Hyundai Recalls Palisade for Power Seat Issue Linked to Ohio Death

Hyundai Motor Co. has halted sales of certain configurations of its The All New Palisade after identifying a safety issue with the model’s electric seats. The concern centers on the seat’s occupancy and obstacle detection system, which in some conditions may fail to detect contact, prompting a voluntary correction and a temporary stop to selling those variants.

The company plans to resume sales after making safety improvements. The fix will raise the sensor sensitivity and restrict the 2nd- and 3rd-row seat folding functions to operate only when the tailgate is open, an adjustment Hyundai says will boost overall safety.

Reuters reported that in Ohio on the 7th, a two-year-old girl died in an accident linked to the Palisade’s power seat. Hyundai said it will conduct a voluntary recall for vehicles already sold and will notify authorities as part of the process.

Hyundai intends to report the issue to Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) next week. The company did not provide a new timetable for when affected models will be repaired, but emphasized the recall will be carried out as quickly as possible.

The recall covers vehicles produced through the 11th of the month, with the exact number still being tallied. It is expected to include about 57,474 units in Korea and 74,965 in North America, though final figures are pending.

The All New Palisade was exported globally in large numbers last year, with around 100,000 units shipped overseas and domestic sales totaling 59,506 in Korea. Hyundai apologized for the inconvenience and said safety remains the top priority, pledging thorough checks and measures to restore customer trust.

Why this matters beyond Korea for U.S. readers: The Palisade is a popular large SUV in the American market, and the recall highlights how advanced vehicle seating and safety systems are being tested in real-world use. U.S. regulators’ involvement (NHTSA) means the issue could trigger dealer notices, repairs, and potential impacts on U.S. supply chains and timelines for affected models sold domestically. The episode also underscores ongoing cross-border cooperation between Korean regulators and U.S. authorities on safety standards and recalls, with implications for importers, manufacturers, and consumers regarding vehicle safety transparency and compliance.