– A Hyundai class action lawsuit alleges that 2025 Hyundai Tucson SUVs are equipped with defective automatic emergency braking systems.
California prosecutor Dennis Sperling owns a 2025 Hyundai Tucson and complains that his vehicle has “experienced brake failure in his vehicle multiple times.”
The alleged “brake failure” occurs when the Tucson’s automatic emergency braking system is suddenly and accidentally activated while driving.
The lawsuit does not describe any incidents the plaintiff experienced, but he complains that Hyundai rushed the feature to market and used cheap radar and components for the braking systems.
According to the class action, automatic emergency braking is included in Hyundai’s “Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection.”
“When the system detects a vehicle or pedestrian in front of you, it warns you of a possible collision. If you do not start to stop in time, the system can automatically brake. In addition, the FCA system can also brake when turning left at an intersection when the risk of a collision with an oncoming vehicle is detected.” — Hyundai
The lawsuit alleges that the automatic emergency braking system activates when there are no objects in the roadway, causing sudden unintended braking. And even if only the pre-braking warnings are activated, the class action claims that a driver will be distracted while driving by the “sudden, blaring visual and audible warnings.”
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson owner’s manual contains several pages about limitations and possible malfunctions of the systems.
“Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist may be disabled, may not function properly or may operate unnecessarily depending on road conditions and surroundings.” — Malfunctions and limitations of the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist
And the class action goes on to say: “Each of the user manuals states that the system ‘may not function properly, or operate unexpectedly’ in certain circumstances, such as:”
The temperature around the front camera is high or low due to the environment
Street lamp or light from oncoming traffic is reflected on the wet road surface, like a puddle on the road
Only part of the vehicle, motorized two-wheeler, pedestrian or cyclist, is detected
The vehicle or motorized two-wheeler in front of it is a bus, heavy truck, truck with an unusually shaped load, trailer, etc.
The rear of the front vehicle is small or the vehicle does not look normal, such as when the vehicle is tilted or tilted, or the side of the vehicle is visible, etc.
The ground clearance of the front vehicle is low or high
The temperature around the front radar is high or low
Driving through a tunnel or iron bridge
Driving in vast areas where there are few vehicles or structures (e.g. desert, meadow, suburb, etc.)
Driving near areas where metallic substances are present, such as a construction site, railway line, etc.
There is a material nearby that is highly reflective to the front radar, such as a guardrail, a nearby vehicle, etc.
The cyclist in the front sits on a bicycle made of material that does not reflect on the front radar
The vehicle or motorized two-wheeler in front of you is detected too late
The vehicle or motorized two-wheeler in front of you suddenly changes lanes or suddenly reduces speed
The vehicle or motorized two-wheeler in front of it is bent
The vehicle in front is covered in snow
You leave or return to the roadway
You are at a roundabout and the vehicle or motorized two-wheeler in front of you is not detected
You continuously drive in a circle
The vehicle in front has an unusual shape
The vehicle in front of you is driving uphill or downhill
But the plaintiff complains that this only shows how Hyundai knew its driver assistance systems were defective from the moment the vehicles were first sold.
“Furthermore, a vague statement that the system ‘may not function properly’ downplays the potential severity and consequences of sudden unintentional braking when the car is traveling at high speed. The statement does not provide sufficient insight into what a lack of ‘proper function’ would actually entail.” — Hyundai Tucson Lawsuit
The 2025 Hyundai Tucson automatic emergency braking lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California: Dennis Sperling vs. Hyundai Motor America.
The plaintiff is represented by Smith Krivoshey, PC, and Furia Law LLC.
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