Hyundai has announced a major recall in the US affecting 421,078 vehicles due to an error in the forward collision avoidance system. The campaign covers certain 2025-2026 model year Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid vehicles.
The issue stems from software in the front camera. According to NHTSA, the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system may activate prematurely, applying the brakes unexpectedly. This creates a dangerous scenario: the vehicle can suddenly decelerate without a real threat ahead, and a following car may not have time to react.
This is not a mechanical brake failure but a malfunction of the electronic assistant. Such defects are particularly troublesome in modern cars: a system designed to reduce accident risk can itself create a hazardous situation. This is especially critical in heavy traffic, on highways, or during lane changes, when sudden braking catches other drivers off guard.
Hyundai dealers will update the front camera software free of charge. This is simpler than replacing components, but owners should not delay their visit after receiving notification: the error involves active safety, not a secondary infotainment function.
This recall is already the second significant one for Hyundai within a week. Earlier, the company recalled over 54,000 vehicles in the US due to a risk of overheating in the hybrid powertrain control unit. The current issue is different, but the conclusion is similar: in modern cars, expensive risks are increasingly found not in hardware, but in software.