2021 Hyundai Palisade Electrical Problems

Component/system, available for inspection? Rear visibility system — AVN head unit's processing of the rear camera image. On shift to reverse, screen flickers, shows blinking green, or no rear image. Vehicle available for inspection. Original camera was replaced Jan 2026 and retained by the dealer, not returned. Safety risk? Daily driver used for school pickup. Failure is warm-restart dependent — engine running, repeated shifts into reverse — which is exactly the pickup-line condition. Rear visibility is lost while children move behind the vehicle. System works reliably only after 25+ minutes shut off. Reproduced/confirmed by a dealer? Yes. Crain Hyundai of Bentonville, RO H3CS1330630, 1/13/26. Camera replaced; failure persisted. Same RO then states the head unit "IS GETTING TOO HOT" and needs replacement. No further diagnosis performed. Inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance? Not directly. Hyundai Motor America reviewed (Cases 42288449 / 42326908 / 42619220) but relied solely on dealer diagnosis and confirmed in writing 6/22/26 that it does not audit dealer measurements. No police or insurance involvement. Warning lamps/symptoms, first appearance? First reported by my wife (primary driver) in June 2025; not reproducible on demand for some time, consistent with the intermittent warm-restart pattern later documented. No warning lamps, no DTCs in any accessible module. Only symptom is the display failure itself. 60+ structured tests logged 2/2–2/9/26 documenting the warm-restart pattern. Mileage 63,679 at service. Unresolved as of 8/3/26.

NHTSA ID

11754605

Incident

Jun 27, 2025

The speedometer, lane departure, heat gauge, and RPM’s and the whole speedometer cluster will stop working. It does this all the time you never know if it will work and then sometimes it will randomly come back but it’s more in the heat it will not work.

NHTSA ID

11750456

Incident

Jul 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, the power steering failed, several warning lights illuminated, and the engine suddenly stalled. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where the battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred two days later. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a failed alternator. The contact paid for the alternator replacement out of pocket. The contact stated that while at a complete stop recently, the brake pedal would travel to the floorboard when depressed, causing the vehicle to shudder. The vehicle would only resume normal operation after the accelerator pedal was depressed. The vehicle was returned to the dealer, but had not yet been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

NHTSA ID

11748464

Incident

Jan 5, 2026

Mileage

77,000 mi

Vehicle Incident Statement – 2021 Hyundai Palisade Driver/Owner: [Your Name] Vehicle: 2021 Hyundai Palisade Date of Incident: [Insert Date] Location: Restaurant drive-thru (vehicle stopped in line) Summary of Incident On the date listed above, I was stopped in a restaurant drive-thru lane with the vehicle in drive and Auto Hold engaged. The vehicle had recently had a battery replacement performed at a Hyundai dealership on the day prior to the incident (repair order available). While stopped, I pressed the accelerator to move forward in the drive-thru line. The vehicle did not respond immediately. There was a brief delay, followed by a sudden and unexpected surge of acceleration. Vehicle Behavior The vehicle accelerated rapidly after a short delay in response to accelerator input The brake pedal felt normal when pressed Applying the brake did not appear to slow or stop the vehicle effectively The vehicle continued moving forward and struck another vehicle Additional Relevant Information The Idle Stop & Go (auto start/stop) system had not been functioning for approximately one year prior to the incident On the day of the incident (after battery replacement), the auto start/stop system began functioning again unexpectedly The vehicle had no known prior issues with unintended acceleration No floor mat or physical obstruction was present affecting the accelerator pedal (to the best of my knowledge) Vehicle Condition The vehicle has not yet been repaired or inspected and is currently being held pending evaluation. I am requesting that all diagnostic data, including vehicle event data recorder (EDR) information and control module logs, be preserved and reviewed. Request I am requesting a full diagnostic and safety review of the vehicle’s electronic throttle, braking, and Auto Hold systems, including any stored fault codes and event data. Check engine light was on for a week prior to service at dealership and dealership told me they could not service it at that time.

