UPDATE 3/24/2026: This story has been updated to note that Kia has filed a recall covering 568 Telluride SUVs that share the same defect identified in the Palisade. The Kia recall applies to a portion of 2027 Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige models.
UPDATE 3/20/2026: This story has been updated to reflect that Hyundai has officially filed a recall covering 61,093 Palisade SUVs in the United States.
Hyundai notified its dealers on Friday, March 13, that it was suspending sales of certain 2026 Palisade models after a fatal incident involving a two-year-old earlier that week. The automaker disclosed that the power-operated second- and third-row seats in Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims may not properly detect passengers or objects when folding or sliding.
In its public statement, Hyundai offered its "deepest sympathies" to the child's family, while acknowledging that it still lacks complete information about the circumstances of the accident. In the interim, Hyundai urged Palisade owners to be careful when using the powered seat functions in the second and third rows — specifically advising against pressing the seatback button while occupants are getting in or out of the vehicle.
Hyundai subsequently filed a formal recall for the 2026 Palisade. The action covers 61,093 Palisade SUVs in Limited and Calligraphy trim levels in the United States, along with approximately 8,000 additional vehicles in Canada meeting the same criteria.
A permanent fix is still in development, and Hyundai is providing loaner vehicles to affected owners in the meantime. As a stop-gap measure, Hyundai is working on an over-the-air software update to improve sensor sensitivity and safety, which it expects to make available before the end of March.
A Kia spokesperson confirmed to Car and Driver that no currently available Telluride models share the same power-operated third-row seat design. However, following an internal review, Kia filed a recall for 568 Telluride SUVs — specifically targeting certain 2027 Telluride Hybrid SX Prestige and X-Line SX Prestige vehicles with the same underlying issue.
This story was originally published March 16, 2026.
