NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2020 Hyundai Palisade. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I am writing to formally submit a complaint regarding my 2020 Hyundai Palisade, which has experienced a sudden and complete engine failure. This issue poses serious safety concerns and appears consistent with widespread reports of engine-related defects in Hyundai vehicles. I purchased this vehicle in 2023 from CarMax as a used vehicle, and at the time of purchase, I signed all necessary documents, including the federally required Lemon Law Disclosure form. This document is intended to protect consumers and ensure transparency about any known issues or potential defects associated with the vehicle. At no time was I informed that my vehicle may be subject to engine-related concerns that could result in total engine failure. Recently, my Hyundai Palisade’s engine failed, requiring a full replacement. I have discovered that Hyundai has issued multiple recalls in recent years related to defective engines in various models due to manufacturing flaws that can lead to knocking, stalling, or engine seizure—all of which create serious safety hazards. Although my vehicle is not currently listed under a recall, it is highly suspicious that I am facing the exact same problem affecting thousands of other Hyundai owners. This situation is unacceptable and undermines consumer trust. I urge the NHTSA to investigate whether the 2020 Hyundai Palisade should be included in existing or new recall campaigns related to engine defects. No consumer should bear the burden of an expensive engine replacement when manufacturer defects are clearly a pattern within the brand. Please advise me of any steps I can take to formally escalate this matter and ensure Hyundai is held accountable for this serious failure.
Front and rear seatbelts routeanly detach while driving making the vehicle unsafe for drivers passengers and children riding in this vehicle.
OEM shocks are clunky and noisy. Exhibit a rattling sound at lower speeds namely at rear right. Noise is progressive and noticeable at higher speeds as time goes on.
Burns oil and I have to change it every 3K-5K miles. I add oil throughout to keep it topped off, but by around 5K miles it’s nearly black. It would be completely dry by 10K miles. Yesterday I noticed an oil drip from what I assume is a faulty gasket, which is new.
AC FAILIRE IM SUMMER, just outside warranty but tsb issued. Holler Hyundai Service wants to charge me $350 diagnostic fee to take a look and diagnose. Extreme heat while having to use vehicle to go to work, run errands and transport children. No alternate vehicle is available and dealership is unreasonable to work with. Due to high humidity in Florida windows fog and hard to defog, visibility is impaired suddenly while driving
My car has been diagnosed, by a dealership, with excessive oil consumption due to a faulty piston ring which caused there to be no compression in cylinder 1. Initially my car had smoke coming from the tailpipe, then it started to shake while idling and the check engine light came on (delearship cleared it), then it overheated on me while going down the road with no warning whatsoever. Each time there was no oil on the lipstick. This is dangerous for people to not have any warning as to when the car is going to overheat until its already overheating. It could potentially set on fire while going down the highway with my [XXX] and [XXX] old. As soon as I put oil in it, it runs totally fine. I have voice recordings to confirm the diagnosis. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The shocks have been worn out, clunking and not damping bumps. It causes excessive bounce making the vehicle hard to control on the road. It has been verified by a shop and no warning signs on dash.
Dear NHTSA, I am writing to report a safety concern regarding my 2020 Hyundai Palisade. Recently, when I attempted to operate the sunroof, it only opened partially and made a crackling sound. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that some of the internal plastic components were breaking apart, and now the sunroof does not close properly. After researching this issue online, I discovered that numerous other owners are experiencing the exact same problem. For reference, here are a couple of user-reported discussions highlighting similar experiences: [XXX] [XXX] Additionally, I came across a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) related to this very issue, which can be found here: [XXX] However, when I checked my vehicle’s VIN, it did not appear to be included in the list of affected models, despite my vehicle exhibiting the same symptoms described in the bulletin. This leads me to believe that the scope of affected VINs may not have been fully identified. Given the number of similar complaints shared by other Hyundai Palisade owners, it appears this may be a more widespread issue than initially recognized. I respectfully request that NHTSA consider investigating this matter further, as it may help protect and support additional Hyundai customers who are dealing with this problem and have not yet been offered a resolution. Thank you for your attention to this matter. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Oil consumption causing hesitation and near-stalling. Hard shifting as well. These issues led to dangerous situations where I was afraid to drive the vehicle and feared for my family's safety. Also had a failed A/C compressor which i had to replace out of pocket. These things shouldn't be happening on a 4 year old vehicle.
The steering on the vehicle will stop responding when turning at low speeds. The vehicle will feel like it hits the “bump stop” and then will come back to center. You can then turn past that point. This has almost cause accidents because you cannot effectively steer to avoid obstacles and cannot maneuver effectively at low speeds. It occurred randomly. Was troubleshot at dealership without resolution because they could not replicate the issue. There are no hazard lights indicating an error.
