David Shepherdson
March 13 (Reuters) – Hyundai Motor said on Friday it would stop selling some of its new Palisade SUVs in the United States and Canada and would recall the models over issues with power seats following the March 7 death of a two-year-old girl in Ohio.
The automaker said sales of its 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims have been halted because the second- and third-row power seats may not detect contact with occupants or objects as expected. It did not provide details of the March 7 incident.
Hyundai expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of the deceased child, adding that “full details are not yet available and the incident remains under investigation.”
The automaker is working on recall fixes and offering lease vehicles to customers until a full remedy is available if customers need alternative transportation.
Hyundai said it urges people to use caution when operating second- and third-row power seat functions and tells people to make sure no people or objects, including children, are in the seat or seat-folding area before operating a power seat.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Hyundai said the recall will cover about 68,500 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited or Calligraphy trim vehicles, including about 60,500 in the United States and 8,000 in Canada.
As Hyundai works on recall fixes, the automaker is developing an interim over-the-air software update, expected to be rolled out by the end of March, that will enhance the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects, introduce additional operational safeguards and enhance overall system safety.
(Reporting by David Shepherdson; Editing by Chris Reese and Cynthia Osterman)
