Hyundai recalls, halts sales of over 68K SUVs after child’s death

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. - Hyundai is suspending sales of certain 2026 Palisade SUVs in the United States and Canada while it investigates a potential safety problem involving the vehicle’s power-folding seats.

Hyundai issues recall, stops sales of 2026 Palisade SUVs

Big picture view:

Hyundai Motor North America said it has stopped selling the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims because the second- and third-row power seats may not properly detect contact with a person or object in some situations. The issue could occur during folding operations or when drivers use the second-row one-touch tilt-and-slide function.

The upcoming recall, which covers approximately 68,500 affected vehicles, includes about 60,515 SUVs in the United States and 7,967 in Canada.

Hyundai issues recall following child’s death

Dig deeper:

The company acknowledged a fatal incident involving a Palisade in which a young child died. Hyundai said the case remains under investigation and that the company does not yet have full details.

"Hyundai extends its deepest sympathies to her family," the company said in a statement.

Hyundai urges using caution when operating recalled features

What's next:

Hyundai said it is in the process of submitting the recall action to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for these vehicles.

Until a permanent fix is available, Hyundai urges owners to use caution when operating the second and third-row power seat functions and to ensure that no person or object, including children, is in the seat or seat-folding area before operating the power seat. When using the second-row one‑touch tilt‑and‑slide feature to access the third row, customers should avoid pressing the seatback button during entry or exit.

The recall repair is currently under development and, once finalized, will be performed at no cost to owners. Hyundai, through its network of dealers, will offer interested customers with a rental vehicle until a full remedy is available.

RELATED: GM recalls over 17,000 cars for a faulty part that may raise crash risk

In the meantime, Hyundai said it is developing an over‑the‑air software update that is expected to be available by the end of March. While this update is not the permanent recall repair, it is intended to enhance the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects, introduce additional operating safeguards, and enhance overall system safety.

Hyundai is notifying customers about this situation through multiple points of contact, which may include email, vehicle telematics, outbound phone calls, and media notifications, and advising them to use caution when operating second and third-row power seats.