Wirtz Law Blog

Hyundai Motor North America has announced a recall involving over 42,000 vehicles from its 2025 lineup of Hyundai Tucson SUVs and Santa Cruz crossover pickups. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the problem stems from a wiring issue that can cause the vehicle to shift out of “park” without the brake pedal being pressed.

The recall includes all 2025 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles sold in the United States. Over 35,000 are Tucson models, and just under 7,000 are Santa Cruz models. Although the NHTSA estimates only about 1 percent of the recalled vehicles have the defect, the risk of an unexpected rollaway has prompted immediate action from the manufacturer to avoid potential accidents or injuries.

What Caused the Issue

Hyundai’s safety team began investigating the problem after receiving a report in October 2024 involving a 2025 Tucson from a corporate fleet. The vehicle reportedly moved on its own while parked. A few weeks later, Hyundai found that a similar issue could also affect the Santa Cruz model.

The problem was traced back to how the wiring harness was installed at the factory. If the wires interfere with the shift lever lock, the gear selector can be moved out of park without pressing the brake. In some situations, even an accidental bump of the shifter might cause it to engage.

How Hyundai is Responding

The automaker has not received any reports of accidents, injuries, fatalities, or fires linked to the wiring defect. Still, the risk of unintentional movement is enough for a formal recall. Owners of the affected vehicles were notified by mail starting January 19.

Hyundai dealers will carry out the recall repairs at no cost to the vehicle owner. The repair involves rerouting the console wiring to prevent future interference with the shift mechanism. While the vehicles are still considered safe to drive, Hyundai recommends that owners use the parking brake every time the vehicle is parked to reduce the risk of it rolling away unexpectedly.

Additional Hyundai Recall for Electric Vehicles

Hyundai has also recalled more than 145,000 IONIQ 6 and Genesis GV60 electric vehicles from model years 2023 to 2025. These vehicles have a different issue. Damage to the integrated charging control units (ICCU) may cause the battery to stop charging.

Owners of the affected electric models were scheduled to receive recall notices by January 17. Dealers will examine and, if necessary, replace the ICCU and fuse. They will also update the software that manages the charging system. The services will be provided free of cost.

What to Do if Your Vehicle is Affected

If you own a 2025 Tucson or Santa Cruz that is part of the recall, schedule the repair as soon as possible. In the meantime, always use your parking brake to help reduce the risk of a rollaway.

If your Hyundai continues to have issues after the recall repair or experiences other recurring vehicle problems, you may want to speak with a California lemon law attorney about your rights. The law is on your side, and you should not have to keep dealing with a vehicle that isn’t working the way it should.

What Consumers Should Know About the California Lemon Law

Vehicle defects can be frustrating for anyone, but they are especially difficult for California drivers who depend on their cars daily. Fortunately, the state has strong consumer protection laws that may help.

Under California’s lemon law, consumers who buy or lease a new vehicle with a serious defect may be entitled to a buyback or replacement. To qualify, the problem must substantially affect the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. The manufacturer must also be given a reasonable number of attempts to fix the issue, sometimes as few as two.

Even though Hyundai has announced a fix for the wiring issue, some vehicles may continue to experience problems even after the repair. If you notice recurring issues or new concerns after the recall work is completed, you may have a lemon law claim.

Contact Wirtz Law APC

At Wirtz Law APC, we help consumers hold automakers accountable for defective vehicles. If you are dealing with a potential lemon law claim, contact our skilled California lemon law lawyers today to learn more. We can guide you on your legal options for recovering compensation.