Hyundai is recalling more than 421,000 vehicles in the United States because of a software issue that could cause the brakes to activate unexpectedly, raising the risk of a crash. The recall affects certain 2025 and 2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-in Hybrid models, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Federal regulators said software in the front cameras may trigger the forward collision avoidance system too early, leading the vehicle to apply the brakes without warning. The problem could create confusion for drivers and increase the chance of a collision, especially in traffic or at higher speeds.
Hyundai said it is aware of four crashes linked to the defect. Four people were reportedly injured in those incidents. The company has not described the injuries in detail, but the reports underscore the potential safety risk tied to the malfunction.
Owners of affected vehicles will receive notification letters by mail in mid-July. Hyundai said drivers can bring their vehicles to a dealership for a free software update intended to correct the issue. The repair is expected to address the camera software behavior that may cause the premature braking.
The recall adds to a series of recent safety actions by Hyundai. In April, the automaker recalled 290,000 vehicles because of a defect that could cause seatbelt anchors to fail. In March, Hyundai also announced it would stop selling certain 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims after a child death involving power seats that may not detect people or objects.
The latest recall affects a large number of popular SUVs and compact pickup trucks, reflecting the growing complexity of vehicle safety systems that rely on software, sensors, and cameras. While these systems are designed to help prevent accidents, flaws in their programming can introduce new hazards if they behave unpredictably.
Hyundai owners are being urged to check whether their vehicles are included in the recall and to schedule the free repair once notifications are received. Until the software update is installed, affected vehicles may remain at risk of sudden brake activation under certain conditions.
