[Sankyeong Today — Reporter Myung-jun Park]
Hyundai Motor is temporarily halting sales and has launched a voluntary recall for select new Palisade models in North America, a precautionary step the company says follows a safety-related incident.
On March 13 (local time), media reports said Hyundai will suspend sales of certain 2026 Palisade units in the United States and Canada and initiate a recall affecting roughly 68,000 vehicles. The recall targets some Limited trims and top-spec Calligraphy models.
The move stems from concerns that the power-adjustable seats may not reliably detect contact with occupants or objects during operation.
The action was prompted in part by a reported incident in Ohio in which a child was fatally injured in an accident involving a power seat, raising fresh safety concerns.
Hyundai said investigators are still determining whether the incident is directly linked to a vehicle defect and has not confirmed any definitive findings. The automaker offered condolences to the family and pledged to move quickly on additional safety measures.
Hyundai plans an over-the-air (OTA) software update by the end of the month to improve the seat’s contact-detection logic and to add supplemental occupant-protection measures. The update is intended to enable faster recognition of obstacles or occupants when the seat adjusts.
Industry analysts say Hyundai’s combined pause in sales and recall is a preemptive effort to quell market concerns and preserve brand trust. With the Palisade positioned as a key full-size SUV in North America, the move could shape the company’s future sales strategy and quality-control practices.