The driver side wiper stopped functioning during a rain storm. Fortunately, I was not on a major road and was able to navigate. If I had been on the highway, I would have been blinded and potentially in a major accident if not able to pull over expeditiously. This malfunction occurred approximately one year earlier and was corrected by the dealer at that time. I believe some Hyundai Palisades have had a recall for this issue in the past. I am concerned that this has recurred and not been fixed definitively. This issue has potential fatal consequences. I am taking the vehicle to the dealer tomorrow to address the issue. I cannot take it today as it is still raining and I would be placing myself and others at risk.
1. Left-Side Captain Chair: Upon braking or movement slightly --the seat will come unsecured and jolt forward - causing whomever passenger who sits in it to move forward. 2. Tailgate Locking Lever: Trunk no longer opens upon pressing the button on the exterior. Trunk only opens upon utilizing the safely unlocking feature inside the vehicle - for emergencies only. Should not fail after 4 years. 3. Engine Burning Oil: July 2024 refilled oil change - December 2024 - Four (4 ) quarts of oil lost - vehicle is burning oil at unreasonable rates
2020 Hyundai Palisade , burning through quarts of oil at an unusual rate. No oil leaks can be found. SUV is only driven around town. No long mileage trips, no out of state trips exc. This is an extreme problem that should be looked into for this year make a model. I thought Hyundai was going to be my forever go to. Unfortunately after all the issues I’m experiencing, never again will I get a vehicle that’s a Hyundai brand.
Description of Incident: The engine in my 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited failed and ultimately seized despite having been regularly maintained and receiving an oil change less than 3,000 miles prior to the failure. The component that failed was the engine, and according to the dealership, it is seized and no longer operable. The vehicle is currently at the dealership and available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: The failure posed a significant safety risk. The engine began shaking while the vehicle was in motion, creating a sudden loss of power and drivability. I pulled over immediately and discovered that the engine oil dipstick was dry. I added oil right away, but the engine shut down shortly after. The abrupt loss of engine function while driving could have led to a serious accident had I been in traffic or at highway speed. Reproduction / Confirmation: Yes, the issue was confirmed by Hyundai at Courtesy, a certified Hyundai dealership. They diagnosed the engine as seized and also confirmed that oil was present at the time of inspection, ruling out owner neglect. Inspections Conducted: The vehicle and failed component (engine) have been inspected by the dealership, who submitted a case to Hyundai. However, the case was denied for goodwill coverage despite the circumstances. The manufacturer has been notified but has not physically inspected the engine themselves beyond the dealership’s report. Warning Lamps or Symptoms: No Check Engine Light, oil pressure warning, or any dashboard message illuminated prior to or during the failure. The only symptom was engine shaking, which began just before the engine shut down. The oil loss occurred silently and without warning, making the issue especially dangerous and difficult to detect in time.
We have a a reoccurring issue of a gear selector malfunction warning popping up on the dash. When this happens it is at random and causes the vehicle to forcibly put the car in park. The heavy concern is that it happens when the car is in motion. Forst few times it happened when backing out of a parking spot. Most recently it happened while driving out of our neighborhood. My concern is that this could potentially happen during a time in which speeds are higher and cause a wreck. We have taken the vehicle to Hyundai dealership locally and the code for the issue will not show so they send us home because they are not able to pinpoint the exact problem. We have continued use of the vehicle because when this does happen we have been able to cycle the car off and on and it goes back to normal and all warnings are cleared..... this cannot be normal a nd I just don't wish to find out what happens when it does this at a higher rate of speed.
Over the past 5 years, this vehicle has experienced three major powertrain failures: two complete transmission failures and, most recently, a catastrophic engine failure. The most recent issue involved the engine burning excessive oil without warning. While my wife was driving downhill, the vehicle shut off completely, causing a total loss of power steering and braking. She was barely able to get it safely to the side of the road. It was a serious safety risk, especially with children in the vehicle. Each failure has occurred well before it should in terms of mileage, and despite repairs, the issues continue. After this third failure, Hyundai offered to cover only 50% of the repair costs—which seems to acknowledge some degree of corporate responsibility—but we declined, as this is a relatively new vehicle and the problem is clearly systemic. We paid the second total transmission replacement completely out of pocket. A quick Google search and outreach to social media revealed that hundreds of Hyundai owners (across multiple models from this era) are experiencing very similar engine issues, many with official recalls for consumption, but there being no official recall or widespread support for Palisade owners. Personal stories suggest a clear pattern. The original dealership that sold the vehicle listed it as Certified Pre-Owned, but has since changed ownership and retains no records, which has made verifying the warranty status impossible. Hyundai corporate and customer service have been extremely difficult to work with—there are multiple active case numbers, no internal communication, and the local dealership doesn’t coordinate with national reps. This vehicle has spent over 100 days in service across these failures. I’ve tried every route available—dealership, corporate support, and online forums. The community is unsafe, and without broader action, other families could be at risk.
