Hyundai Motor North America is stopping the sales of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims in North America due to an issue with the second and third-row power seats that could lead to a catastrophic accident or wrongful death. There are approximately 69,060 affected vehicles, including about 61,093 SUVs in the United States and 7,967 in Canada.
Hyundai is also in the process of submitting a recall action to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for these vehicles.
DETAILS OF THE 2026 HYUNDAI PALISADE POWER SEAT FAILURE
Hyundai states that the second and third-row power seats may not adequately detect contact with an occupant or object as intended. This may occur during power‑folding operations, as well as during use of the second-row ‘one‑touch tilt‑and‑slide’ function.
This issue came to light after the death of a young child in Cuyahoga Falls after she was pinned by a third-row power seat inside a Hyundai Palisade on March 7th. The case remains under investigation with Hyundai, and details from the company are not fully available yet.
However, in an Akron police case report, the child was killed when a power-operated, third-row seat in the family’s 2026 Hyundai Palisade folded forward with the girl still inside. A mother and her two children were waiting outside a store in the parked vehicle when the electronically powered seat began to push downward, failing to detect the child. Emergency calls described a child trapped under a seat, as bystanders worked to free her before first responders arrived. She was then taken to Akron Children’s Hospital, where she later died.
“Hyundai extends its deepest sympathies to her family,” says the company in its latest statement.
HYUNDAI’s RESPONSE TO URGE CAUTION
While they are finalizing the details of a recall for these vehicles, Hyundai urges caution when operating the affected features. When using the second and third-row power seat functions, ensure that no person or object is in the seat or seat-folding area before usage and until it has finished. 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 altogether.
There is no current fix to the issue. Hyundai is currently developing an over-the-air software update that will enhance the system’s response to contact with any vehicle occupants or objects, include additional operating safeguards, and enhance the system’s overall safety. You can expect an update by the end of March. A permanent solution is under development and, once finalized, will be performed at no cost to owners.
Hyundai, through its network of dealers, will offer interested customers a rental vehicle until a full remedy is available. You can get in contact with customer care at (800) 633-5151.
Owner Notifications
Hyundai is notifying customers about this situation through email, phone, vehicle telematics, and media. It is anticipated that 2026 Palisade owners will be notified by mail once a resolution has been found and the recall has been finalized. For further customer questions, contact the Hyundai Consumer Assistance Center at https://owners.hyundaiusa.com/us/en/contact-us.
How can you stay ahead with recalls?
Despite whatever make and model you own, you can call the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s vehicle-safety hotline at 888-327-4236 or visit its website to check your vehicle identification number and learn more about any recalls that may affect your vehicle. Details on a solution will be provided directly through their site.
WHAT DO I DO IF I OR SOMEONE I KNOW IS INJURED DUE TO A POWER SEAT ISSUE?
Jones & Swanson encourages all owners of the affected vehicles to avoid usage of the second and third-row power seats altogether. Experiencing any electronic problem in a vehicle can put yourself and others in a very dangerous situation.
If your vehicle is experiencing an issue with the power seat functions and it is in use, we encourage you to do the following:
- Slowly guide your car into a designated parking spot or area out of direct traffic if you are driving.
- Immediately clear the area of the second or third-row power seats and cease all power seat usage if you are able.
- Contact 911 and seek medical attention if any person has been injured.
- Call Jones & Swanson for a FREE consultation to see if you are eligible for compensation.
Jones & Swanson Is A Georgia-based Personal Injury Attorney. If You Have Any Questions Regarding an injury due to product recalls or Accident Liability As A Result Of A defective Automobile, call Jones & Swanson For A Free Consultation or Contact Us On Awjlaw.com. We have Decades Of Combined Experience Representing Individuals In Automobile Recall Cases And Are More Than Happy To Answer Any Questions You May Have.
Categories: Automobile Defects, Automobile Recall, Car Accident, Catastrophic Injuries, Recalls
