US auto regulator opens probe into 330,000 Hyundai SUVs over seat belts

U.S. auto safety regulators said Friday they are initiating a preliminary evaluation of about 332,288 Hyundai SUVs in the United States for a potentially defective seat belt.

The investigation focuses on certain Hyundai Palisade SUVs from the 2020-2023 model years.

Seat belts can unbuckle inadvertently and without warning, increasing the risk of injury from a complete loss of seat belt protection, the National Highway Safety Administration said.

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Following the preliminary review, NHTSA must decide whether to escalate the investigation to an engineering review. Only after this step can the agency request a withdrawal, if deemed necessary.

(Reporting by Gomes in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)