Check a VIN

Hyundai Tucson phantom braking problems

21 of the 6,347 owner complaints about the Hyundai Tucson describe brakes engage by themselves (phantom braking), most of them for the 2025 model year.

owner complaints
21
worst model year
2025
typical mileage
4,000
Is there a fix? There are 5 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Oct 30, 2026 · Driver assistance · 6,173 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2026 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and merging into traffic, the vehicle experienced phantom braking, causing the vehicle to abruptly stop in the middle of the road while in busy traffic. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed about the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V316000 (FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 6,173.

Filed Aug 4, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · OH · crash · 1 injury

My Gf was driving car coming up on stopped traffic when automatic braking engaged slamming on brakes for no reason causing the car behind to rear end my vehicle, My Gf was transported to hospital with 4 broken ribs with each rib having multiple fractures, She was in ICU for 2 days and total of 4 days. She has had to go back for another 1 day stay for pain and breathing difficulty.

Filed Jul 29, 2026 · Driver assistance, Electrical · TX

On July 24, 2026, while driving on a marked city street with no vehicle, pedestrian, or obstruction ahead, the Forward Collision-Avoidance system on our 2022 Hyundai Tucson Limited AWD applied emergency braking on its own, three to four separate times, each lasting one to two seconds. Traffic behind us nearly struck our vehicle. My family was in the car. This is the latest event in a progressive electrical fault history. In June 2025, under warranty at 48,037 miles, a Hyundai dealer documented recurring multi-system warning cascades (forward safety, lane keeping, high beam assist, speed limit warning) and a failed auto start/stop system. The dealer's listed resolution was "battery voltage / replace battery"; their invoice records that no repair was performed. We replaced the battery at our own expense. The faults continued. In June 2026, the start/stop system shut the engine off at a red light and the vehicle would not restart, leaving us disabled in a live traffic lane. Power was only restored by cycling the hood release. Since then, TCM and ECU software updates and a battery harness replacement (our expense, approx. $1,200) have been performed. The faults persisted after these repairs and have now escalated to uncommanded emergency braking. Date- and time-stamped video and photographs exist for multiple events. Two Hyundai dealerships have not identified a root cause. Similar phantom braking reports exist from other owners of this model year. We no longer consider the vehicle safe to drive.

Filed Jul 11, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · PA

Phantom braking while driving under a bridge. No cars around but Tucson warned collision while driving under a bridge and slammed on the brakes! This has happened multiple times. This fake safety feature is actually a hazard!

Filed Jun 24, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · MD

My 2022 Hyundai Tuscon came to a complete stop on the highway in Colorado twice in the last 2 months for no apparent reason. There weren't any obstacles or cars in front of me that would have caused the car to brake suddenly. I had passengers in the car and we were jolted forward. The air bags did not inflate and we were not hit from behind, but we could have been severely injured or killed. There are numerous "phantom braking" reports like this here on the federal safety agency site for the 2022 model as well as more recent models. Yet Hyundai has only issued recalls for the 2025 and 2026 models. How are you addressing this issue?

Filed May 7, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · PA

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Automatic braking system brakes for no reason when I am not near any cars traveling at high speed or even when I am already at a complete stop or moving very slowly but not anywhere near hitting the car in front of me. This has happened multiple times since I leased this car in July 2025 and it seems to be getting worse. I had a 45 min drive home today and it happened about 7 times all for no reason. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? It slams on the brakes unnecessarily and the cars behind me almost rear end me. This has happened on residential roads and highways. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I just called to take it in. They seemed to have no idea what I was talking about. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? not yet but I am taking it in asap Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? NONE

Filed Apr 27, 2026 · Driver assistance · 5,000 miles · CA · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2025 Hyundai Tucson. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle experienced intermittent phantom braking; the vehicle violently and suddenly slammed on the brakes with no obstructions present, causing the contact to sustain shoulder and back pain on several occasions. The contact did not seek medical assistance. The contact stated that the failure had progressively worsened. Additionally, the contact stated that the standard Smart Cruise Control (SCC)Â disengaged while driving. The contact stated that the failure had been intermittent, requiring the driver to manually re-engage the cruise control mode. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.

Filed Apr 27, 2026 · Driver assistance · OH · crash

Phantom Braking due to Forward collision detection has caused one front end collision in snow and one rear end collision in a construction zone while I was slowing down. In one instance it was snowing and in one instance it was in a dusty construction zone slowing for steel plates.

