2026 Hyundai Tucson Complaint Log

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.

Every time we drive our brand new Tucson on the highway the driver assistance warning is constantly flashing a coffee cup symbol on the dashboard along with an audible bell dinging and text suggesting we pull over and take a break for no apparent reason other than we're on a highway at highway speed. It's very distracting and upsetting to say the least and there's no way to disable the defective feature.

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.

The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes independently activated. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle had stopped in the middle of traffic. The contact's minor children were inside the vehicle and seated in the rear seats. The contact stated that during the failure, the vehicle jerked forward abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 700.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After 3 months and 840 miles, my 2026 Hyundai Tucson wouldn't respond one morning. No power at all, including to unlock the car. Road side assistance struggled to jump out but finally the car started, but the cluster panel would not turn on. I had to drive to the dealership with no speedometer or other screen sensors, as well as a lack of blinker or lights. This is outrageous because I barely drive the car and it's brand new.

Wife was driving car and the steering locked up and she could not turn it for about 5 seconds. second issue was put it in reverse and it would not come out of reverse, she had to turn car off and on 3 times to get it to put it in park or drive. I ran this through my Claude AI and it says this is an ongoing problem with the Hyundai Tucson. Please make them fix this before selling anymore vehicles as both are major safety hazards.

I am writing to formally document a serious, recurring safety defect in ou 2026 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, purchased less than a month ago. The vehicle has now exhibited multiple distinct dashboard warning faults related to the electronic shifter system, has left me stranded on more than one occasion, and has been sitting at Schomp Hyundai in [XXX] , for the second time, for over one week, with no resolution. The dealership has been unable — or unwilling — to properly diagnose the issue despite photographic documentation of the active fault warnings and the existence of Hyundai-issued Technical Service Bulletins directly addressing this problem. This letter serves as formal written notice pursuant to Colorado's Lemon Law (C.R.S. § 42-10-101 et seq. Since taking delivery, I have experienced multiple occurrences of two distinct dashboard fault warnings on this vehicle. Both have been photographically documented with date-stamped images: • "Shifter System Malfunction! Service Immediately" — The vehicle became inoperable and could not shift gears, leaving me stranded. "PARK Malfunction. Engage parking brake when parking vehicle." — A secondary fault indicating failure of the electronic park system, creating a serious safety hazard. These faults are not related to any collision or external damage. They are pre-existing manufacturing defects that began occurring in the first week of purchase. Notably, this is a known and documented issue affecting Hyundai Tucson Hybrid models. Hyundai has issued Technical Service Bulletins TSB #21-AT-007H and TSB #21-AT-009H. I drove the vehicle approximately 8 times (including to and from the repair center) and have had the issue multiple times.I am formally requesting the following immediate actions: • Direct the dealership to perform a complete GDS historical DTC scan per TSB #21-AT-007H and #21-AT-009H and provide full written results. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

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

A persistent and dangerous safety defect regarding my 2026 Hyundai Tucson. Since February 19, 2026, I have experienced a chemical/burning odor when the heater is in operation. More alarmingly, exposure to these fumes while driving causes me and a passenger to experience severe headaches and dizziness, rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate. To date, I have presented the vehicle for repair on five separate occasions, including four visits to Suresky Hyundai and a "second opinion" visit to Healey Hyundai on April 2, 2026. Despite my documented physical symptoms and repeated visits, technicians have dismissed the issue as a "new car smell" or claimed the vehicle is "operating as designed."

I was parking my 2 month old car going only about 5 mph & had to press the brake all the way to the floor to stop. There were no warning lights. I had it towed to the dealership & the tow driver confirmed that there was a lot of play in the pedal. The dealership had it for almost a month & could not duplicate the issue or find the problem. I am afraid it will happen again. Hopefully, if so, it will be at a low speed again.

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.

The Hyundai Tucson has a warning "Consider taking a coffee break" which cannot be disabled. This is a distraction which can cause an accident. Driver should be allowed to disable it.

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)

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.

The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the contact became aware that the fuel economy was poor and failed to meet the standard. The contact stated that while tracking the fuel consumption, the contact discovered that the vehicle's fuel economy was 26 MPG instead of 36 MPG. The defect was brought to the attention of the dealer, and the vehicle was test driven; however, the dealer stated that the vehicle was performing as designed and that there were no issues found with the fuel consumption. The contact was informed that the issue might be related to the way the vehicle was driven, and the contact disputed the claim. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 500.