Rear suspension has failed. Back of car bounces on slightest of rough roads. Ride is very rough for passengers in back two rows. Driver and front passenger also experience bumpy ride that was not there before. When researching, this seems to be a common issue for Palisades with self leveling rear suspension. Car does not seem safe from bouncing due to rear suspension failure.
When driving vehicle there is a loud thumping sound coming from the back end of car and when driving through unstable terrain you could actually hear it more.
Seatbelts unclip after being buckled.
Seat belts does not retract and when pulled it remains in that position. Even when I feed the belt back into its place its very loose and unsafe.[driver seatbelt], fuel injectors are causing the car not to accelerate and safety concerns while on freeway with children the car began to shutter/wanting to.shut off. I used both break and gas at the same time to keep the car running. I was told by Hyundai that the powertrain warranty purchases does not cover that part.
Received attached letter, extending warranty for twisted seatbelts. When I contacted the dealer, they said they had to be a case where my seatbelt came unbuckled for them to replace the seatbelts in my second row of my Hyundai palisade. Here is my concern. there have been numerous complaints about seatbelts coming unbuckled while people were driving. I place my most precious cargo. My two great granddaughters in that second row buckled in with the seatbelts, anticipating that I have done everything possible to safeguard them. now Hyundai is telling me that unless something tragic happens they are not replacing them although they do point out that they are twisted due to excessive space in the D ring. If this is the case, why are they not replacing them now? Are they waiting for something tragic to happen.?? I want my second row seat belt to be replaced so I know my great granddaughters are safe when I place them in my vehicle. This is ridiculous that they issue the warning but no recall. Can you please help??
There is an oil leak coming from the oil filter housing, where it mates up to the block, causing the vehicle to lose oil
The ride is extremely bumpy, especially for children in the back seats. Hyundai has replaced the shocks/struts twice with less than 20,000 miles on the car. They are apparently using the same part which is why they keep wearing out badly.
The vehicle, a 2020 Hyundai Palisade SEL, was located in a closed garage, unoccupied. Within 10 minutes of parking the car in the garage, it caught on fire, possibly originating on the front, driver's side. Due to this incident occurring inside a garage, there was damage to our home and a high risk of safety (including loss of life) to the home and its occupants. At this time, we are waiting for the insurance company to investigate the origin of the fire as there were no warning lights or any indication of risk. This fire happened very suddenly and unexpectedly and it is our sincere hope that a thorough investigation will prevent this from happening to other families.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to close the trunk manual, there was an electrical shock where her hand came in contact with the trunk. As a result, the contact's wife sustained a minor burn to her left hand. The contact was a physician who confirmed that his wife sustained a second-degree burn and treated his wife for the injury. The contact was able to wrap his wife's hand. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the diagnosis was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
The seatbelt is unbuckling at random times, even when it is not tugged on and while driving. Drove 10-15 times and the buckle unlatched at least 6 times. Another driver of the same vehicle is also having problems. Dealer/mechanic cannot replicate the problem. No warning symptoms prior to it unbuckling.
Driver seatbelt will unbuckle or detach from buckle while driving. Multiple times it has happened where driving in dangerous conditions and the seatbelt will unbuckle while driving. Sometimes it will unbuckle itself quietly and I won’t notice it but the car will alert me to say it has been unlatched from the buckle.
Driver side windshield wiper has stopped working after encountering snow. The issue was initially intermittent, but now the wiper on the driver's side has stopped working completely. In searching, this is a known issue with other Palisades.
Seatbelts in captain’s chairs come unlatched randomly.
My rear shocks and or insulator were replaced under a TSB 22-SS-001H at 50000 miles. At 79000 they are needing replaced again. I am told the TSB no longer applies since it is out of warranty. I see others having the same issue. Can Hyundai be held accountable for obviously replacing a defective part with another one?
Acceleration is causing misfires or the engine to feel like it “skips” Also grumbles or bubbles when I shut down.
