Hyundai Motor Company announced on Friday that it will cease sales of certain new Palisade SUVs in Canada and the United States due to an issue with power seats. The company will be recalling tens of thousands of these vehicles following a tragic incident in Ohio where a two-year-old girl lost her life.
The affected models, the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims, are being halted from sales as the second- and third-row power seats may not properly detect contact with occupants or objects. Hyundai did not provide specific details about the fatal incident that occurred on March 7.
Approximately 68,500 vehicles are included in the recall, with around 8,000 of them in Canada. Hyundai expressed condolences to the family of the child and mentioned that they are still investigating the incident.
The company is actively working on a solution for the recall and is offering rental vehicles to customers until a permanent fix is available. They advise caution when using the power seat functions and recommend ensuring that no individuals or objects are in the seat or folding area before activating the power seat.
Hyundai is in the process of developing an interim software update, set to be released by the end of March, which will improve the system’s responsiveness to contact with occupants or objects. This update will introduce additional safety measures to enhance the overall system safety.
The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet responded to requests for comments on this matter.