Toddler killed by Hyundai SUV energy seat in freak accident sparking mass recall
Lucia Natalia Ayala, aged two, was reportedly crushed to death by the power seat in her family’s new 2026 Hyundai Palisade SUV. Hyundai has issued a mass recall due to the tragedy
Lucia Natalia Ayala, 2(Image: Funeral Home)
A toddler has tragically been crushed to death by the power seat in her family’s new Hyundai SUV. Lucia Natalia Ayala, from Akron, Ohio, was trapped and suffocated by the car seat after a button was accidentally pressed, causing one of the rear seats to move forward, according to the medical examiner.
The incident occurred on 7 March when the 2026 Hyundai Palisade was parked outside the Restaurant Depot. Lucia’s dad and other bystanders rushed to try and free the child during the horror. Despite their best efforts the toddler passed away leaving her family to grapple with “unimaginable grief”.
A full review into the girl’s death is being conducted by a medical examiner, but the death has been recorded as a “child compressed by power folding seat in a parked SUV”. Her father informed police that the seats weren’t functioning properly as they tried to understand what had happened.
Lt. Michael Murphy told the Daily Mail that it was a “freak accident where, however the button was pressed, it went down and essentially crushed the child,” reports the Mirror US.
“It is with heavy hearts and unimaginable grief that the family of Lucia Natalia announces her passing on March 7, 2026,” her family penned in her public obituary. Lucy was a spunky, energetic little goofball whose personality filled every room she entered.
The obituary added: “Though Lucia’s time with our family was far too short, what a blessing it has been to have such a true ‘light’ in our lives, and a light like hers was never meant to shine for just a moment.”
The tragic death of the girl triggered a recall of approximately 68,500 units of the car model across the US and Canada. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a warning stating “power rear seats may trap a person”.
The notice said: “Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2026 Palisade and 2026 Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with a Limited or Calligraphy trim package.
“The second and third row power seats may fail to detect a person. The seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat functions, such as one-touch tilt-and-slide or automatic power fold-and-stow.” Car owners are being urged to be extremely careful when using the power seat until the problem is fixed.
The notice added: “Children are advised to not be in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operation.”
Hyundai has expressed its deepest condolences to Lucia’s family. A representative for the company stated: “The final remedy is a software update that addresses a condition in which these power seat functions may not detect contact with an occupant or object as intended.”
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