Hyundai Stops Sales of 2026 Palisade After Fatal Rear Seat Incident

Limited and Calligraphy Trims Pulled from Sale

The 2026 Hyundai Palisade comes in a range of trims for families after a three-row SUV. But if you’re in the market for one today, you might want to stay away from the two top-spec options.

Hyundai just told dealers in the US and Canada to stop selling the 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims. The reason? A safety problem with the power seats in the second and third rows.

The issue is with the power-folding system for the rear seats. Sometimes, it doesn’t detect when someone or something is in the way as the seats move. This affects both the power-fold function and the one-touch tilt-and-slide feature for getting into the third row.

Remedy Is Still in Development

According to Hyundai, this latest move follows a tragic incident involving a Palisade in which a young child lost her life. The company said the situation is still under investigation and that full details of the event are not yet known. Hyundai extended its condolences to the child’s family while noting that safety remains its top priority.

Hyundai is getting ready to file a recall with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but there’s no official recall notice yet. The numbers are big: about 68,500 of the 2026 Palisades are affected, with over 60,000 in the US and nearly 8,000 in Canada.

Moreover, Hyundai is still working on a permanent fix. When it’s ready, dealers will handle the recall repair for free. In the meantime, Hyundai plans to roll out an over-the-air (OTA) software update by the end of March. It’s not the final fix, but it should help the system better spot people or objects during rear seat movement and add extra safety checks.

What Current Owners Should Do

Hyundai is already reaching out to Palisade owners by email, phone, and through dealers. Until there’s a permanent fix, Hyundai says to be extra careful with the power seat controls. Double-check that no one, especially kids, is in the way before moving the seats.

Hyundai also suggests skipping the seatback button when using the second-row tilt-and-slide, especially if people are getting in or out. If you’d rather not use your Palisade until it’s fixed, dealers may be able to set you up with a rental.

This isn’t the first time the Palisade has faced trouble. The previous generation (2020 to 2025) was recalled for airbag problems, which led to a lawsuit and affected over half a million SUVs.

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