2021 Hyundai Palisade Interior & seats Problems

The 3rd row power seat does not detect obstacles. If the folding button is inadvertently hit, the 3rd row will fold and does not stop even if there is an obstacle. Items or people. We had a scare with one of our toddlers where it started to close and didn't stop. Thankfully we were quick enough to hit the open button before anyone was hurt. Multiple time's we've accidentally closed the 3rd row on different items, a few of which were rather large. I am concerned that someone might get hurt or worse if this isn't addressed.

NHTSA ID

11756041

Incident

May 1, 2026

On XXX, after leaving an appointment at an office building, I returned to my vehicle and noticed that the driver’s seat recline function was not working properly. The seat was already pushed forward to its highest position and would not recline further. I was still able to enter and operate the vehicle somewhat but remained parked. I reviewed Hyundai resources to see whether there was an update or known issue related to the seat concern. When I could not resolve the issue through available resources, I contacted the Hyundai dealership in Henderson. I provided my information and explained that the driver’s seat recline function was not working. I was transferred to Hyundai Customer Service. During that call, I explained that I was approximately 15 minutes away from the dealership and requested repair of the issue regardless of warranty status because I considered it a safety concern. This never happened before at all. While I was speaking with the Hyundai Customer Service representative, the driver’s seat moved again unexpectedly. As a result, I moved forward toward the steering wheel area. After that movement, the vehicle rolled or moved forward and contacted the rear of another vehicle. After the collision, the driver’s seat recline function still was not operating properly. I documented the condition with video evidence, and two witnesses observed the vehicle and the seat condition after the collision. When I contacted Hyundai, I was very upset to learn that the call I had with the customer service representative was not documented anywhere. Also, no one contacted me although I was in distress, crying, and in the accident and the customer service representative knew this. There was no aid or phone call follow ups to me by Hyundai customer care at all. Hyundai Motor America opened a case investigation and instructed me not to perform repairs at this time so the vehicle could be preserved for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11749211

Incident

Jun 30, 2026

I have had an open safety recall with this car (#292) with no remedy available for over 3 months. This is the third recall in less than a year.

NHTSA ID

11729830

Incident

Jan 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and running with the third-row passenger’s side seat in the cargo position, and the driver’s side third-row seat in the upright position, the [XXX] child pressed the third-row seat button, and the passenger’s side third-row seat opened and pinned the child’s leg between the driver and passenger’s side third-row seats. The contact stated that three different people pressed the third-row seat button, but the seat failed to respond. The contact's father and husband both pushed and pulled in opposite directions, and the contact was able to pull the child's leg out from the seats. The child sustained right leg injuries, and the leg was red and swollen. No medical attention was needed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that a remedy had not yet been developed. The failure mileage was 171,403. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11726769

Incident

Mar 24, 2026

Mileage

171,403 mi

Middle row passenger seat locking mechanism fails causing seat to collapse and move forward while passengers are seated in it. The button that engages the seat motor is extremely sensitive and is engaging without anyone pressing it.

NHTSA ID

11721006

Incident

Feb 27, 2026

Seat belts in second row will engage/click into place securely and then intermittently release causing the seatbelt to come disconnected during vehicle operation. I have 3 children who during an accident could be ejected from the vehicle or seriously injured if the seatbelt mechanism were to fail.

NHTSA ID

11538067

Incident

Dec 1, 2022

This Palisade continues to have poor air quality because of an odor coming from the headrests. I have had all 7 replaced in October 2022. The odor was less for a while but has returned, I think, worse than before. This causes respiratory issues including headaches.

NHTSA ID

11536258

Incident

Jul 5, 2022

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 22V633000 (Trailer Hitches) and 22V627000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the passenger's door failed to unlock as needed. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The failure mileage was unknown. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11524705

