Late last month, Hyundai issued a stop-sale order for all 2026 Palisade SUVs in Calligraphy and Limited trims due to a power seat issue that resulted in the death of a 2-year-old girl. As of this week, Hyundai says it has developed a new software update to fix the problem.
What Was the Issue?
The company submitted a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall notice for 61,093 Palisade models in the specified trims. The recall noted that the second and third-row seats “may not respond to contact with an occupant or object as intended during activation of certain powered seat functions.” Hyundai also sent messages to owners of affected vehicles via their infotainment screens, advising them to ensure that no occupants or objects are near the seats when folding them.
How Hyundai Plans to Fix it
Hyundai has released a new over-the-air (OTA) software update that fixes the power seat defect and will allow Palisade sales to continue. Multiple changes have been made to address the issue. Now, the liftgate must be open for the seats to fold completely flat using the seat stow function.
Also, many buttons have been switched to a press-and-hold operation to prevent functions from being enabled easily or accidentally. The seat and cargo area fold switches, and the second-row walk-in to access the third-row functions, now require you to press and hold the button to enable.
Folding and stowing controls will no longer be accessible via the infotainment screen — you will only be able to control these functions using the physical buttons on the seats and inside the vehicle. Additionally, the seats will not fold or stow when the seat belts are fastened.
How to Install the Update
Enrolled BlueLink users can download and install the new software via OTA updates. To do so, go to the “General” settings in your vehicle’s infotainment center, then select “Software Info/Update.” Follow the on-screen instructions to download the update.
If you are not enrolled in BlueLink, a Hyundai dealership can install the update for you at no charge.
