Sales of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade are set to resume after the automaker finalized a fix addressing a serious seat defect that had previously forced a halt in deliveries.
The issue came to light following a tragic incident in March involving the death of a two-year-old child in Ohio. Investigations indicated that the SUV’s power-operated second- and third-row seats may not have properly detected the presence of an occupant or object, raising significant safety concerns.
In response, Hyundai issued a recall and instructed dealers to stop selling affected vehicles, specifically higher-end trims equipped with the power seat functions. The company moved quickly to develop a solution while also reviewing similar complaints and injury reports tied to the same system.
The fix comes in the form of a software update designed to improve occupant and object detection within the seat mechanism. Additional safeguards have also been introduced, including changes to how the seat-folding function operates.
For example, the system now requires a press-and-hold action rather than a single-touch command, and certain controls have been restricted to reduce the likelihood of accidental activation.
Hyundai has also adjusted operational conditions for the seating system, such as requiring the tailgate to be open before certain seat functions can be used. These measures are intended to prevent unintended movement and enhance overall safety.
With the update finalized, dealers can now apply the fix to vehicles in inventory, allowing sales to restart. Owners of affected models will also receive the update, either through dealership visits or over-the-air installation where supported.
The recall affected tens of thousands of vehicles across multiple markets, underscoring the scale of the issue. While Hyundai continues to investigate the original incident, the company has moved forward with corrective actions aimed at preventing similar occurrences in the future.
