What 43 owners told NHTSA about the 2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid

The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that the vehicle was serviced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V316000 (Forward Collision Avoidance), but the failure persisted after the recall repair. While driving at 30 MPH, the vehicle independently braked to a complete stop without cause. Additionally, the rearview camera remained active on the display for 30 to 50 seconds while driving forward. The contact stated that the failures were recurrent. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the case was currently pending an escalated resolution. The failure mileage was approximately 6,275.

NHTSA ODI 11748615

My car was recalled because the auto brake was triggering incorrectly and causing issues (at least 4 accidents with injuries are known to have been casued by this problem). I brought my car in to have the auto braking issue fixed, after I had already been rear ended due to it automatically activating (submitted a previous NHTSA claim about this.) The same defect recurred while I was driving yesterday evening. A pedestrian had fully cleared a crosswalk, I attempted to pull forward, and the auto-brake triggered without cause, locking up the vehicle and nearly causing me to be rear ended again. This is an ongoing safety issue that was supposed to have been corrected and clearly was not.

NHTSA ODI 11746742

I have a 2026 Hyundai Tucson 2500 miles. It has slammed on the brakes. At least 6 times since I've owned the vehicle for forward collision to the point where it could have put me in danger. And I could have been in an accident one time it occurred when I was making a curve, there was oncoming traffic from the other side in the curve. And the vehicle slammed on the brakes bc of the other car going in the opposite direction at the car. And just yesterday, as I was slowing to a stop at a stoplight, if there was a car in front of me going less than 15 miles an hour. So I can slow down so I could stop it slammed on the brakes. Despite the fact that the car in front of me had already left his stopping point again dangerous. I had a seat belt mark on my shoulder.Because of it

NHTSA ODI 11741093

Driving on major highway during rush hour traffic the suv locked up due to the automatic front break system I couldn’t even turn to avoid the crash. I was rear ended from behind.

NHTSA ODI 11740938

On May 14, 2026 at approx 6:00 PM, driving 2026 Hyundai Tucson on North Lamar Blvd, Austin TX at approx 30 mph, vehicle applied brakes suddenly with no obstacle ahead. Forward Collision Avoidance system activated unexpectedly. Vehicle was immediately struck from behind. Rear-end collision caused total loss (54,295 repair estimate). No injuries. Police report filed. On May 23, 2026 discovered open Manufacturer Recall 302 for FCA system increased sensitivity causing sudden braking. Incident occurred 4 days before recall was issued.

NHTSA ODI 11740081

1. The component/system that failed appears to be related to the vehicle’s braking/safety assistance system, which is now associated with the recall affecting certain Hyundai Tucson vehicles. At the time of the accident, the vehicle suddenly became difficult to control during highway driving, which ultimately resulted in the crash. The vehicle was declared a total loss, but insurance records, photographs, and inspection documentation should still be available upon request. 2. My safety and the safety of others were put at serious risk because the vehicle lost stability/control while I was operating it on the highway. The accident caused the vehicle to flip, resulting in injuries and creating a dangerous situation for myself and surrounding drivers. 3. The issue itself was not fully reproduced prior to the accident, however the recall now issued by Hyundai appears to involve the same or similar malfunction connected to braking/safety system concerns. The vehicle was inspected after the accident through the insurance process and body shop estimates were completed before it was declared a total loss. 4. The vehicle has been inspected by insurance representatives, towing personnel, and others involved in the claims process following the accident. Police also responded to the accident scene and completed an accident report. 5. Prior to the failure/accident, there were no clear warnings that would have indicated the severity of the issue. If applicable, there may have been occasional warning indicators or abnormal vehicle behavior before the crash, but no information was provided to me at that time indicating the vehicle was subject to a safety recall. The emergency brake has been horrible since i’ve purchased the car, i’ve almost crashed or gotten hit numerous of times.

NHTSA ODI 11739948

Was slowing down for traffic in front of me and my brakes were applied automatically from the crash impact sensor and I was rear ended

NHTSA ODI 11739680

updated software. The vehicle stated that while driving, there was a vehicle in from, the vehicle was slowing down, the contacts vehicle unexpectedly stopped with causing the collision alert to prematurely activate and the vehicle behind rear ended. The incident occurred in bumper to bumper traffic. The bumper, trunk door broke and glass of back windshield was completely shattered due to the impact. No air bags deployed. Collision Alert warning illuminated on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. 3,700

NHTSA ODI 11739500

I experienced forward collision warning active three timeseven when the car before it's far more mine and one time it used automated emergency braking

NHTSA ODI 11739395

This is a recent purchase. The forward collision braking system seems to be too sensitive and the braking is so immediate and abrupt it threw everything in my car forward including me, causing minor back pain. This has happened several times with the most recent being yesterday. I was no where near a car or potential collision each time. Yesterday, while driving on a busy highway, I had plenty of distance and it did it again nearly causing a car to rear end me. It was such an abrupt stop everything flew once again to the front of the car. The way this vehicle stops is going to cause an injury to a driver. Mark My words. It stops with such force that it throws the driver forward.

