Hyundai has announced a significant recall affecting its 2025 Tucson and Santa Cruz models due to a concerning wiring defect. This issue can cause the vehicles to shift out of park without the brake pedal being engaged, increasing the risk of unintended rollaway and potential accidents. For owners of these vehicles, understanding the details of this recall is crucial for ensuring safety and addressing the problem promptly.
The recall, as detailed in a notice from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), impacts all 2025 Hyundai Santa Cruz and Hyundai Tucson vehicles sold in the United States. Specifically, this involves over 35,500 Tucson SUVs and approximately 6,900 Santa Cruz sport adventure vehicles. While NHTSA estimates that about 1% of these vehicles may actually have the defect, the scope of the recall is comprehensive to cover all potentially affected units. This proactive measure highlights Hyundai’s commitment to safety and addressing potential issues before they escalate.
The core problem lies within the console extension wiring assembly in these models. A fault in this wiring can lead to the transmission unexpectedly shifting out of the “park” position. Normally, modern vehicles are designed to prevent shifting out of park unless the driver is pressing the brake pedal. This safety mechanism is bypassed in the affected vehicles due to the wiring issue, creating a scenario where the car could roll away if parked on an incline, even when the gear selector indicates “park.” This poses a significant safety hazard and necessitates immediate attention from vehicle owners.
2025 Hyundai Tucson in silver color, model year affected by the rollaway recall due to wiring issue. Image courtesy of Hyundai.
For owners of 2025 Hyundai Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles, Hyundai and NHTSA advise taking a simple but crucial interim safety step: consistently using the parking brake whenever parking their vehicles, especially on any kind of slope. This will act as a secondary safety measure to prevent any potential rollaway incidents until the recall repair is completed. Hyundai has stated that dealers will perform the necessary repairs free of charge to vehicle owners. The remedy involves rerouting the console extension wiring assembly to eliminate the possibility of unintended gear shifting.
Hyundai anticipates beginning to notify affected vehicle owners via mail starting on January 19, 2025. These notifications will provide detailed instructions on how to proceed with the recall repair at authorized Hyundai dealerships. The timeline allows owners to prepare for the service appointment and schedule it at their convenience once recall letters are received.
Interestingly, the issue was initially identified in late October following a report concerning a 2025 Tucson from a corporate fleet that moved unexpectedly. Subsequent investigation in early November revealed that the same wiring concern could also affect the Santa Cruz model, prompting a thorough review and the eventual recall decision by Hyundai’s North America Safety Decision Authority on November 13. It’s important to note that Hyundai has reported no incidents of accidents, injuries, fatalities, or fires related to this specific rollaway issue in customer vehicles that have already been sold.
This recall is separate from another recent action by Hyundai, which involves over 145,000 electric vehicles under the Genesis and IONIQ brands. That recall addresses a potential issue with the Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU) that could impede battery charging. While both recalls demonstrate Hyundai’s vigilance in monitoring and addressing potential vehicle defects, the Tucson and Santa Cruz recall is specifically focused on preventing a hazardous rollaway situation due to a wiring flaw.
In conclusion, the Hyundai Tucson Recall for 2025 models is a significant safety measure to address a potential rollaway risk. Owners of affected vehicles should utilize the parking brake as an immediate precaution and stay informed about recall notifications from Hyundai to schedule the free repair service. This proactive recall underscores Hyundai’s commitment to vehicle safety and customer well-being.
