Hyundai Australia has issued a voluntary recall of 1,619 Elexio electric SUVs over a fault that can trigger sudden, unnecessary braking, and it has stopped delivering new cars until a permanent fix is ready.
What is wrong
The fault sits in the Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist system on the Hyundai Elexio, which Hyundai says can brake hard when nothing is in the way, raising the risk of a rear-end crash. The recall covers every Chinese-built Elexio handed over so far, about 944 to the end of October, plus the stock still waiting to be delivered. A software update in August was meant to calm the braking but did not fully fix it, and Hyundai says the real remedy needs new hardware as well as software, possibly not ready until February 2027.
Cartell Assessment
Halting deliveries of a brand-new model is a serious step, and the right one when the safety system itself is the hazard. Hyundai is offering affected owners a loan car in the meantime, but a fix that could be months away is a rough start for its first China-built car in Australia.
AU Outlook
Owners do not have to stop driving, but they should contact Hyundai Customer Care on 1800 186 306, and can check their VIN on the federal recalls register once the formal notice appears this week. The $59,990 drive-away Elexio Elite, a rival to the Tesla Model Y and Kia EV5, now has to win back trust before it can chase those sales.
