A recall for 421,078 2025-2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz and Tucson models due to an issue with the FCA that may cause unexpected brake activation.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. 421,078 vehicles are subject to the recall. The forward collision avoidance system may cause unexpected braking and increase the risk of a crash. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.
Affected VINs should be searchable now at the NHTSA website. Owners will be notified by mail by July 17.
Here is the relevant information from the NHTSA Recall notice:
NHTSA ID Number: 26V316
Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Potential Number of Units Affected: 421,078
Estimated percentage with defect: 1%
Descriptive Information:
The subject vehicles include certain model year 2025-2026 Santa Cruz vehicles and certain model year 2025-2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid vehicles assembled on the specified production dates by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (“HMMA”) for sale in the U.S.
The subject vehicles also include certain model year 2025-2026 Hyundai Tucson vehicles assembled on the specified production dates by Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (“HMMA”) and Kia Motors Mexico (“KMX”) for sale in the U.S.
The subject vehicles also include certain model year 2025-2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid vehicles assembled on the specified production dates by Hyundai Motor Company (“HMC”) in South Korea for sale in the U.S.
Description of defect or noncompliance:
The Forward Collision Avoidance (“FCA”) system in the subject vehicles may exhibit increased sensitivity to forward object proximity in certain driving scenarios due to the front camera software. This condition can result in FCA engagement earlier than the operator’s expectation, potentially leading to sudden braking.
Description of the safety risk, including crash, fire, death, injury:
Sudden braking may increase the risk of a rear-end crash with closely following vehicles.
Description of the cause:
The FCA’s multifunction camera software logic is conservatively tuned to detect impending frontal crashes using specific parameters such as speed, operator input, and proximity to surrounding vehicles.
Identification of any warning that can occur:
None.
Chronology
Month(s): January 2025 – September 2025
January 11 through May 28 – Following receipt of a Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (“VOQ”), Hyundai’s North America Safety Office (“NASO”) launched a new investigation into allegations of unintended braking involving vehicles in the U.S. During this period, NASO conducted reviews of U.S. market field data and formulated an investigation plan that included recurring data exchanges and technical reviews with the supplier, identification of potential vehicles for inspection, and preliminary surveying by field technicians.
June 12 through June 26 – A joint investigation was conducted to evaluate FCA sensitivity in NASO fleet vehicles, with continued subsequent monitoring. The condition was first replicated on June 19 during NASO fleet monitoring; with a second replication confirmed shortly thereafter on June 26. During this period, NASO exchanged feedback and data regarding fleet and dealer test findings with HMC, while continuing focused inspections of incident vehicles at dealers.
July through October – NASO continued data-driven analysis and validation activities by collecting data through Hyundai’s telematics data system for various Hyundai models and coordinating analysis by Mobis. Telematics data analysis was conducted over an extended period, while additional dealer investigations and joint evaluations of the FCA software logic were performed with HMC and Mobis.
September 22 through September 23 – Joint evaluation of the FCA’s multi-function camera software was conducted with Mobis.
September 23 – An inquiry was received from NHTSA ODI regarding Tucson FCA allegations submitted by owners.
September 29 – NASO met with and discussed their findings to date with ODI.
Month(s): October 2025 – January 2026
October 1 through October 28 – NASO coordinated with its Safety Test & Investigation Laboratory (“STIL”) and Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (“HATCI”) to prepare for FCA testing at HATCI’s test track.
November 3 through November 14 – Joint vehicle testing was conducted at the STIL.
November 17 through January 20 – NASO continued post-test activities through detailed reviews of STIL evaluation data with HMC and the supplier, analyses of updated VOQ data, and recurring discussion of the multifunction camera software logic.
January 23 – NASO met with and discussed their findings to date with ODI.
Month(s): February 2026 – May 2026
February 12 through February 20 – Hyundai performed testing of prototype multifunction camera software at the California Proving Grounds (“CPG”). During testing, observations of tuning performance were recorded and communicated to HMC and the supplier.
February 25 through March 11 – NASO continued post-test reviews and discussion with HMC, including preliminary plans for evaluating potential FCA software improvements.
March 19 and 26 – NASO met with and discussed their findings to date with ODI, including a proposed service campaign to address potentially affected vehicles in the field.
March 31 through April 3 – Joint evaluation of tuning improvements was conducted at test tracks located in South Korea by HMC and NASO.
April 15 – NASO met with and discussed their findings to date with ODI.
May 1 – NASO received feedback from ODI regarding Hyundai’s field action plan.
May 11 – Based on agency feedback, NASO’s North America Safety Decision Authority (“NASDA”) convened to review the complete findings and decided to conduct a safety recall of affected vehicles in the U.S.
As of the decision date, Hyundai has received 376 reports related to FCA operation between October 28, 2024, and April 27, 2026. Of these reports, four (4) indicate crashes in which Hyundai vehicles were rear-ended by closely following vehicles, allegedly resulting in four (4) injuries. There are no confirmed fires or fatalities attributable to this condition in the U.S.
Remedy
Description of Remedy
Remedy Type:
Software
Description of remedy program:
All owners of the subject vehicles will be notified by first class mail with instructions to bring their vehicle to a Hyundai dealer, where technicians will update the front camera software. This remedy will be offered at no cost to owners for all affected vehicles, regardless of whether the affected vehicles are still covered under Hyundai’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty. Additionally, Hyundai will provide owners of affected vehicles reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses incurred to obtain a remedy for the recall condition in accordance with the reimbursement plan submitted to NHTSA on March 2, 2026.
How remedy component differs from recalled component:
The remedy multifunction camera software has been tuned to better align with operator expectation for activation timing and distance to leading vehicle.
Description of recall schedule:
Dealers will be notified electronically by July 17, 2026.
Owners will be notified of remedy via certified mail by July 17, 2026.
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