Hyundai Palisade 2026: What You Need to Know About the Safety Recall and Its Impact

[The Public = Reporter Yoo Sujin] Hyundai Motor has halted U.S. sales of the new Palisade after local safety concerns surfaced, interrupting momentum for a model that had become a strong seller. The move follows a March 7 incident in Ohio in which a two-year-old child died; international reports have raised questions about a potential defect in the SUV’s power-operated seats.

Hyundai Motor North America said on March 13 that it will temporarily stop sales of the 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims and has initiated a voluntary recall.

The company said it will improve the Palisade’s anti-pinch detection system before resuming sales.

Hyundai plans to finalize recall details for vehicles already sold and submit that information this week to South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The recall is expected to cover more than 130,000 vehicles built through March 11, including roughly 57,000 units in South Korea and about 74,000 in North America.

Hyundai said it will deploy an over-the-air (OTA) software update by the end of the month to improve detection logic and will provide alternative transportation to affected customers until a permanent repair is implemented.

The automaker apologized for the incident and said it will keep customer safety as its top priority, conduct a thorough review and work to restore trust and satisfaction.

The action follows reporting by Reuters that a two-year-old girl died in Ohio on March 7 in an incident involving a Palisade’s power-adjustable seat.

Hyundai said certain new Palisade models’ second- and third-row power seats may fail to properly detect contact with occupants or objects, but the company did not disclose further details about the Ohio case.

The company offered its deepest condolences to the child’s family and said the incident is under investigation, with details not yet confirmed.

The sales pause comes as the Palisade was enjoying strong demand in the U.S., and it threatens to slow the model’s momentum.

The new Palisade sold 10,025 units in the U.S. in February, a 28.4% increase year-over-year. Strong Palisade performance helped Hyundai post a February record of 71,407 vehicles sold in the U.S.

Palisade sales in January also rose 28.7% year-over-year to 8,604 units, contributing to Hyundai’s best-ever monthly U.S. sales.

Hyundai said it will prioritize customer safety, thoroughly investigate the defect and focus on regaining consumer trust.