Hyundai to stop selling certain 2026 SUVs after child's death

Hyundai will stop selling 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims after a child's death, according to the manufacturer.

According to Hyundai,  the second- and third-row power seats may not detect people or objects.

The move comes after a young child died in an accident involving a Palisade, according to Hyundai, but no further details were provided.

A statement reads:

Hyundai urges owners to use caution when operating the second and third-row power seat functions and to ensure that no person or object, including children, is in the seat or seat-folding area before operating the power seat. When using the second-row one‑touch tilt‑and‑slide feature to access the third row, customers should avoid pressing the seatback button during entry or exit.

Hyundai is in the process of contacting customers and submitting a recall action to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall applies to 68,500 vehicles sold in the U.S. and Canada.

Consumer Reports found three instances of complaints through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that related to seat defects, two of which involved reported injuries, since November 2025. 

To correct the issue, Hyundai is developing a software update that is expected to be available by the end of March. That update is available remotely through a Bluelink subscription, or, through the dealership if that option is not available for drivers. 

"While this update is not the permanent recall repair, it is intended to enhance the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects, introduce additional operating safeguards, and enhance overall system safety," Hyundai said.