Recall 15V218 affects 2,580 2015 Hyundai Accent vehicles for child-seat detection software. Repair is free at any franchised Hyundai dealer.
Hyundai is recalling 2,580 2015 Accent vehicles under recall 15V218 because, in very cold weather, the occupant detection system can fail to identify a child restraint in the front passenger seat. If that happens, the passenger air bag stays active during a crash that requires deployment, increasing injury risk for the child; the Hyundai dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The occupant detection system in the 2015 Hyundai Accent is the seat-sensing system for the front passenger seat. It reads weight and seat conditions so the air bag control system can identify whether the seat is holding an adult passenger, an empty seat, or a child restraint seat.
On affected Accent vehicles, very cold temperatures interfere with that detection. The system fails at the classification step: it is not able to determine that a child restraint seat is installed in the front passenger seat, so the air bag system loses the information it needs for that seating condition.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is tied to cold temperature and the system's internal reading of the front passenger seat, so an owner is not given a clear sound, light, or driving feel that proves the seat has been misread.
Who's affected?
| 2015 Hyundai Accent | front air bag |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2,580 |
Not every 2015 Hyundai Accent is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific car is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the occupant detection system fails to recognize a child restraint in the front passenger seat, the front air bag stays active. In a crash that deploys the air bag, deployment raises injury risk for the child in that restraint. Until repaired, keep child restraints out of the front passenger seat and schedule service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Hyundai dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015 Hyundai Accent is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Hyundai dealer and ask whether the free ODS software correction is ready for your vehicle.
- Schedule the ODS software correction that helps the front passenger system identify a child restraint seat in very cold temperatures.
- Bring the Hyundai owner notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 15V218 when you call.
- Avoid placing a child restraint seat in the front passenger seat until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Hyundai has identified the dealer fix for this recall. At the dealer, a Hyundai technician corrects the occupant detection system software so the front passenger seat system can identify when a child restraint is present in very cold temperatures. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. The remedy text does not list a repair duration.
Timeline
| April 13, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 4, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V218?
Recall 15V218 covers 2,580 2015 Hyundai Accent vehicles with occupant detection system software that fails in very cold temperatures. The system can fail to identify a child restraint seat in the front passenger seat, leaving the front air bag active. Hyundai dealers will correct the software for free.
What should I do if my 2015 Hyundai Accent is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Accent is included in recall 15V218. If it is, contact a franchised Hyundai dealer and schedule the occupant detection system software correction. Reference recall 15V218 and Hyundai recall number 129 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Hyundai dealers will correct the occupant detection system software free of charge. The recall began on June 4, 2015, so the dealer remedy is open.
Is it safe to use a child restraint seat in the front passenger seat?
Use the back seat for a child restraint whenever the vehicle has this unresolved recall. In very cold temperatures, the occupant detection system can fail to detect the child restraint seat, so the front air bag stays active and increases injury risk in a crash.
What if I bought this Hyundai Accent used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received Hyundai's owner letter, check your VIN and give recall 15V218 to the Hyundai dealer service desk when you schedule the software correction.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V218000 |
|---|---|
| Hyundai customer service | 1-855-671-3059 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V218 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V218000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →