Component/System Involved: Driver-side rear seat back latch / locking mechanism. The rear seat back would not latch or lock in the upright position. The vehicle and seat are available for inspection upon request. Description of the Incident: During normal use of the vehicle, the driver-side rear seat back unexpectedly moved forward because it was not latched. At the time of the incident, we were not aware that the seat back would not latch or could not be secured in the upright position. The condition was discovered only after the incident occurred. Safety Risk: Because the driver-side rear seat back was not latched, the seat back or attached child seat moved forward and struck a child passenger seated in the rear. This created a serious risk of injury and represents a failure of a safety-related interior component. Confirmation / Reproduction: After the incident, attempts were made to secure the driver-side rear seat back. The seat could not be latched under any condition. A Hyundai dealership later inspected the vehicle, confirmed there was an issue, and ordered parts. A dealer representative stated on video that a component appeared to be missing. Inspections: The vehicle has been inspected by a Hyundai dealership. No collision occurred. The vehicle has not been modified. Warnings or Prior Symptoms: There were no warning lights, messages, or indicators. No prior warning or indication of the seat latch failure was known before the incident. Cause (Best Assessment): UNKNOWN. Based on post-incident inspection and dealer findings, the condition appears consistent with a defective, improperly installed, or missing rear seat latch component from the factory.
NHTSA ODI 11707177