The issue is related to the trailer hitch wiring harness, which is secured in a zone where water might enter. Moisture can cause a short circuit in the control module, leading either to the failure of trailer lighting and brake lights or overheating and wiring fire.
Hyundai does not prohibit the use of the vehicles until repaired; however, it recommends parking them away from buildings and other vehicles. Recall work is expected to begin no earlier than the second half of February 2026.
The recall affects not only vehicles with a factory-installed trailer hitch. In the US, 1,338 wiring kits were also sold for dealer-installation, which will also need inspection.
This is not the first Hyundai recall related to wiring. In October, the company recalled 136,000 Santa Fe vehicles due to a starter wiring harness defect, and a month earlier, 143,000 crossovers from the 2024–2025 years were recalled due to faulty rearview cameras.
Source: Carscoops
