Beware of electric folding second-row seats in Hyundai Ioniqa 9! Recall issued in the U.S., children at risk

In March 2026, the electric folding seat of the Hyundai Palisade injured a two-year-old child. It turns out that similar issues may exist with Hyundai Ioniq 9 seats, affecting 100 percent of vehicles produced between March 17, 2025, and May 4, 2026. Although Americans receive locally manufactured units, there are strong indications that the controllers are identical and function in the same way — therefore we recommend caution when folding the second-row seats in a Hyundai Ioniq 9 when there are passengers in the cabin.

Hyundai Ioniq 9. Electric folding only when no passengers are present

Electric actuators can operate with forces that are unimaginable to humans. Electrically operated doors can easily sever fingers, while electrically folding seats can break spines or pelvises. Engineers have known this for a long time, which is why they design such systems so that even the slightest resistance stops operation. Yet this failed in the Hyundai Palisade, with at least five complaints reported for this reason and two incidents resulting in injuries.

It turns out that the electrically adjustable second row of seats in the Hyundai Ioniq 9 has a similar issue, as acknowledged officially by the manufacturer. The seat may fail to detect resistance from [a person’s body] and act with forces that exceed those programmed. Worse still, this applies to all units produced between March 2025 and May 2026. Fortunately, due to differences in design between the Palisade and Ioniq 9, as well as the use of different seats, software, motors, and additional components, the issues are not identical.

Hyundai Ioniq 9, second row of seats

Nevertheless, Hyundai plans to begin informing its American customers about the issue starting November 9 of this year. It also advises caution when using the automated electric seat folding functions at present. Some customers will receive the appropriate software update online, while others will get it through the manufacturer’s service centers. From our perspective—even if we live in Europe and receive units from factories in South Korea—it is best to monitor the seating process and follow this logic: when picking up passengers, those at the very back get in first, while at the destination the order is reversed.

Editor’s note from Elektrowozu: It sounds like a ready-made excerpt from the script “Outwitting Fate,” unfortunately…

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