2025 Hyundai Tucson · symptom sheet

Brakes on its own (automatic emergency braking)

79owner reports
4,000median miles
18involved a crash

Newest report Sep 1, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

160 of the 278 complaints on this car are about collision avoidance. 79 of those describe phantom braking, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2025 Tucson.

Tick what matches of 79 reports

nothing was in front of me

on the highway

near an overpass, shadow or truck

nearly rear-ended

the dealer found no fault

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the radar or camera sensor (15 reports), the software (11 reports) and the windshield (3 reports).

Recalls and investigations

One recall on collision avoidance covers the 2025 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

26V-316May 19, 2026

Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.

Risk and remedy

Risk: Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 20, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into collision avoidance on the Tucson

AQ23-002opened Nov 17, 2023

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 2010 to 2021

Hyundai and kia abs module fires. Open.

NHTSA summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kiaâs defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

None of these investigations covers the 2025 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 1,300 and 7,500 miles, from the 15 reports that gave a mileage.

2425

5526

What owners wrote

“The automatic braking system has slammed on when traveling at least three times now when there is nothing close by or in front of me. One time a piece of a bag was fluttering on the roadside by me and my t slammed to a full stop almost causing an accident.”
Filed Mar 18, 2026

“I was following another car on an urban main street. We were approacing a red light, we were both slowing down and my Tucson Hybrid slammed on the brakes unexpectedly when we were close to the stop the stop light. There was no risk of me hitting the car in front of me. Fortunately, there was no car behind me.”
Filed Feb 7, 2026

“I started to accelerate from a full-stop to turn left at arrow onto highway ramp and car's emergency brakes came on with a real jolt - almost rear-ended by semi behind me. So scary. So dangerous. Backache, now, too.”
Filed Jan 14, 2026

“The automatic brake system triggers when there is no obstacle. It has caused the car to stop suddenly in the middle of the road and almost become rear ended several times. We took it to the Hyundai service center and they said theyâve had complaints of this before but checked the system and donât see any issues.”
Filed Dec 29, 2025

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 18 of 79 reports involved a crash and 9 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.