NHTSA ODI 11736735

3 times my car have braked while im driving causing my whole car to jerk 2 of the time i hit my head and my knuckle and finger got hurt and was bleeding I have pictures but they are not allowing me

NHTSA ODI 11735515

4/26: I was in the turn lane and SLOWLY approaching the vehicle in front of me. I was at least 12 feet back when the emergency brake engaged causing me to fling forward in my seat. However, I did have my seatbelt on a was not physically harmed, but mentally rattled. This also caused the car behind me to almost rear me. 5/1: I was in the parking lot of a local store. A pedestrian was passing at a safe distance as I was slowly cruising towards them. The car engaged the automatic brake even though the pedestrian was clearly out of harms way. There two incidents have occurred within 2 weeks of purchase of my car. There is a feature to temporarily turn off automatic brake, but resets with each restart of the engine making it inconvenient to apply. Also, it is easy to forget to apply each time you start the car. I’ve also read since my incidents other reports of Hyundai drivers saying the disable feature does not always work and automatic brake engages. I feel that the automatic braking is a HUGE safety risk for driver, passengers, pedestrians and other vehicles on the road. I frequently drive to another state via highway to visit my mother and a now terrified to drive that distance considering all of the accelerations and decelerations involved with highway travel. I feel completely unsafe in my new vehicle. Please review and encourage a software recall that completely removes automatic brake or allows drivers the option to disable and enable at will.

NHTSA ODI 11735306

I was driving on the highway in heavy traffic which was moving relatively slowly (15-30mph). I had plenty of room in front of me and was in the process of braking when the vehicle suddenly applied the breaks automatically, coming to a very abrupt stop. It threw me forward and almost caused an accident. Luckily the truck behind me was leaving enough room as well and was able to swerve out of the way and avoid hitting me. There was no need for automatic braking and it seemed very random. The incident scared me a lot and I have felt unsafe driving the car without turning this feature off each time I start the car.

NHTSA ODI 11735204

I've had this vehicle as a loaner from Hyundai for 2 weeks now and the vehicle has used its "emergency" breaking system automatically without any need for it 3 times now! No vehicle or object is anywhere close in front of me. Literally gave my daughter, significant other and I immediate wiplash and headaches. Today as I was already breaking due to traffic ahead, the dang vehicle used its emergency breaks (as I was breaking) and completely took over and broke in the middle of the lane, I was nearly rear ended - you can head the brakes from the vehicle behind me and they had to move into a grass area to avoid hitting me- I was unable to accelerate or break on my own.

NHTSA ODI 11734061

Safety Risk: While traveling at approximately 25 MPH on the I-495 (way to work) the vehicle initiated a full-force emergency braking event (Phantom Braking) without any warning. There were absolutely no obstacles, vehicles, or pedestrians in the roadway ahead. This sudden, unprovoked stop nearly caused a rear-end collision with the vehicle following closely behind, putting myself and other car at immediate risk of injury. There were no issues in front of me - only a straight road and I was not tailgating anyone.

NHTSA ODI 11732885

The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving 45-50 MPH, the vehicle experienced phantom braking, causing the brakes to suddenly apply roughly. The contact stated that the failure had persisted and recurred while driving at 35 MPH. The collision light was illuminated. The contact sustained a shoulder injury due to the sudden braking, but the contact did not receive medical assistance. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.

