The 2025 Hyundai Tucson is a refreshed version of the 2024 model. However, the automaker claims it has been comprehensively improved with “dramatic upgrades” that include safety and convenience features. However, a growing number of owners are complaining that these features are not safe at all, particularly since they mirror problems that 2024 model owners are experiencing.
Complaints about the 2025 Hyundai Tucson to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) focus on the forward collision avoidance and electrical systems, just as they do with the 2024 model. However, the most common problems relate to features that affect vehicle safety control, lane departure, and the forward collision avoidance system.
Other components and systems mentioned in complaints include backover prevention, engine, powertrain, serviced brakes, steering, and visibility/wiper, due to windshield defects.
Additionally, two recalls that affect the 2025 Hyundai Tucson.
NHTSA Campaign Number 24V877000 warns that as many as 42,465 Tucson and Santa Cruz vehicles are threatened by possible vehicle rollaway due to improperly routed wiring for the console extension. The danger is that this could allow the transmission to be shifted out of Park without applying the brake pedal, which increases the risk of a crash.
NHTSA Campaign Number 24V691000 alerts 65 2025 Tucson owners that there may be a glove box airbag warning label that may be missing. The danger is that operators may not realize the serious risk an airbag poses to an infant or child in the front seat. This, of course, increases the risk of injury to occupants of the vehicle.
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
16
16
Vehicle Speed Control
12
12
Lane Departure: Assist
7
7
Engine
5
5
Lane Departure: Warning
5
5
Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection
4
4
Forward Collision Avoidance and Other Safety Feature Problems
By May 2025, more than half (54%) of the complaints issued to the NHTSA were filed under forward collision avoidance. Additionally, all the complaints regarded as vehicle speed control, and 60% of lane departure problems are regarded by owners as being linked to forward collision avoidance. Issues include the emergency braking system activating erroneously, cruise control disengaging if it cannot make contact with a driver’s eyes, and drivers being advised to take a drive for supposed safety reasons without justification or technical basis.
Several complaints report crashes, including one that reports a failure to decelerate! An owner from Pennsylvania was driving at 15 mph and depressing the brake pedal to decelerate when an unknown warning light was illuminated and there was a sudden beeping sound. The result was that another vehicle crashed into the back of the Tucson. The airbags didn’t deploy, but luckily the driver wasn’t injured. The dealer couldn’t duplicate the failure, so simply turned off all except the rearview camera sensors. At the time of the crash, the Tucson had only done about 760 miles.
After owning a 2025 Tucson for only two weeks, a resident from Texas crashed after the forward collision avoidance sensors malfunctioned. The complaint states that “while driving, the car in front of me stopped and made a U-turn. There was no imminent risk of collision, yet my Tucson’s forward collision sensor erroneously activated and engaged the automatic braking system. This caused my vehicle to come to an abrupt stop, resulting in a rear-end collision.” It also highlights the owner’s extreme concern.
“This malfunction is extremely concerning, as a feature designed to prevent accidents, instead, directly caused one. If this issue exists in other Hyundai Tucson vehicles, it presents a severe hazard for drivers.”
Dangers of the Emergency Braking System
An owner from Massachusetts complained in March 2025 about two incidents where the emergency braking system applied itself when there was no reason for it to do so. “Both times there was a car in the distance, over 20 feet away that was slowing, and I was slowing as well. The second time it happened, it was with great force and I was fortunate that the car behind me was able to brake in time and avoid rear-ending me.”
In April 2025, another owner complained about the same problem. “The emergency braking system slams on brakes prematurely when the car in front of me is 4 or more car lengths ahead, which is causing the cars behind me to swerve to avoid rear -nding me. The safety of the emergency braking is making the car more dangerous to me and other motorists.”
There are other owners who are opting to turn the forward collision avoidance system off. Stating the system is scaring him, an owner stated, “I am now turning it off whenever I start the car. I was driving one day and a car abruptly stopped in front of me for a quick second but started rolling again rather quickly. I was slowing down and saw the car stopping. Before I could even react the car slammed on the brakes, completely locked the wheels up, and I came sliding to a stop. It almost caused me to be rear-ended, which I am glad did not happen but again very close. I am also worried it may detect oncoming traffic and slam on the brakes. I don’t like feeling that I’m not in control of the vehicle.”
Drivers Told to Take A Break
According to an owner from Alabama, the notification “Consider taking a break” activated every 20-30 minutes — “even though I am a safe driver.” This, the complaint states, is a distraction while driving, which is more dangerous than the warning itself. “I would like for you to contact Hyundai to find a way to disconnect this, for they say it can not be disabled. Disabling can be done on older models, but not newer models and it is a safety hazard.”
A complaint posted by a South Carolina owner, records being told to take a break. “The ‘consider taking a break’ message flashes and dings which startles and distracts me and is not safe while I’m driving. It does this even when I am driving safe.”
Electrical System
Electrical problems are varied, however several implicate faulty batteries. There are also several that report screen malfunctions.
Battery Problems
An owner from Pennsylvania first had an issue after 984 miles when reversing the SUV into my garage. At first, there were warning lights that affected the braking system and power steering. The driver also experienced “a dead pedal.” The next day there was a “Check driver assistance system” warning, even though power steering was available and the brake pedal appeared to be working. Initially, the Hyundai dealer wasn’t able to assist until the following week, but after the owner called and expressed safety concerns “they immediately took the car and put me in a loaner. Code: DTC C165686 and DTC C162587.” The owner learned that the manufacturer had told the dealership weeks ago that the error is due to a bad hybrid battery.
After complaining that the Tucson battery had been completely dead twice, and at the dealership for 3 weeks, the Illinois owner complained a second time to the NHTSA. This states that the battery issue was still not resolved a month later. “I had to jump-start the vehicle twice, leading to significant inconvenience as I drove nearly an hour each way to the dealership. This situation has resulted in lost work hours and has left me feeling mentally and physically exhausted. Despite my efforts, I still have not received a satisfactory answer regarding the problem.”
Screen Malfunctions
Having leased a brand new 2025 Hyundai Tucson on March 15, 2025, with fewer than 10 miles on the odometer, someone from Massachusetts reported that after traveling only 10 miles after receiving the Tucson, “The vehicle’s screen malfunctioned, displaying burn-in and becoming non-functional. This issue significantly affects safety, as it renders the backup camera unusable during operation.”
The issue was not resolved when the SUV was taken in for a service on March 17 or on March 20, April 9, and April 11. In the complaint dated April 21, 2025, he states that “The vehicle has been in the service center for approximately 15 days since the date of purchase. In addition to the defective screen, the vehicle failed to start on one occasion, leaving me stranded alone in a parking lot, stuck in accessory mode with the brake locked. The car has also exhibited alignment issues, consistently pulling to the left while driving, which has required two alignments since the purchase date.”
A complaint from an owner in Florida reports that the dashboard screen display shut off while driving and it didn’t feel safe. The local confirmed the problem, but after a week there was no progress.
What to do if your 2025 Tucson is a Lemon?
If your 2025 Hyundai Tucson has recurring issues that affect its use or value, you may have a lemon on your hands. Lemberg Law has been helping vehicle owners with problems related to lemon law for many years and has successfully negotiated many settlements with automakers.
Forget the guesswork. We offer free, reliable evaluations. Just call our Helpline or fill out our contact form. In terms of the law, Hyundai is responsible for paying the legal fees in lemon law cases, so there’s no cost to you.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
