Hyundai is recalling more than 421,000 vehicles in the United States because a software problem could cause the brakes to activate unexpectedly, a defect tied to four crashes and four reported injuries. The Hyundai vehicle safety recall covers certain 2025 and 2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson hybrid and Tucson plug-in hybrid vehicles.
The problem is traced to software in the front cameras, which may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate too early and apply the brakes without warning. Owners will be notified by mail in mid-July and can bring their vehicles to a Hyundai dealership for a free software update.
The latest action adds to a run of recalls that has kept Hyundai under pressure this spring. In April, the automaker recalled 290,000 vehicles because a defect could cause seatbelt anchors to fail. In March, it said it would stop selling 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims after a child died in a case involving power seats that may not detect people or objects.
For Hyundai, the pattern matters as much as the individual defects: the company is facing another safety campaign tied to software, not hardware, and this one affects a large spread of its compact SUVs. The question now is whether the repair will be enough to restore confidence after repeated safety issues have forced the automaker back to dealers and back into the spotlight.
