Hyundai Halts 2026 Palisade Sales Over Power Seat Safety Issue

Hyundai Motor North America has stopped sales of the 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy after reporting a power seat detection issue and preparing a recall with NHTSA.

Hyundai Motor North America has announced a temporary halt in sales of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade in the Limited and Calligraphy trims across the United States and Canada. The decision follows the discovery of a potential issue involving the power-operated seats in the second and third rows.

According to the company, the system responsible for folding and moving the rear seats may, in certain situations, fail to properly detect contact with a person or an object while the seat is in motion. The condition may occur during the operation of the power-folding seats in the second and third rows, as well as when using the one-touch tilt-and-slide function designed to provide easier access to the third row.

Under normal circumstances, such systems are expected to respond automatically to obstacles. However, Hyundai says the detection mechanism may not always identify contact as intended, prompting the company to suspend sales while a solution is prepared.

Hyundai is currently preparing a formal recall in coordination with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The action is expected to affect approximately 68,500 vehicles from the 2026 model year. Of those, about 60,515 vehicles are located in the United States, while another 7,967 are in Canada.

The company also acknowledged a tragic incident involving a Palisade in which a young child lost her life. The circumstances remain under investigation, and Hyundai stated that it does not yet have the full details of the event. The automaker expressed its condolences to the family.

Until a permanent repair is available, Hyundai is urging owners to exercise caution when using the power seat functions. Drivers are advised to ensure that no person or object—including children—is in the seat or folding area before activating the mechanism. When using the second-row tilt-and-slide feature to access the third row, customers are also advised to avoid pressing the seatback button while passengers are entering or exiting the vehicle.

As part of its response, Hyundai is developing a two-step remedy. In the near term, the company plans to release an over-the-air software update intended to improve the system’s ability to detect contact and introduce additional operating safeguards. This interim update is expected to become available by the end of March.

Hyundai emphasized that the software update will serve only as a temporary measure. A permanent repair will follow through an official recall campaign once the final technical solution has been completed. When that remedy becomes available, it will be carried out by Hyundai dealers at no cost to owners.

In the meantime, the company says it will offer customers who request it a rental vehicle through its dealer network until the final repair is ready.

Hyundai has begun notifying customers through multiple channels, including email messages, vehicle telematics systems, outbound phone calls, and media announcements. The company stated that customer safety remains its top priority and that additional information about both the interim software update and the final recall repair will be provided as soon as it becomes available.