Hyundai Motor North America has issued a recall for more than 42,000 vehicles over a wiring issue that could cause the vehicles to roll away unexpectedly. The recall, announced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), applies to the 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz and Hyundai Tucson models in the U.S.
Details of the Recall
The affected vehicles have transmissions that may shift out of the “park” position without requiring the brake pedal to be applied. This defect increases the risk of crashes or injuries. According to the NHTSA, approximately 35,500 Tucson SUVs and 6,900 Santa Cruz pickup SUV hybrids are impacted. Hyundai estimates that only about 1% of the recalled vehicles have the defect.
Models Affected:
- 2025 Hyundai Tucson: A compact SUV starting at over $28,000. It also offers hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, which are expected to arrive later this fall. It is currently unclear if the recall will affect these upcoming models.
- 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz: A pickup/SUV hybrid starting at over $33,000.
Recommended Actions for Owners
The NHTSA has advised owners of the affected vehicles to use the parking brake when parking until the issue is resolved. Hyundai dealerships will reroute the console extension wiring assembly to fix the defect free of charge.
Hyundai has stated that letters notifying owners of the recall will be mailed on January 19, 2025. In the meantime, the company has assured the public that there have been no reports of injuries, crashes, or fires related to this issue in already sold vehicles.
Discovery of the Issue
The wiring issue was first identified in late October 2024, when Hyundai’s North American Safety Office received a report of a 2025 Tucson from a corporate fleet moving on its own. By early November, Hyundai discovered that the same wiring defect also affected Santa Cruz vehicles. Following a review by the North America Safety Decision Authority on November 13, a decision was made to issue the recall.
Additional Recalls for Hyundai Electric Vehicles
This recall is not Hyundai’s only recent safety concern. The company has also recalled over 145,000 electric Genesis and IONIQ vehicles, including the 2023-2025 IONIQ 6 and Genesis GV60 models. These vehicles have been recalled due to potential damage to their integrated charging control units (ICCU), which could prevent the batteries from charging.
For the electric vehicle recall, dealers will inspect and replace the ICCU and its fuse if necessary, as well as update the ICCU software. These repairs will also be provided free of charge. Owners of the affected electric vehicles will receive their recall letters on January 17, 2025.
What’s Next for Hyundai?
Hyundai continues to work closely with the NHTSA to address these safety concerns. The company has emphasized its commitment to resolving these issues promptly and ensuring customer safety.
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