Hyundai issues stop sale for some 2026 Palisade SUVs after fatal incident

By David Shepardson

March 13 (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor 005380.KS said on Friday it is stopping sales of some new Palisade SUVs in the United States and Canada and will recall them over an issue with power seats following an incident in which a two-year-old girl was killed in Ohio on March 7.

The automaker said sales of its 2026 model year Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims were halted because the second- and third-row power seats may not detect contact with an occupant or object as intended. It gave no details on the March 7 incident.

Hyundai expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of the child who died and added it "does not yet have the full details and the incident is still under investigation."

The automaker is working on a recall fix and offering customers a rental vehicle until a full remedy is available if they want alternative transportation.

Hyundai said it urged caution when operating second- and third-row power seat functions and told people to ensure no person or object, including children, is in the seat or seat-folding area before operating the power seat.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hyundai said the recall will include approximately 68,500 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited or Calligraphy trim vehicles, including around 60,500 vehicles in the U.S. and about 8,000 in Canada.

As Hyundai works on a recall fix, the automaker is developing an interim over-the-air software update, is expected to be available by the end of March, that will enhance the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects, introduce additional operating safeguards and enhance overall system safety.