Hyundai Motor Company announced a suspension of sales for specific new Palisade SUV models in Canada and the United States due to a power seat issue, following a tragic incident in Ohio involving the death of a two-year-old girl. The affected models are the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims, where the second- and third-row power seats may fail to properly detect contact with occupants or objects. Approximately 68,500 vehicles, with 8,000 in Canada, are included in the recall.
Expressing condolences to the bereaved family, Hyundai emphasized that the incident is still under investigation and detailed information is pending. The company is actively working on a remedy for the recall and offering rental vehicles to affected customers until a permanent solution is in place.
Hyundai advises caution in using the second- and third-row power seat functions, urging individuals to ensure no person or object is present in the seating area before activation. An interim over-the-air software update is being developed, expected to roll out by the end of March, to improve the system’s responsiveness to occupants or objects, introduce additional safety measures, and enhance overall system security.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet provided a comment on the matter.