NHTSA ODI 11730400

The automatic emergency braking system has literally locked the brakes up 5 times in the last several months since the car was purchased new from the dealer due to this system thinking we were going to hit the car in front that was not braking hard. One time a car had already turned off the roadway and as we started to accelerate on down the road our car locked the brakes up as it has done 4 other times and then will not let you accelerate for a few seconds. 3 of those 5 times we have had cars behind us, one time was a semi, that almost hit us due to the unexpected locking of the brakes. This system can only be turned off each time you start the car by going through numerous menu steps and then it is right back on the next time you start the car. Not only is this going to cause an accident and potential injury(s) but it could even cause an argument with the vehicle behind thinking they were being brake checked. The dealer said they could not turn it off and the only choice was to do it each time you started the car but could turn the sensitivity down which we have tried and it still does it when you least expect it to when there really is no potential crash about to occur. We have emailed Hyundai and awaiting a response as well and advised if this system causes a crash and especially an injury as a result that we would sue and have requested a software update be done asap to allow the driver to turn it off and it stay off until it is turned back on or buy the car back as this is a very realy danger and safety issue. A safety feature shouldn't cause another safety issue in itself and this system is doing that and we would be shocked if it hasn't already caused crashes/injuries as a result in other Hyundai cars with this feature. There are numerous complaints by other owners regarding this same issue all over the internet.

NHTSA ODI 11730131

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Forward Collision Warning How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The car braked on the highway and caused me to get rear ended. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? This occurred twice in the same day, the second time it caused an accident. The first time was on a busy highway, someone braked going 75 mph in front of me and the car "over reacted" and braked so hard the people behind me had to swerve around me. The second time we were in stop and go traffic and it unexpectedly brought me to a complete stop and the person behind me hit me.

NHTSA ODI 11727320

Multiple times the vehicles forward collision system has slammed on the brakes almost causing rear end collisions. Usually will occur when vehicle in front begins to brake, but the car will slam on the brakes to a sudden stop rather than coasting to a stop. This will occur even while my foot will be pressing the brakes.

NHTSA ODI 11726269

Purchase my new car December 2026. My car has done that with people are calling Phantom breaking three times since I bought the car within the first month and a half. I was doing [XXX] the first time and there was nothing there and it just dead stopped what if somebody had been behind me and I caused it big accident? It happened again when I was doing [XXX] and it just dead stopped with for no reason. I purchased this car because I have a concussion cuz my former car was totaled I feel like the safety feature is a safety hazard and I'm scared because I have a concussion and a neck injury that it's going to cause more damage. I have to click the button to stop the front assist so it doesn't happen. I took my car in to the shop where I bought it at Bud Clary in Auburn and they said that there was nothing wrong with it that maybe my good to go pass was in the way which I didn't even have my good to go pass up yet at that time. I'm scared and I just bought this car. I wish I hadn't but then I see that Honda is having the same issue. They need to come up with a fix. They said that the calibrated it and it was fine that they made some dang excuse but it's scary and I'm afraid to even drive my car INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11725289

I purchased the car about 30 days ago. in that short time on two occasions, with absolutely NO REASON the 'Forward Safety Warning System' engaged and applied the brakes so severely that on both occasions i narrowly missed being rear-ended. Fortunately, all vehicle occupants had their seat belts on, otherwise we would have been thrown around the car. In the first occasion my husband was driving about 50 mph and BAM WHAM! Totally out of the blue the car throws itself into a complete stop for NO REASON...he was NOT close to any car. The second time happened today. i was in traffic going about 15 MPH and BAM WHAM! the car SLAMMED on the brakes and everything in our car went flying around the cabin and the car behind me had to evade from hitting me. I am afraid to drive this car under this situation. i saw i can turn off the braking system - but it only works for each ride and will come back every time i start the car. This is VERY VERY dangerous and is an accident waiting to happen. i wish i could give the car back.

NHTSA ODI 11723435

The brakes pushed down to the floor before the collision and wouldn’t stop the car my passenger was injured no warning system on the collision prevention and nothing engaged my foot was on the floor and there was about a 10 second delay before the brakes kicked in it’s all on dash cam

NHTSA ODI 11721876

I was in stop and go traffic on the highway. The car in front of me started going and I did as well. At this point, I was at least 3 car lengths behind them. They braked fairly quickly and I was as well. When I was braking, the FCA emergency braking enabled super prematurely. The result of the emergency braking caused the vehicle behind me to rear end me. My car has since been repaired, however this is super disappointing on a brand new car with 500 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11717044

I have had my car for a few weeks and have almost been rear ended 2 times. The first time I had the forward safety timing set at standard and the second time it was set at late. In both instances I was fully at a safe distance from the car in front of me and was applying the break myself. Upon investigating it seems like this is a common problem. Like it is too sensitive to the break of the car ahead and too harsh on its own breaks. I would like to be able to keep this feature turned off and not have to reset each time I start my car. I feel unsafe that the safety feature will actually cause an accident.

NHTSA ODI 11710438