Hyundai Recalls 68,500 2026 Palisades Over Fatal Electric Seat Incident

Hyundai has suspended sales of the 2026 Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims in the U.S. and Canadian markets and issued a recall affecting a total of 68,500 vehicles (60,515 in the U.S. and 7,967 in Canada). This action follows a fatal incident on March 7 in Ohio, where a two-year-old girl was fatally pinned during operation of the second- or third-row power seats. Investigations revealed that under certain conditions, the vehicle’s power seat system fails to detect occupants or obstacles, particularly involving features like “one-touch tilt-and-slide.” Hyundai is submitting recall documentation to the NHTSA, and repairs will be performed free of charge, with loaner vehicles provided. As an interim measure, the company plans to deploy an over-the-air (OTA) software update by the end of March to enhance safety, though it emphasized this is not a permanent fix. Hyundai has notified owners through multiple channels and reminded them to always ensure the area is clear before operating power seats.