Hyundai halts sales, recalls 68,500 2026 Palisades over power-seat riskHyundai has halted sales and announced a recall of 68,500 2026 Palisade sport utility vehicles in the United States after a power seat injured several occupants and was linked to the death of a child. The action affects the higher end Limited and Calligraphy trims and centers on the second row power folding function, which can move unexpectedly while someone is in the seat. The company has acknowledged that it is still working on a permanent repair, leaving owners with interim safety instructions while regulators review the case and families absorb the human cost behind the defect. How the defect emerged The problem involves the second row power seat in the 2026 Hyundai Palisade, which includes a power fold and a tilt and slide function that allows easier access to the third row. According to a corporate notice, the affected vehicles are the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims, and the company has issued a formal stop sale for these models while it organizes a recall of 68,500 vehicles in the United States and 7,967 vehicles in Canada. In its safety communication, Hyundai described how the second row power seat can continue to move when the control button is pressed, even if a passenger is still seated, which can lead to entrapment or crushing injuries. The company’s statement, available through its official release, outlines the basic mechanics of the defect and the scope of the campaign. The company has tied the recall to at least one fatal incident involving a young child and additional reports of injuries. Internal investigations identified multiple complaints in which occupants were hurt when the second row seat moved unexpectedly during entry or exit from the third row, prompting the decision to stop deliveries of the affected trims. The fatal incident and human toll The recall follows the death of a 2 year old girl who became trapped in the second row seat of a 2026 Hyundai Palisade, an event that has reshaped the conversation around power seat safety. Reporting on the case describes how the child was pinned by the seat movement, and despite efforts to free her, she did not survive. Coverage of the incident has highlighted the work of reporter Mary Cunningham, who is identified as a reporter for CBS MoneyWatch and who previously worked at “60 Minutes,” CBSNews.com and CBS News 24/7 as part of the 60 M team, in bringing national attention to the family’s account and the automaker’s response. Hyundai has publicly expressed its deepest sympathies to the family of the child who died and has acknowledged that the company does not yet have the full remedy in place. In its notice, Hyundai urged owners not to allow children to operate the power seat controls and to ensure that no one is seated in the second row when the power fold function is used. Scope of the recall and interim fix In its safety announcement, Hyundai stated that sales of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims have been halted at dealerships, and that the recall will cover tens of thousands of vehicles already delivered to customers. The company’s detailed campaign description, which frames the action as a stop sale and planned recall, is set out in its Hyundai issues stop documentation. Hyundai has explained that it is finalizing the details of a repair and that a full remedy will be provided free of charge once available. Until then, the company has indicated that dealers may disable the power fold feature for the second row seat as a temporary measure, while instructing drivers to double check that no passengers are in the seat before operating the controls. The automaker has told regulators that it is working with engineers to adjust the seat control logic and hardware so that the system can detect resistance or an occupied position and stop movement. In the same communication, Hyundai confirmed that it is collaborating with safety authorities and that it will notify owners by mail once the permanent fix is ready, as described in the section of its release stating that Hyundai is finalizing the details of the campaign. What owners should do now Owners of 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy models are being advised to identify whether their vehicle is part of the 68,500 unit recall and to schedule a visit with a dealer for any interim steps. According to detailed coverage, Hyundai has recommended that drivers avoid using the power fold function for the second row seat when anyone is seated there and supervise children so they do not touch the seat switches. In the United States and Canada, the recall affects 68,500 vehicles in the domestic market and 7,967 vehicles in Canada, figures that appear in the description of how Hyundai has stopped sales of some 2026 models and plans a recall after the child’s death, a move summarized in the section explaining that Hyundai stops sales of some 2026 Palisade SUVs and recalls 68,500 vehicles in the United States and 7,967 vehicles in Canada in the same report. More from Fast Lane Only Unboxing the WWII Jeep in a Crate 15 rare Chevys collectors are quietly buying 10 underrated V8s still worth hunting down Police notice this before you even roll window down