Incident

May 31, 2023

This is health concern and I have felt that my bronchial tubes are getting hot and eyes/throat/nose pain after 15 minute driving, then the pain keeps going on for while even after driving. I suspect toxic degassing from seats or interior materials in vehicle, or comes from engine room. This degassing might have been gradually decreased since purchasing this Palisade in April, 2021, however, I am still suffering from respiratory pain when I drive this vehicle. Hyundai Service Center inspected this Palisade and they told me toxic gas comes from headrests, and offered me to replace headrests. They said a thousands of people complained about this issue already. However, I don't think the toxic gas is from only headrest, but also from the others. They cleaned the headrests, but nothing changed. I conducted inspections personally as follows. 1. Tested indoor air quality in the vehicle by using a sensor from Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier without running engine and with closed all doors/windows/vent. 2. Tested indoor air quality in the vehicle for 10 minutes by using Gray Wolf AdvancedSense Pro with multiple DirectSense probes and with closed all doors/windows/vent and running a fan (indoor air circulation) The result from a sensor of Winix 5500-2 Air Purifier showed "Bad air quality" at the test number 1 regardless headrests (without headrests). The result from Gray Wolf AdvancedSense Pro showed HCN 120.0 micron g/m3, TVOC 1200 ppb, and SO2 0.2 ppm. I believe those values would be increased if measurement time increase. There is no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the issue when they first appear. Every day, I drive this Palisade and I feel pain and hot on my respiratory, even it keeps going on by next day morning. My primary doctor recommended me to report this case to EPA or NHTSA.

NHTSA ID

11455404

Incident

Apr 15, 2021

CAR SMELLS LIKE ROTTEN ONIONS AND HAD TO REPLACE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE IT CRACK EASILY WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID

11406370

Incident

Mar 15, 2021

Mileage

4,000 mi

TOXIC GASEOUS CONTAMINANTS,. DEALER UNDER THE DIRECT GUIDANCE OF THE HYUNDAI CORPORATE TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT. DEALER AND HYUNDAI CORPORATION HAS MADE NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR THE GASEOUS TOXIC SMELL FROM THIS VEHICLE AND SOLUTIONS ARE NOT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. I MUST SAY I AM DISAPPOINTED HYUNDAI CORPORATION AND STIVERS HYUNDAI OWNER AND REPRESENTATIVES FAILED TO INFORM US OF THE ONGOING GASEOUS ODOR DILEMMA OF THE PALISADE LIMITED PURCHASED /DEL DAT 11AUG2020 'SICK HOUSE SYNDROME', NAUSEA, OR FATIGUE FROM EXPOSURE TO VOCS. SOME VOCS MAY EVEN CAUSE CANCER WITH A HIGH EXPOSURE CONCENTRATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN CLOSED UP FOR OVER 24HOURS WE OPENED THE PALISADE AND RECEIVED A GASEOUS CHEMICAL ODOR EMANATING FROM ALL FOUR DOORS AND THE REAR HATCH WHICH WAS BOTH DEBILITATING AND FRIGHTENING. MY WIFE IMMEDIATELY HAD AN ASTHMATIC ATTACK AND CAUSED A HEADACHE WITH BOTH EVENTS REQUIRING MEDICATION . I PERSONALLY WAS CHOKED BY THE ODOR AND ALMOST VOMITED . I IMMEDIATELY OPEN ALL DOORS AND STUPIDLY TRIED TO LOCATE WHICH AREA OF THE VEHICLE THE TERRIBLE ODOR CAME FROM . IT WAS TOO STRONG AN ODOR TO DETECT ANY ONE AREA AND IT PERMEATED FROM ALL THE DOORS AND REAR HATCH. "WHAT I DID ACHIEVE WAS ENOUGH OF THE GASEOUS CHEMICAL COMPOUND IN MY MOUTH'S MUCOUS MEMBRANE AND MY AIRWAY THAT MY TASTE AND BREATH HAD THE RESIDUAL ODOR FOR OVER FOUR HOURS. THIS WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE THAT WE CANNOT WITHSTAND AGAIN. MY WIFE CERTAINLY CANNOT WITHSTAND LIFE THREATENING ASTHMATIC ATTACKS CAUSED BY OUR BRAND NEW HYUNDAI VEHICLE, THE PALISADE I HAVE IS UNSAFE BECAUSE HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA CANNOT DISCLOSE TO ME WHAT CONTAMINANTS ARE CAUSING THIS TOXIC ODOR. WHAT IS IT AND WHAT LEVEL OF WHATEVER IT IS WOULD BE POISONOUS ? TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 20-BD-018H IS NON SCIENTIFIC AND NON ENGINEERED COVER UP OF HAZARDOUS HEALTH ISSUE TO ALL CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ID

11372349

Incident

Oct 30, 2020

Mileage

200 mi