Hyundai Palisade Recall: Potential Ejection Risk for Third-Row Occupants

Hyundai Motor America has announced a safety recall affecting over half a million Hyundai Palisade vehicles, model years 2020 through 2025, due to a defect that could increase the risk of injury to third-row occupants in certain types of crashes. This recall, submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on January 22, 2026, concerns nearly 568,576 vehicles produced between April 10, 2019, and June 16, 2025. The issue stems from the potential noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 226, which mandates ejection mitigation standards for vehicles.

The defect specifically relates to the performance of the third-row curtain airbags during crash events, potentially failing to meet the allowable third-row headform displacement requirements. This means that in certain collisions, particularly rollovers, the airbags may not adequately protect occupants in the third row, leading to an increased risk of ejection and subsequent injury. The investigation into the root cause is ongoing. Notably, there are no specific warning signals that would alert drivers to this potential issue. The implicated components, the curtain airbags for both the left-hand and right-hand sides of the third row, are manufactured by AUTOLIV, a tier-one supplier based in the Republic of Korea.

The recall process began when Hyundai was informed by NHTSA in April 2025 about the results of a routine compliance test. The test indicated that the headform displacement in the third-row seating area of a 2025 Palisade exceeded the 100 mm limit specified in FMVSS No. 226. In response, Hyundai launched an investigation in collaboration with NHTSA’s Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance and the Hyundai America Technical Center. Multiple inspections and technical reviews were conducted between July and November 2025. A subsequent re-test performed by NHTSA in November 2025 yielded results consistent with the initial findings.

Following these developments, Hyundai conducted its own compliance tests between December 2025 and January 2026, using vehicles across various trim levels. These tests confirmed that in some instances, the third-row ejection headform displacement values exceeded the established performance limit. Hyundai shared these results and conducted further analysis with its airbag supplier, Autoliv, before convening its North America Safety Decision Authority (NASDA) in January 2026. Based on the test outcomes and supplier analysis, NASDA concluded that a defect exists, necessitating a recall for noncompliance with FMVSS No. 226.

Hyundai is currently developing a remedy for this defect, which will be provided to owners of affected vehicles at no cost. This remedy will be offered regardless of whether the vehicle is still under its original new vehicle limited warranty. Furthermore, Hyundai has committed to reimbursing owners for any out-of-pocket expenses they may have incurred in seeking a remedy for this specific recall condition, in accordance with a reimbursement plan submitted to NHTSA. Details regarding the specific remedy component and how it differs from the recalled component will be provided once the remedy is finalized. As the affected vehicles are no longer in production, the remedy will focus on vehicles already in the hands of consumers.

Owners will be notified via certified mail regarding the recall, with planned owner notification for the remedy commencing around March 23, 2026. Vehicle identification numbers (VINs) will be searchable in the NHTSA database starting January 24, 2026, allowing owners to check if their specific vehicle is included in the recall. Hyundai advises owners of affected vehicles not to drive the vehicle and to park it outside until the remedy is available.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from Hyundai Motor America and NHTSA.

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