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2021 Hyundai Palisade

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist — a shareable PDF

412 owner complaints · 6 recalls · data verified July 10, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Why caution?

Has a "park it / park outside" recall — the most serious kind. Verify the fix was done before buying.

6 recall campaigns (3 safety-critical) — confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.

Seat belts problems dominate (25% of complaints, typically reported near 43k miles).

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)60
Severity (30%)64
Recall load (20%)43
Trend (10%)47

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20202026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2021 Hyundai Palisade, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miSeat belts~43k mi · 104 reportsVisibility & wipers~2k mi · 61 reportsElectrical system~11k mi · 52 reportsEngine~2k mi · 49 reportsSuspension~60k mi · 30 reports

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint — a rough guide, not a schedule.

Seat belts

25%

104 complaints · typically near 43k mi · 78 in the last 2 years

The manufacturer has failed to remedy this safety recall in a timely manner, I have been waiting since January 2026 for the new parts and it is July with no expected d…

Visibility & wipers

15%

61 complaints · typically near 2k mi · 6 in the last 2 years

Large crack formed without any projectile involved. Car was sitting in the garage and temperature was around 40 degrees. Crack starts from the bottom of the windshield…

Electrical system

13%

52 complaints · typically near 11k mi · 23 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at a low speed, the power steering failed, several warning lights illuminated, and the …

Engine

12%

49 complaints · typically near 2k mi · 43 in the last 2 years

Multiple attempts to have car repaired for a year and a half with no resolution. See attached docs. Included is a letter to Hyundai, timeline of subsequent events, war…

Recalls (6)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Air Bags · 26V034000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The side curtain air bags for third-row occupants may deploy improperly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."

Risk: Improper side curtain air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.

Fix: Dealers will install a protective film over the rear window and remove padding, as necessary free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated June 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 292. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 24, 2026.

Seat Belts · 25V607000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch.

Risk: Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Passengers are advised to insert the belt firmly into the buckle with a quick and direct motion, pulling on the belt to confirm the seat belt is fully secured, until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assemblies, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed beginning October 23, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated June 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 283. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 13, 2025.

Visibility/wiper · 23V180000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may operate intermittently or fail to operate due to snow or ice buildup on the windshield, causing the wipers to fail.

Risk: Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side windshield wiper arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 243. This recall is an expansion of recall number 22V-627.

Park itTrailer Hitches · 22V633000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling 2020-2022 Palisade vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.

Risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 235.

Visibility · 22V627000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.

Risk: Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side windshield wiper arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 233.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 21V840000

Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Palisade vehicles. The brake fluid may be contaminated, which can cause the brake master cylinder inner-cup seals to swell, and reduce braking performance.

Risk: Reduced braking performance can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, and flush the brake fluid, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 212.

Before you hand over money

Verify the recall work was done

NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.

Free NHTSA VIN check

Get a pre-purchase inspection

A $150–$250 independent inspection of this exact 2021 Hyundai PALISADE beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

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What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score — if they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only — always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.