Model year 2021 · Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2021 Hyundai Palisade: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings
EPA rates the 2021 Hyundai Palisade at 21–22 mpg combined across 2 versions. NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 447 owner complaints for this model year. Its best NHTSA overall crash-test rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Safety recalls
6
EPA combined mpg
21–22
NHTSA overall rating
5/5
Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT
Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Hyundai dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.
2021 Hyundai Palisade recalls
NHTSA's recall file lists 6 safety recalls for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, newest first.
Air bags: Side/window: Curtain
NHTSA 26V034000Reported Jan 22, 2026
Filed by
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 292)
Units affected
568,576 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 243)
Units affected
167,085 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 235)
Units affected
244,980 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 233)
Units affected
122,949 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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: Fluid and 1 more component
NHTSA 21V840000Reported Oct 27, 2021
Filed by
Hyundai Motor America (manufacturer recall no. 212)
Components
Service brakes, hydraulic: Fluid; Service brakes, hydraulic: Foundation components: Master cylinder
Units affected
995 (estimate)
Problem
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.
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.
Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.
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2021 Hyundai Palisade fuel economy by version
EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.
Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.
EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.
2021 Hyundai Palisade crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
2021 Hyundai Palisade NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicle
Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Rollover risk
Forward collision warning
2021 Hyundai Palisade SUV AWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
14.3%
Standard
2021 Hyundai Palisade SUV FWD
5 stars
5 stars
5 stars
4 stars
15.9%
Standard
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.
Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.
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2021 Hyundai Palisade owner complaints
Owners have filed 447 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, most recently on Oct 20, 2026. 8 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 20 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.
Most-cited components in 2021 Hyundai Palisade complaints
Component named in complaints
Mentions
Seat belts
113
Unknown or other
83
Engine
61
Electrical system
53
Visibility/wiper
48
Suspension
31
Power train
25
Structure: Body
19
Trailer hitches
13
Seats
12
Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.