1. The paint (all the way down to the metal), in more than 3 spots, has started peeling off. 2 spots are about 2 feet each, so about 4 feet in total of missing paint. The silver on my rims has also started to peel off. 2. Paint has peeled off in large chunks which is unsafe. 3. The paint has been seen by service technicians at Autonation, where I bought it from and service at a Hyundai dealership. 4. I have not filed a claim with insurance yet as it was recommended by both Autonation and the dealership that it is a manufacturer defect and needs to be fixed by them. They both stated I could pay to have it repainted but it would just start chipping again since it is a manufacturer defect. The primer on the entire car was not applied properly so the paint is not sticking, hence why the paint has peeled all the way down to the metal. Just before I bought it, the paint had peeled on the hood and Autonation repainted it back in October of 2024 and the paint has started peeling in the same spot as of February of 2025. The 2 spots that have 2 feet of paint gone happened all in one day back in Decmeber 2024. No wreck, no damage to the car, I just walked out after driving it and paint was gone. 5. Both Autonation and the dealership said they had never seen anything like this and this is a manufacturer defect 100%. No one wants to touch it since they have all claimed it will just peel again and I'll be right back in the shop a month later.
The rear self leveling shocks continually break. They do not last, no recall given even though multiple people say they have same problem.
The 2nd row seatbelt on the passenger side comes unlatched during vehicle movement. Often times it will not latch and secure the seatbelt when a passenger is in the seat. On numerous occasions it has come unbuckled or would not work at all as required. Hyundai service centers have been unable to recreate the problem during inspection, stating there is nothing wrong with the seatbelt and we need to make sure we latch it fully. The deficiency never seems to happen during inspection but happens when my children and adult passengers are in the seat.
Discovered from passenger complaint that the two seat belt tensioners involved with the middle seat captain seats are defective. They will lock on their own without any deceleration or passenger intervention and not release unless the seat belt is unlocked & fully retracted. I have personally tested this and found both middle seat retractors to exhibit this failure even with the car standing still and powered off. A web searched revealed that Hyundai seat belts are under investigation by the NHTA at this time.
Engine is burning/consuming oil before required oil change. The oil levels are low enough that the vehicle will shutter or stall when coming to a stop. This is a known issue with 2020 Hyundai Palisades.
I purchased a used 2020 Hyundai Palisade in June 2024. The vehicle has a defective engine caused by excessive oil consumption. I took the vehicle to the dealer service department and they confirmed the issue. A claim was made to Hynduai to replace the engine and it was denied. Not replacing the engine will further degrade the engine until it fails completely. Hyundai has been uncooperative is wanting to resolve the issue, even though is a commonly reported issue.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that the vehicle had been starting independently. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage for hours, the contact noticed that the engine was running. The contact stated that upon pressing the Push to Start button, the vehicle turned off. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be replicated, and the contact was informed that no failure was found. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 37,409.
The second row driver side seat belt both comes unlatched and will not catch on the latch. This is intermittent but happens about 70% of the time. I feel it is dangerous and needs a repair immediately. It has been going on since May of this year. My 13-year-old most often occupies that seat.
Issues began in November of 2024 Began with a a oil consumption test and failed. Submitted for a new engine due to high oil consumption 3 quarts in 1,000 miles. Waited 6 months for a new engine to be available. July 2025 noted oil leaking brought in for repair and stated it was a boot joint that was leaking. Multiple return trips to repair since oil was still leaking. Check Engine light came on in , September and a faulty sensor in engine was noted (for mixing air and gas?), replaced sensor. Oil still continues to leak and after insisting they take the entire engine out to figure out where it was coming from a leaking faulty oil plug was noted on the rear side of the engine.
oil filter housing cracking and leaking How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? if engine fails due to oil leak (no oil) oil on the road is never a good thing, Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes it has been confirmed. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? no not at this time . Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? after oil service at dealer noticed small spots of oil, assumed it was residual from service, but spots are now the size of a paper plate after driving, for around 50 miles .
The GDI v6 motor that’s in it shudders and rattles when at idle. There’s metallic shavings and gas smell on the dipstick. It’s always low on oil and smokes a little at idle aswell. It’s completely ran out of oil and been to the shop 3x so far in a years time. Add oil to it every 2-3 weeks at this point ,It’s not leaking oil it’s definitely burning it. Once the dealership even had to come tow it to the shop the car shut off in the middle of the road and then again in the driveway as my wife was trying to turn into the driveway she lost all power and steering she ended up in the middle of the front yard, thank god she was just getting home at the time of the incident. I’ve heard of the same engine giving problems and having an open recall for similar issues pertaining to a bearing and or rings being damaged or broken allowing for the oil to be dripping or being burnt. The vehicle is a family vehicle and gets driven daily by my wife to and from the kids school and the grocery store it’s not driven hard or for very long periods of time. I would like to know if there’s anything that could be done about this issue. I’ve looked to see if the recall was open for this model palisade but it only shows for the Santife models even though it’s the same engine. The shop and dealers always tell me it’s nothing and just keep up with oil changes but that’s near impossible when it runs out of oil before the next oil change is due.
