Hyundai Motor Company has announced a sales suspension of certain new Palisade SUVs in the United States and Canada, along with a recall of tens of thousands of vehicles due to a power seat issue. This decision comes after a tragic incident in Ohio where a two-year-old girl lost her life.
The affected models, including the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims, are being recalled because their second- and third-row power seats may not properly detect contact with occupants or objects. The company did not provide specific details about the incident that occurred on March 7 leading to the fatality.
Approximately 68,500 vehicles are part of this recall, with around 8,000 units in Canada. Hyundai expressed condolences to the family of the deceased child and mentioned that the incident is still under investigation.
To address the issue, Hyundai is working on a fix for the recall and is offering rental vehicles to affected customers until a permanent solution is available. They advise caution when using the second- and third-row power seats, emphasizing the importance of ensuring no person or object is in the seat or folding area before activation.
Hyundai is currently developing an interim over-the-air software update, expected to be released by the end of March. This update aims to improve the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects, implement additional safety measures, and enhance overall system safety.
As of now, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not provided any comments on the matter.