NHTSA ID

11748376

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

The digital instrument cluster on my 2021 Hyundai Palisade completely and intermittently fails while the vehicle is in motion, dropping the speedometer, fuel gauge, and all safety indicators to zero. The system also issues erroneous audio warnings such as 'wrong way driving detected' while the cluster is blank. I have documented this severe safety hazard on video multiple times over the last 14 months and provided the footage to Dublin Hyundai. Despite three separate dealership visits (April 2025, June 2025, and June 2026), the dealership refuses to repair the vehicle stating they cannot replicate the issue and dismissing my video evidence. This mirrors the exact manufacturing defect outlined in Hyundai Safety Recall 230 (NHTSA Campaign 22V353) for the 2022 Palisade. I am requesting an investigation to expand Recall 230 to the 2021 model year, as driving without a speedometer or warning lights is a life-threatening safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11741851

Incident

Mar 21, 2025

Multiple attempts to have car repaired for a year and a half with no resolution. See attached docs. Included is a letter to Hyundai, timeline of subsequent events, warranty info. Invoices were too large to upload, there are 7 of them.

NHTSA ID

11740607

Incident

Oct 24, 2024

The engine oil system failed due to a persistent oil leak that was present from the time of purchase on December 16th 2024. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request and is currently immobile due to a completely seized engine. My safety was put at serious risk because the vehicle has no functioning low oil warning indicator to alert the driver of critically low oil levels. I was driving this vehicle regularly for work with no indication whatsoever that the engine was losing oil. A seized engine can cause sudden and complete loss of vehicle control which puts not only the driver but other drivers and pedestrians at risk. This failure occurred without any warning while the vehicle was in regular use. The oil leak was brought to the selling dealership, Auto Merchants Inc. in Plano Texas, for repair on January 6th 2026. They kept the vehicle overnight and confirmed it was fixed. The problem was not resolved as the vehicle continued losing oil. On March 3rd 2026 I discovered the engine was completely empty and added 6 full quarts of oil with no warning light appearing. I also contacted Hyundai consumer affairs and the Hyundai dealership directly who confirmed the manufacturer warranty had already expired at the time of purchase on December 16th 2024 and declined to cover the repair. The vehicle has not yet been formally inspected by the manufacturer or insurance representatives. The dealership serviced it on January 6th 2026 and claimed the leak was repaired however the engine seized on April 20th 2026 due to continued oil loss. There were zero warning lamps or indicators of any kind prior to the engine seizing completely on April 20th 2026. No low oil warning light appeared at any point during the 4 months I owned this vehicle despite the engine running completely out of oil on three separate occasions. The only symptom prior to full engine seizure was the vehicle sputtering when coming to a stop on April 19th 2026, one day before the engine seized completely

NHTSA ID

11733162

Incident

Apr 20, 2026

While vacationing in Myrtle Beach with my family the vehicle alarmed and then progressed to critical failure of safety functions while traveling at approximately 55mph on Friday April 3, 2026. The vehicle was brought to Myrtle Beach Hyundai where it was eventually diagnosed and repaired as an Alternator issue that I have found to be common with this specific vehicle. The issues I have experienced with this vehicle go far beyond a typical mechanical concern. Over time, the vehicle has exhibited repeated electrical system malfunctions, including: - False blind spot collision warnings when no vehicles are present - Intermittent failure of the crash avoidance system - Loss of cruise control functionality tied to system faults - A broader electrical failure event that triggered multiple warning systems simultaneously Most concerning, these failures have occurred while the vehicle was in motion, creating an unpredictable and potentially hazardous driving condition. The loss and unreliability of critical driver-assist and safety systems directly impacts driver awareness and vehicle control, which raises serious safety concerns. Despite multiple attempts to have this diagnosed through the dealership network while under warranty, no definitive root cause was identified, and the issue has persisted. This suggests the possibility of a systemic electrical defect rather than an isolated component failure. Additionally, I have found that similar complaints involving electrical system irregularities and cascading warning system failures have been reported by other owners of this model, further supporting the concern that this may represent a known or emerging defect pattern. Given these factors, I do not believe this situation should be categorized as routine. Instead, it warrants review under the lens of: - Vehicle safety risk - Potential defect trend - Failure of critical driver-assistance systems during operation This vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11732182

