Automaker Hyundai Motor announced that it is temporarily stopping sales of part of the Hyundai Palisade models for 2026 and is preparing to recall over 68,000 vehicles following an incident that led to the death of a child.
The decision is related to a problem with the electric seats in the second and third rows. According to the company, the seat management system may not recognize the presence of a person or object when folding or moving, which creates a risk of injury.
The Palisade Limited and Calligraphy versions, equipped with electric seats, are affected. The planned recall covers 60,515 vehicles manufactured in the United States and another 7,967 in Canada.
The company points out that the solution to eliminate the problem is still being developed. "The repair will be carried out free of charge for owners after it is finalized," Hyundai said. A software update is also being prepared in parallel.
The measures come after a tragic incident with a car of the same model. A child was crushed after the seat folding system was activated and did not detect the presence.
The company clarifies that the investigation is ongoing and there is no full clarity about the circumstances at the moment. "Hyundai expresses its deepest condolences to the family," the official position says.
According to Reuters, it is a 2-year-old girl who died on March 7 in the state of Ohio. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that they are aware of the case and are working with the manufacturer to gather additional information.
Hyundai urges owners of the affected models to be particularly careful when using the electric seats. The company recommends checking whether there are people or objects, including children, in the movement area before activating the mechanism.
In addition, it is recommended not to use the backrest folding button when entering or exiting the car, especially with the function for easy access to the third row. According to experts, in some cases the automated functions in modern cars are a greater risk than convenience.
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