The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 118 of 448 complaints (26%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Brakes include more reported injuries (10) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 542 in 2020 to 448 in 2021.
At a glance
- NHTSA complaints
- 448
- Recall campaigns
- 6
- EPA fuel cost per year
- $2,850–$2,950
- Combined MPG
- 21–22
Complaints by model year
Where owners report problems
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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | vs. 2021 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,850–2,950 | 2,850–2,950 | 2,850–2,950 | 2,850–2,950 | |
| Combined MPG | 21–22 | 21–22 | 21–22 | 21–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19 / 24–26 | 19 / 24–26 | 19 / 24–26 | 19 / 25–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 406–426 | 407–426 | 407–426 | 406–422 | |
| Complaints filed | 542 | 448 | 319 | 411 | |
| Recalls issued | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 13 | 8 | 7 | 6 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 | |
| Injuries reported | 16 | 20 | 7 | 2 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have?
6 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Nov 7, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?
Airbags & Restraints: 118 of 448 NHTSA complaints (26%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade get?
EPA rates it 21–22 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2021 Hyundai Palisade?
EPA estimates $2,850–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 19 mpg | 26 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 407 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S8) | 6 | 3.8L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 19 mpg | 24 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $2,950 (high) | 426 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 63 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 10 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical | 56 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 11 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Steering | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 118 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 33 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 45 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 84 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (6)
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- Improper side curtain air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.
- Remedy
- 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. Final remedy owner letters will be mailed in phases, beginning in June 2026 and expected to continue through December 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: REAR/OTHER:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY; SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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. Final remedy owner letters will be mailed in phases, beginning in June 2026 and expected to continue through December 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
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.
TRAILER HITCHES
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- 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:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
- Defect
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
- Consequence
- Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
- Defect
- 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.
- Consequence
- Reduced braking performance can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- 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.