Hyundai recalls 61,000 SUVs after fatal rear-seat incident, issues stop-sale order

Hyundai Palisade, Hyundai’s flagship SUV, has it all—a boisterous appearance, a robust powertrain, and plenty of room. However, a recent occurrence has marred its reputation, making it synonymous with a terrible incident.

In the aftermath of the incident, Hyundai has asked dealers in the US and Canada to stop selling the 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims because of potential problems with the second and third rows of seats.

Since the vehicle has three rows of seating, the middle row features a power-folding system that fails to recognize if someone is sitting in the seat and does not resist movement. To ensure that the issue is tackled at the earliest, Hyundai has issued a recall in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Hyundai recalls close to 61,000 2026 Palisade units

The identified issue is specific to the above-mentioned upper-tier trim levels of the 2026 Palisade. The recall applies to 61,093 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with seats whose one-touch tilt-and-slide or automatic power fold-and-stow functions may fail to detect resistance or impediments.

Hyundai has taken the matter seriously and has initiated stop-sale notices. It has sent texts, emails, and in-vehicle notifications. Beyond that, the brand has also provided a statement to the media.

The recall report notes that an investigation was opened in November last year, which was escalated after a reported fatality on March 9. Since the issue first appeared, seven incidents of third-row malfunction have been reported, along with four reports of minor injuries due to second-row malfunction. Hyundai is still working on how to resolve the problem.

The power folding system’s failure to recognize if someone or something is in the way as the seats move, fold, tilt, and slide for easier access to the third row, while it might seem like a mundane quirk, led to the death of a small child.

Hyundai Palisade remedy being developed; temporary fix available

Hyundai has initiated a temporary fix via a software update, which Hyundai Bluelink enrollees can take advantage of remotely. Other buyers can visit dealerships for the update. As per reports, a permanent remedy to the issue will be revealed on May 16.

Before this, a recall was also initiated for the first-generation Palisade. This included about 43,990 vehicles in Canada. As revealed by a notice from Transport Canada, the side curtain airbags in some vehicles may not inflate properly for third-row occupants in the event of an accident, increasing the risk of injury.

The problem was noticed during a routine compliance test. Earlier, several 2020–2025 Palisade models were recalled in Canada last September due to potentially defective seats. Reports claimed that components such as seatbelt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row outboard seats may not latch properly. These issues were more prominent in colder regions.