Hyundai halts Palisade sales in US, Canada after power-seat anti-pinch failure kills 2-year-old in Ohio

ISLAMABAD: Hyundai Motor Company has halted sales of some new Hyundai Palisade SUVs in the United States and Canada and announced a recall following an incident in which a two-year-old girl died in Ohio on March 7 while operating an electric seat, according to a report by Reuters.

This is the same vehicle that was recently launched in Pakistan with bookings having started earlier this month. According to Hyundai Nishat Motors, Pakistan will become the first market after South Korea where the vehicle will be locally assembled in completely knocked down (CKD) form. It is unclear if this recall will cause any delays in assembly and deliveries to.customers in Pakistan.

Initial investigations into the Ohio incident found a defect in the “anti-pinch” function of the electric seats in the second and third rows. The seat reportedly failed to stop because it did not properly detect contact with passengers or objects.

Hyundai expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and said it is investigating the exact circumstances of the accident.

The automaker said sales of its 2026 model-year Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims were halted because the second- and third-row power seats may not detect contact with an occupant or object as intended. The company did not provide further details about the March 7 incident.

Hyundai said it is working on a recall fix and will offer customers rental vehicles if they require alternative transportation until a full remedy becomes available. The recall will cover approximately 68,500 vehicles, including around 60,500 units in the United States and about 8,000 in Canada.

Media reports suggest the company is also re-examining its vehicle development and verification processes to prevent damage to the brand’s credibility. A notice letter is expected to be sent to owners affected by the recall later this month.