Hyundai Motor Company announced a suspension of sales for certain new Palisade SUVs in both Canada and the United States. This decision comes after the company identified an issue with the power seats in the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims. The problem lies in the second- and third-row power seats not adequately detecting contact with occupants or objects as intended. The halt in sales and subsequent recall, affecting approximately 68,500 vehicles, including 8,000 in Canada, follows a tragic incident in Ohio where a two-year-old girl lost her life on March 7.
Hyundai expressed condolences to the family of the child and clarified that the incident is under investigation with limited details available. The company is actively working on a solution for the recall and is offering customers rental vehicles until a permanent fix is ready. It is advised to exercise caution when using the second- and third-row power seat functions, ensuring there are no individuals or objects in the seat or seat-folding area before activation.
To address the issue, Hyundai is developing an interim over-the-air software update expected to enhance the system’s responsiveness to contact with occupants or objects, introduce additional safety measures, and overall bolster system safety. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet provided a comment on the matter.