Another Hyundai is called for recall because of seats that crush children

Hyundai recalled 5,360 units of the Ioniq 9 in the United States because of a defect in the electric seats in the second row – the same type of failure that, in March, led to the death of a two-year-old girl crushed by the seats of a Palisade.

According to the manufacturer, the electric folding mechanism of the SUV’s rear seats may not react when it encounters an occupant or an object in the way, following the movement with force above the limits established by the automaker itself. Hyundai claims to have registered five consumer complaints and to have been notified of two alleged injuries related to the problem.

The campaign covers copies produced between March 17, 2025 and May 4, 2026. According to the automaker, 100% of the vehicles included have the defect. The investigation began in March, the same month that the Palisade case gained international repercussion.

Hyundai points out that, although the flaw is similar to that of the Palisade, the two models use different bank architectures, software, engines and suppliers.

Correction will be done by software

Owners of affected vehicles will begin to be notified on November 9. Until then, the manufacturer recommends caution in the use of electric seat folding functions.

At dealerships, technicians will check the software version of the seat controller and update the logic responsible for electrical functions. Those who chose to receive remote updates will be able to have the correction installed without going through the workshop.

Failure also affects Kia and Cadillac

The problem is not restricted to Hyundai. At the beginning of the year, Kia recalled hundreds of units of the 2027 Telluride in the United States for insufficient anti-crush protection in the second-row seats. In July, it was General Motors’ turn to report that the Cadillac Vistiq, a three-row electric car, could have a similar failure in the backrests of the last row.

The Ioniq 9 is Hyundai’s largest electric SUV. Built on the E-GMP platform, the same as the Kia EV9, it is 5.06 m long, has a 110.3 kWh battery and configurations for six or seven occupants — precisely the third row that requires the electric folding of the middle seats for access.

The model was shown at the São Paulo Motor Show in November 2025 and is expected in Brazil, but the recall announced by Hyundai is so far only valid for the North American market.