My 2020 Palisade has about 98,000 miles. A few months ago I brought it to the dealership because I thought my transmission was faulty. It turns out my car had burned up all but 1 qt of oil and it was affecting my engine, eventhough I changed my oil at 7,000 miles per the Hyundai manual (7500-10,000). I recently took the car in for an oil consumption test. I did an oil change, at my expense, and they set up the car for the test. I came back in 1000 miles and since my car had only burned up 3/4 of oil and not a full qt, Hyundai refused to do anything. I have driven 467 miles since that test and my dipstick shows an oil line 3/4 of the way to the bottom line already. I have a 100,000 powertrain warranty and a 120,000 bumper to bumper extended warranty and the only suggestion from Hyundai is to do an engine take apart at my expense ($1,000) or an engine clean at my expense ($700). Both of these options are unacceptable. So for now I am just going to be putting oil into my car every 500-1000 miles and hope it doesn't get worse. I worry about being on the freeway with my children and my engine seizing. This has happened to many people on palisade forums and other Hyundai card with their EDI engine. This is not only a terrible inconvenience that I should not be experiencing on my 4 year old car but also a huge safety issue. Please do something to make Hyundai make this right. This is their flagship car and not inexpensive.
1. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The engine failed, as it was deemed "shot" by the dealership. Yes, the engine and vehicle are available for inspection upon request. 2. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle began to stall while driving, which could have caused an accident, especially if the vehicle stalled in traffic or at high speeds. 3. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes, the problem was confirmed by the dealership, which diagnosed the engine as needing replacement due to a lack of oil. 4. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership. 5. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? Yes, the vehicle exhibited strange noises in the last week of October 2024 and symptoms of stalling in early November 2024. The check engine light turned on while driving to the dealership, just before the final diagnosis.
Magnetic chest clip malfunctions, does not fasten properly. The car seat is not designs to replace the chest clip with a functioning replacement. This allowed my child to unrestrain herself easily and posed a hazard to her in case of a wreck.
The self-leveling suspension system failed. The ride is uncomfortable and on a bumpy road, the vehicle is hard to control because it bounces up and down. I looked at the rear self-leveling shocks and they were made by KIA. Hyundai alleged they are separate manufactures but I believe they are the same.
- Self leveling rear shocks failed at 21,000 miles leading to dangerous instability on the highway. - The problem was ignored by my primary Hyundai dealer but identified by another and the shocks were replaced. Hyundai Corporate was of no help. - There are numerous reports of self leveling rear shock failures on the higher Hyundai Palisade trim levels. See on line chat forums; Google "Hyundai Palisade Rear Shck Failures". - Hyundai has failed to correct this safety issue and continues to manufacture and offer their self leveling rear shocks on certain model trims. This is a safety problem requiring an investigation by the NTSB. - As a note, 40 per cent of the writers mileage is highway, and there were no heavy loads or abusive driving practices.
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while attempting to stat the vehicle, the instrument panel was inoperable. The contact stated that the screen on the instrument panel appeared blank with no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the instrument cluster had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,237.
The wind deflector for the sunroof malfunctioned while attempting to close the sunroof. The wind deflector became lodged in the track for the sunroof and broke which caused the sunroof to shift and not close fully. When researched online, this is a common occurrence with this year and model vehicle. It could potentially cause the glass to shatter above the drivers head and cause an accident. The sunroof would not fully close causing it to leak when it rained. The glass panel was removed and manually slid into the closed position to prevent further damage. Now the sunroof is inoperable. The vehicle can be inspected upon request. The issue has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer or anyone else. There were no warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. we would like this issue to be resolved as it is a potential hazard.
Self-leveling shocks are bad just over 70,000, when the vehicle is out of warranty. Contacted Hyundai with no assistance. Did my own research and found that it seems to be a known issue with Hyundai Palisades. [XXX] [XXX] Seems ridiculous that a part so expensive without the option for aftermarket parts would be going bad so easily. My safety has not been jeopardized YET; however, worn or broken shock absorbers can lead to reduced braking efficiency, which could be a serious safety risk in the event of an emergency braking situation. In addition, worn or broken shock absorbers can cause your vehicle to skid on wet roads Repairs are ongoing with an independent service provider. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)