Hyundai Halts Palisade Sales, Recalls 68,500 Vehicles After Child Death

Hyundai Motor Company has halted sales of its 2026 Palisade SUV in select high-end trims across multiple markets and is preparing a formal recall for approximately 68,500 vehicles following the death of a two-year-old girl in Ohio on March 7. The incident, which remains under investigation, involved the vehicle's power-operated second- and third-row seats and prompted the automaker to issue a stopsale order on Friday for the Limited and Calligraphy models in the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Australia.

The child was fatally injured when the second-row seats' power-folding function activated, according to reports. Hyundai has not released additional details about the circumstances, stating that authorities are still examining the case. In a statement, the company expressed its deepest sympathies to the family, noting, "While Hyundai does not yet have the full details and the incident is still under investigation, a young child lost her life."

The safety issue involves the seats' failure to adequately detect contact with an occupant or object during operation. This malfunction can occur in both the power-folding mode for the second and third rows and the second-row...