Incident

Apr 3, 2026

When I push on the brake the car starts to tug. Feels like it wants to turn off. Happened several times after I got a recall checked. 2 weeks ago same thing was happening and my car all of a sudden turns off. The lights on the dashboard turned on and the emergency brake engaged. I was able to turn the car back in after 3 tries. 6 days later I was driving 50mph and my car suddenly changes shifts on its own. It changed to neutral and then my car shuts off and again the dashboard lights turn on and the emergency brake engages. Again turned on after 3 times. Now the dealership is telling me that its my injectors. And that I had 10% fluid in my gas tank. That will not cause my car to shift gears and 10% is an excessive amount that would mess my car up

NHTSA ID

11730957

Incident

Apr 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the child in the second-row seat became trapped after the seat belt seized. The seat belt was cut to free the child. Additionally, the contact reported that the infotainment system was inoperable, failed to power on, and malfunctioned while driving, preventing the use of hands-free feature. The dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 148,000.

NHTSA ID

11730187

Incident

Mar 20, 2026

Mileage

148,000 mi

A week or so after taking the car in for an oil change, I was on the highway and heard a rattling sound coming from the engine. There were no indicator or warning lights from the dashboard. The car then stopped accelerating. It was on, and the accelerator increased the RPMs but the car did not move faster. I safely got home and checked the oil and it had less than a quart. There were no low-oil indicator lights telling me the oil was low. Separately, this week, while driving in the city, the engine again started making rattling sounds and completely shut off forcing me to pull off the road. Again, prior to the shut off there were no indicator lights. I was able to pull to the side of the road safely. I tried to restart the car and it would idle roughly befor the engine shut off again. After waiting 30 minutes, I checked the oil to see if the previous cause was the culprit, but this time the oil was still full. After 45 minutes, I was able to restart the car and drive home. I researched the issue and there are many complaints on Reddit about this for this make and model. Since the issue is intermittent and can't be replicated at the dealership, there is no fix offered. I no longer trust or feel safe driving this car, especially on highways.

NHTSA ID

11728587

Incident

Mar 31, 2026

While the vehicle was off and in my garage, the vehicle started on its own and was idling at an extremely high RPM. I was the only person home, the keys were out of reach on a key rack and had not been driven yet for the day. I walked into the garage and found my vehicles engine running at a high RPM and all the electrical displays within the vehicle were compleltely off with only the engine running. I retrieved my keys and my only thought was to start the car, which I did which then brought the RPM down to standard idle. I am extremely concerned as a vehicle idling in an eclosed garage poses extremely high risk to Carbon Monoxide.

NHTSA ID

11727484

Incident

Mar 25, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that on three separate occasions while driving 40 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering assist functionality. Several warning lights were illuminated, and the headlights and turn signals became inoperable. The contact stopped the vehicle and shifted into reverse (R); however, the rear-view camera failed to operate as intended. The vehicle was taken to the residence, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,400.

NHTSA ID

11726647

Incident

Mar 9, 2026

Mileage

63,400 mi

The sunroof failed to totally open or close after an initial engagement. Further inspection revealed the sunroof wind deflector frame slides and shoes were broken, and cables were loose and out of position. Keep in mind, the sunroof has been used only a handful of times. After doing some research and learning Palisades had a history of exploding sunroofs, I worried that continuing to drive the car in a compromised condition (even a covered film to keep wind and rain out) would trigger the sunroof to do the same, putting my grandchildren in danger. After taking it to the dealer and having them confirm a TSB issued by Hyundai to address this very issue, I also learned it would not be a covered expense. Repair would run $3,000, a hefty consumer expense for a recognized flaw and safety hazard by the manufacturer.

