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Hyundai and Kia are recalling approximately 1.9 million vehicles for brake and air bag issues.

Hyundai will recall 1,059,824 cars and SUVS for brake light issues. Kia is also recalling 623,658 vehicles from 2007 through 2011 to for the same brake light issues. Hyundai is also recalling an additional 186,254 Elantra cars from 2011 through 2013 for airbag issues.

This faulty brake light switch can be dangerous for four different reasons. One, the brake lights may not go on. This may increase the risk of car accidents. Secondly, the cruise control may not turn off when the driver presses the brake pedal. The driver has less control of the vehicle because of this defect. In the 3rd possible safety issue, the push-to-start buttons on vehicles equipped with push-to-start buttons may not work. Lastly, these vehicles have a safety feature that prevents drivers from shifting out of park. In vehicles affected by the recall, the safety feature may fail. It could also result in a vehicle rollaway. All of these problems could increase the risk of a car accident.

The Korean car manufacturer will notify owners of affected vehicles in the next two months. Hyundai and Kia will notify affected owners to visit their local dealership. Dealers will inspect cars and replace the switch at no cost for the owner. The new stop lamp switch will have the most recent technology improvements. Currently, it is not known if there have been crashes or injuries caused by this defect.

The Hyundai Elantra recall is for an air bag problem. Affected vehicles may have a support bracket that can come loose when the side air bags are inflated. This defects could cause injure car occupants. There has been a report of people being injured by this car defect. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was able to trace the problem specifically to cars with auto-dimming rear-view mirrors installed after arriving in the U.S. During installation of the mirrors, technicians may have dislodged the bracket.

Hyundai will notify owners. Affected owners can visit their local dealership. Dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to keep the brackets safely in place.

If you ever encounter any possible safety defects in your vehicle, do not hesitate to report to the National Highway of Traffic Safety Administration. These reports often lead to recalls. If you are ever in a car accident, contact an Orange County car accident lawyer.