected: 47,787
- Components: SEAT BELTS: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
- Report received: July 14, 2026
- Owner notification: Owner notification letters mailed September 2, 2026.
- Defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Kona Electric and 2024-2026 Kona vehicles. The seat belt buckle in the rear center seat may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash.
- Safety consequence: A seat belt buckle that fails to properly restrain an occupant in a crash increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy: Passengers are advised not to use the rear center seat until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai’s number for this recall is 306. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 15, 2026.
What owners should do next
Avoid using the rear center seating position until the recall repair is complete. Contact a Hyundai dealer about buckle replacement under Hyundai campaign 306, including if your vehicle falls in one of the newly listed model years.
Use the official NHTSA recall lookup or contact the manufacturer or an authorized dealer to confirm recall status for your vehicle’s VIN. A matching model and year alone do not establish that a vehicle is included or that its repair is complete.
Official sources
- Current NHTSA campaign data for 26V452000, checked September 16, 2026; supports the current facts and notification wording above.
- Manufacturer Part 573 report submitted Aug 31, 2026. The report records the filing at that date; later status updates are attributed to the current campaign data.
Need a fuller vehicle history?
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Sources used for this report.
References checked September 16, 2026.
To check a specific vehicle, use the official NHTSA VIN recall lookup.
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