Filed Apr 27, 2026 · Driver assistance · OH · crash

I forgot to mention that with my two accidents while slowing down for traffic or a turn, that phantom braking happens almost every day now (it happened about 7 times in 4 minutes while I was on the highway, that's not exageration) Curves on the highway with a car diagonal to you in the center lane while you're passing, weird light reflection, falling snow, dust in a construction zone, anything. I can't drive with it on as it alerts to nothing. It's very scary to drive with it on, so now I have a useless safety feature that is really more like a death trap in the right circumstances, which will come.... Someone will be doing 70 on the highway, and their Hyundai Tucson will slam it's brakes on full tilt and it will cause injury and/or death. It's only a matter of time.

Filed Apr 23, 2026 · Driver assistance · NC

Subject: 2025 Hyundai Tucson - Persistent Phantom Braking Issue I am reporting a severe safety defect regarding the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA) system on my 2025 Hyundai Tucson. Since purchasing the vehicle, I have experienced five separate "Phantom Braking" incidents where the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) engaged abruptly without any obstacles in the path. In the most recent incident, the vehicle suddenly braked from 30 mph to 20 mph] while driving on a highway. There were no cars or objects in front of me. This unpredictable behavior is extremely dangerous as it almost caused a rear-end collision with trailing vehicles. I believe this is a systemic software or sensor defect that misinterprets shadows or road signs as hazards. I request a formal investigation into this safety risk.

Related recalls

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/moduleReported September 22, 2023 · 1,649,478 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Elantra, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid, 2012-2015 Accent, Azera, Veloster, 2013-2015 Elantra Coupe, Santa Fe, 2014-2015 Equus, 2010-2012 Veracruz, 2010-2013 Tucson, 2015 Tucson Fuel Cell, and 2013 Santa Fe Sport vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module may leak brake fluid internally and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
Risk
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024 through October 11, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 251.

Recall number 23V651000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/moduleReported February 3, 2022 · 357,348 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Santa Fe, 2017-2018 Santa Fe Sport, 2019 Santa Fe XL, and 2014-2015 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and cause an electrical short, which could result in an engine compartment fire.
Risk
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the ABS multi-fuse, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 218.

Recall number 22V056000 · Recall details

Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/moduleReported September 4, 2020 · 652,024 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) recalled certain 2019-2021 Tucson vehicles on September 4, 2020. On December 30, 2020, Hyundai expanded the recall population, and added certain 2016-2018 Tucson vehicles. The Anti-lock Brake Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) could corrode internally and cause an electrical short, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Risk
An engine compartment fire can increase the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy
Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the HECU fuse. For 2019-2021 model years, the Electronic Stability Control (ESC) software will also be updated. Recall repairs will be performed free of charge. Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures as a precaution until the recall repair is complete. The recall began November 2, 2020. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 195.

Recall number 20V543000 · Recall details

Parking brakeReported July 27, 2005 · 330 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger vehicles, the parking lever ratchet pawl was not properly manufactured and may damage the teeth of the parking lever ratchet. Damaged parking brake lever ratchet teeth may prevent the parking brake from engaging or may allow the parking brake to release after it has been engaged.
Risk
The inability to engage or the inadvertent release of the parking brake lever, may allow your vehicle to roll while it is parked and may result in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the parking brake lever assembly. The recall began on september 12, 2005. Owners may contact hyundai of puerto rico at 1‑800‑981‑0188.

Recall number 05V342000 · Recall details

Parking brakeReported July 7, 2005 · 6,146 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain sport utility vehicles, the parking brake lever ratchet pawl was not properly manufactured and my damage the teeth of the parking brake lever ratchet. Damaged parking brake lever ratchet teeth may prevent the parking brake from engaging or may allow the parking brake to release after it has been engaged.
Risk
The inability to engage, or the inadvertent release of, the parking brake lever may allow your vehicle to roll while it is parked and may result in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the parking brake lever assembly. The recall began on july 29, 2005. Owners may contact hyundai at 1‑800‑633‑5151.

Recall number 05V315000 · Recall details

Questions about the Hyundai Tucson phantom braking

Which Hyundai Tucson years have brakes engage by themselves (phantom braking) problems?

The model years with the most reports are 2025 (6 complaints), 2022 (5 complaints) and 2023 (4 complaints).

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used Hyundai Tucson?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history