Hyundai Motor Company announced on Friday the suspension of sales for certain new Palisade SUV models in Canada and the United States. The company will be recalling tens of thousands of vehicles due to a power seat issue, prompted by a recent tragic incident in Ohio where a two-year-old girl lost her life.
The affected models, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims, are being halted from sales as the second- and third-row power seats may not properly detect contact with occupants or objects as intended. Approximately 68,500 vehicles are included in the recall, with around 8,000 in Canada.
Hyundai extended its condolences to the family of the deceased child and mentioned that the incident is still under investigation. The company is actively working on a solution for the recall and is providing rental vehicles to affected customers until a permanent fix is available.
To address the issue, Hyundai is developing an interim over-the-air software update that is expected to be released by the end of March. This update aims to improve the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects, introduce additional safety measures, and enhance the overall system safety.
Hyundai has advised caution when using the second- and third-row power seat functions, emphasizing the importance of ensuring no person or object is in the seat or seat-folding area before operating the power seat. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet commented on the matter.