NHTSA ID

11723776

Incident

Feb 27, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the rear parking sensor became inoperable, and a message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that no audible alert was heard while reversing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the rear parking sensor wiring harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000

NHTSA ID

11721672

Incident

Mar 3, 2026

Mileage

41,000 mi

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently while driving 45-55 MPH. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that upon coming to a complete stop, the steering wheel seized. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact resumed driving; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH and was jumping while experiencing electrical failures. The vehicle was driven to the residence and parked; however, the vehicle failed to lock or to detect the key fob. The contact stated that the vehicle was inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

NHTSA ID

11709686

Incident

Jan 8, 2026

Mileage

102,000 mi

My sunroof was working perfectly fine a month ago. I opened it while i was driving to get some air 10/28/2025 and heard a cracking noise. I immediately stopped it. The glass was off the track and it would not close. It only opens a little then stops. Took it to Hyundai dealership and they said in their report"the tracks are cracked, glass came off the track and tracks are warped." This is going to cost me 3k and this was clearly a malfunction of the vehicle!!

NHTSA ID

11699054

Incident

Oct 28, 2025

Second row window seat seat belt doesn't latch properly, will latch and come unlatched. Backup parking sensor goes off, back up camera stopped working

NHTSA ID

11688129

Incident

Mar 13, 2023

In January 2025, during snowy weather, the windshield wipers on my 2021 Hyundai Palisade failed mid-operation and began making a buzzing noise. After 3–4 uses, they locked up and stopped functioning, causing a serious visibility issue. This occurred while driving, putting my safety at risk. This symptom directly matches NHTSA Recall 23V-180 / Hyundai Campaign 243, which I was told had already been addressed by the dealership I purchased from (Fitzgerald Hyundai in Gaithersburg, MD). I bought the vehicle used in April 2023, around the time this recall was active. I brought the vehicle back to that dealership in May 2025. They confirmed the wiper motors appeared to be binding and recommended replacement. However, they claimed the issue was not related to the recall and charged me a diagnostic fee of $209. Their service summary matches the defect described in the recall. I believe the recall fix was either never performed properly or did not actually resolve the underlying issue. This appears to be a recurring safety defect that puts drivers at continued risk.

NHTSA ID

11659654

Incident

Jan 6, 2025

Child safety locks failed and clicked attempting to engage until turned off.With the locks unable to engage, children able to utilize windows and open doors which put their safety at risk. Replaced under warranty.

NHTSA ID

11643828

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

When turning on the child safety locks, the doors repeat a clicking sound for a few minutes sounding as if the doors are locking. After the noise stops, the dashboard shows the message "child safety lock failure". My small child has been winding the window down since I cannot lock the windows and doors properly. I am afraid she will get a body part caught in the window or open the door while driving.

NHTSA ID

11642064

Incident

Feb 11, 2025

Child Safety Lock Failure notice - both parked or driving, I will hear a clicking noise coming from the doors. Sometimes I will receive a Child Safety Lock Failure error message on the dash. This would sporadically continue to happen while driving and even if my vehicle is parked and off and I happen to do something like open the doors. The vehicle has been serviced numerous times by Hyundai dealership and the door actuators have been replaced but the problem persists.

NHTSA ID

11634797

Incident

Dec 1, 2024

The hydraulic lifts for the tailgate are failing. They crack open and the pressurized spring can be ejected while driving. Per multiple Palisade forms this seems to be come and most state that their dealer said it was a known problem. Some people have reported multiple failures with the lifts even when the part is replaced. The lift can also collapse when hydraulics break. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11628510

Incident

Nov 22, 2024

The sunroof on the vehicle has completely broken with minimal use the vehicle is a 2021 and only one owner. This is an ongoing issue with the vehicle type and Hyundai is not covering the cost of repair. It is causing a significant hardship for vehicle use and the cost or repair is in the thousands. I am not the only vehicle owner that is having this issue and Hyundai needs to take accountability for this.

NHTSA ID

11608702

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

The child lock function malfunctions after engaged. Persistent clicking and doors are able to be opened while in the lock engage position. I travel with children so their safety is at risk with this malfunction. No lamp messages or warning signs are displayed. I’m taking back to the CarMax dealer today as I just purchased this car less than 24 hours ago.

NHTSA ID

11607217

Incident

Aug 7, 2024