Hyundai has announced a recall of 5360 Ioniq 9 2026 model year crossovers in the USA. The defect affects vehicles in Limited, Calligraphy, and Calligraphy Design trims equipped with power-operated second-row seats. 

The problem lies in the seat control software. The system may fail to recognize a person or object in the path of the mechanism and continue automatic folding. As a result, a passenger, especially a child, could become trapped between the seat components. 

According to NHTSA, the recall includes vehicles manufactured from March 17, 2025, to May 4, 2026, at the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America in Georgia. Hyundai has received five complaints, two of which involved reported minor injuries.

The solution is indicative of modern cars: a mechanical problem is resolved not by replacing the seat itself, but by updating the controller software. Depending on the vehicle, the firmware can be installed remotely or at a dealer free of charge.

Until the repair, Hyundai recommends keeping children out of the second-row area during automatic seat folding.

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