The death of a 2-year-old girl has prompted an immediate Hyundai recall of nearly 70,000 Palisade SUVs in the U.S. and Canada.
The details: The recall comes less than a week after the automaker issued a stop sale on some 2026 Palisade models following the girl’s death in Akron, Ohio, on March 7, after a third-row power seat pinned her in the SUV while her mother and another child were in the vehicle, ABC News 5 Cleveland reported.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall notice lists certain 2026 Palisade and 2026 Palisade Hybrid vehicles equipped with a Limited or Calligraphy trim package and indicates that “the second and third row power seats may fail to detect a person.”
The recall, which includes 69,060 Palisades in the U.S. and 7,967 in Canada, states that the seat may continue to move after contacting a person during powered seat functions, such as one-touch tilt-and-slide or automatic power fold-and-stow.
Owners are advised to use caution when operating the second- and third-row power seat functions, and children are advised not to be in the rear seats or near the rear seating area during power-folding operation.
What they’re saying: "Hyundai is aware of a tragic incident involving a Palisade. While Hyundai does not yet have the full details, and the incident is still under investigation, a young child lost her life. Hyundai extends its deepest sympathies to the family," said the automaker in a May 13 press statement.
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Why it matters: The recall and stop sale create an immediate sales and customer-service challenge around one of Hyundai’s key SUVs.
Retailers will need to manage affected inventory, handle customer concerns with care and clarity, and stay closely aligned with Hyundai on messaging and remedy timing.
Next steps: Hyundai is developing a remedy while taking additional safety steps to address the issue and inform vehicle owners.
As it works on a permanent fix, the automaker is developing an over-the-air software update to enhance the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects.
The update, available at the end of March, will also introduce additional operating safeguards and enhance overall system safety.
Customers are being notified about the recall and next steps through multiple points of contact, which may include email, vehicle telematics, outbound phone calls, and media notifications.
Bottom line: Dealers should expect heightened scrutiny from shoppers and owners until a fix is in place. In the near term, the priority will be balancing safety, communication, and inventory disruption while helping preserve customer trust in the Palisade nameplate.
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