Hyundai Will Provide Temporary Vehicles for Some Drivers Frightened by the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Recall and Stop Sale

The details surrounding the Hyundai Palisade Stop Sale and Recall are tragic. A little girl was trapped in a third-row power folding seat and was killed when it somehow activated. The automaker and regulators are taking action to stop anyone else from being injured. The tragic incident took place in Akron, Ohio, in early March. The Stop Sale and the Recall affect the 2026 Hyundai Palisade and Palisade Hybrid Limited and Calligraphy models. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released more details about the recall this morning. While the Recall Safety Report tells drivers to make sure no children are around the seat or the seat-folding area, the Stop Sale order tells dealers to provide frightened owners with a courtesy vehicle or alternate transportation until repairs can be completed. 

According to the Safety Recall Report, Hyundai started investigating issues with the third-row power-folding seats after receiving three reports of problems last year. In December, two more problems were reported in Korea. Problems were also reported with the second-row seats. The investigation assessed the problems as low risk. Hyundai continued to investigate and started bench-marking other vehicles with similar mechanisms but then tragedy struck.

What Has Been Reported About the Seats

As of now, Hyundai has received one report of a fatality with a total of 7 field claims related to problems with the third-row power folding seat. Hyundai has received four reports of minor injuries related to the second-row seats and 13 field claims about second row seats. In all, 17 owners of different vehicles reported problems. No related crashes or fires have been received or identified by Hyundai.

What Hyundai is Doing About the Seat Problems

At this point, Hyundai doesn’t know how to fix the faulty seats, but is working on a remedy. Until the seats can be fixed, Hyundai is urging owners to be really careful if operating the seats and make sure no children are around the seat or the seat-folding area. Additionally, owners should avoid contacting the “one-touch” tilt-and-slide button located on the 2nd row seatback, which allows for ease of access to the 3rd row (walk-in), during entry or exit.

Also, Hyundai is working on a software update to make sure that the seats recognize if someone is sitting on the seat. Hyundai plans to notify owners to bring their vehicles in for that software update or, for eligible vehicles whose owners have enrolled in Hyundai Bluelink, to complete an over-the-air software update. Additional information will be provided when Hyundai has figured out the new software update.

The Stop Sale Order Has More Information

Hyundai is telling dealers in its Stop Sale notification about the problem and includes suggested talking points to use with frightened drivers. 

“For Customers concerned with the performance of their vehicle: “If you do not feel comfortable operating your vehicle while the remedy is being developed, we can offer alternative transportation. HMA urges affected owners to exercise caution when operating the 2nd & 3rd-row power-folding seat function, ensuring that occupants, such as small children, are never in the vicinity of the seat while it is being operated.

Additionally, owners should avoid contacting the “one-touch” tilt-and-slide button located on the 2nd-row seatback, which allows for ease of access to the 3rd-row (walk-in), during entry and exit of the 3rd-row and take measures to prevent inadvertent activation of this feature.”

Hyundai provided similar instructions for dealers to use with people on the phone and vehicles already in the service lane. 

I think it is important for Hyundai drivers to know that the company will provide an alternate vehicle for people who are afraid after this horrific situation. 

Image by Hyundai

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin. Follow Mary at @MaryConwayMedia on X  and on Facebook, and send her car news tips for future stories. Mary Conway is an esteemed automotive and business reporter who was inducted into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame in 2019. Mary is a member of the Automotive Press Association, Rocky Mountain Automotive Press, Society of Professional Journalists, and NATAS.