Safety Concerns Arise Over Power Folding Seats in SUVs

A TikTok video by Arizona mother Whitney Sheahan has garnered over 40 million views, highlighting a critical safety issue with power folding seats in SUVs. In her video, Sheahan tested the power folding back seat of her new Ford Expedition by placing a baby-sized doll on the third-row seat and activating the auto fold feature. Contrary to her expectations, the seat continued to fold down, completely flattening the doll. This demonstration was prompted by a tragic incident involving a two-year-old girl from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who died after a similar power seat malfunction in her family’s 2026 Hyundai Palisade. The child was pinned by the seat while her father briefly stepped out of the vehicle, leading to her death at Akron Children's Hospital. The Summit County Medical Examiner ruled the incident an accident.

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Following the incident, Hyundai swiftly issued a stop sale for the 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims on March 13, 2023. The company subsequently announced a recall affecting approximately 68,500 vehicles in the United States and Canada. Kia also initiated a recall for 568 units of the 2027 Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige and X Line SX Prestige with the Executive Package. Hyundai is currently deploying an over-the-air software update through its Bluelink system to enhance the seat's ability to detect people and objects, while a permanent fix is still under development.

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The issue of power folding seats has raised alarms among consumers. Ashley Groussman, a mother in Los Angeles, recounted her experience with a 2026 Palisade Calligraphy, where the power seat began folding down on her nine-year-old daughter after a friend inadvertently bumped the button. She had to physically pull her child to safety. Additionally, Consumer Reports identified at least three prior complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding Palisade seats moving unexpectedly.

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The situation has prompted advocacy for improved safety measures. Amber Rollins, director of Kids and Car Safety, has been vocal about the need for an effective auto reverse system on all power folding seats, emphasizing that such technology should never pose a risk to small children. Despite the growing concerns, Ford has not yet issued a recall for the Expedition or commented on Sheahan’s video, and the 2026 Expedition currently has no NHTSA recalls related to its power folding seats.

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While Sheahan's video has sparked widespread concern, some viewers have suggested that her Expedition's seat may be defective, with other 2024 Expedition owners reporting that their seats retract immediately upon contact with lightweight objects. This discrepancy raises questions about the consistency of safety features across different vehicle models.

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• “Literally broke my heart,” — Whitney Sheahan, TikTok User

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• “Omg is there no sensor to make it stop??” — Commenter on TikTok

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• “Amber Rollins, who runs the group Kids and Car Safety, has been pushing for a real auto reverse system on all power folding seats, saying the technology should never be able to crush a small child.” — Amber Rollins, Kids and Car Safety

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The unfolding narrative surrounding power folding seats in SUVs underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols and consumer awareness.

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