Hyundai has issued a stop sale and plans to recall more than 60,000 of its Palisade SUVs following a fatal incident that is currently under investigation, a company news release said.
The Palisade is a popular mid-size family SUV model and a close relative of the Kia Telluride. It is the South Korean automaker’s largest SUV and one of its few three-row models.
Hyundai’s Palisade is getting a lot of attention from vehicle critics and fans of the brand following its redesign for the 2026 model year. Why is it being recalled and what should Palisade owners do to avoid incidents?
Why is Hyundai recalling the Palisade?
According to Hyundai’s release regarding the issue, Hyundai is recalling the Palisade because “in some situations, the second and third row power seats may not detect contact with a person or object”.
Power-operated second and third row seats may experience this detection problem, whether or not a person or object is occupying the row of seats.
Palisades is being investigated in connection with the tragic death of a 2-year-old girl in Ohio on March 7, according to the company’s stop sale notice.
A statement from the company said, “Although Hyundai does not yet have complete details and the incident is still under investigation, a little girl lost her life. Hyundai expresses its deepest condolences to her family.”
Which Hyundai Palisade models are being recalled?
One model year and two trims are recalled:
- 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited
- 2026 Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy
These upper trims come standard with power-folding third-row seats. Hyundai Motor North America released stop sales of the 2026 Palisade Limited and Palisade Calligraphy models in the United States and Canada.
What should you do if your Hyundai Palisade is recalled?
“Hyundai urges owners to use caution when operating the second and third row power seats and ensure that no persons or objects, including children, are in the seat or seat-folding area before operating the power seats,” the company said in a statement.
If you have a 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited or Palisade Calligraphy, “Avoid pressing the seatback button during entry or exit,” Hyundai advised.
If you must use the power-folding features of the second and third rows, the safest approach is to use them only when the vehicle is completely empty. This will allow owners to adjust their seating position or cargo space to their needs without the risk of injury to passengers.
Owners who are aware of this recall should exercise extreme caution when using these features before releasing and applying the fix.
What is Hyundai doing to solve the power-folding seat problem?
Hyundai is submitting final recall details to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. A recall repair is “currently under development” and Hyundai will offer rental vehicles to customers “until the full remedy is available.”
An over-the-air software update is also being developed that will “enhance the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects.” According to Hyundai, this update will be available by the end of March. Although it can’t solve the recall, it can help avoid tragedies until all affected vehicles are repaired.
Owners can contact Hyundai’s customer support center for queries related to the recall.
Charles Singh is an Autos Connect reporter for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at (email protected).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hyundai halts sales, recalls 60K Palisade SUVs after child’s death
Reporting by Charles Singh, USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect