NHTSA Recall 26V160000: Hyundai Palisade Power-Folding Seats
A plain-language breakdown of NHTSA recall 26V160000 — the Hyundai Palisade power-folding second- and third-row seat defect, the interim safety steps for families, and your California lemon law rights.
Recall 26V160000 at a glance
- NHTSA campaign number
- 26V160000
- Manufacturer
- Hyundai Motor America
- Vehicles affected
- Hyundai Palisade (Limited and Calligraphy trims)
- Model years
- 2026
- Units recalled
- 61,307
- Component
- Power-folding second- and third-row seats — anti-pinch protection
- Risk
- Power-folding rear seats may lack sufficient anti-pinch protection
- Recall issued
- March 13, 2026
Safety notice: Power-folding rear seats may lack sufficient anti-pinch protection. Follow the manufacturer's interim guidance below until the recall repair is completed.
What the recall covers
Recall 26V160000 (Hyundai reference 296) covers 61,307 model year 2026 Hyundai Palisade and Palisade Hybrid vehicles in Limited and Calligraphy trims. According to documents Hyundai provided to NHTSA, the second- and third-row power seat assemblies may fail to detect a person, so a seat can keep moving after contacting someone during powered functions such as one-touch tilt-and-slide or automatic power fold-and-stow. Hyundai issued a stop-sale and recall after a fatal incident involving a child; families should treat the interim safety guidance seriously.
The remedy
Hyundai will update the seat software so the seats better recognize occupants and objects — requiring the tailgate to be open to use the fold-flat/stow function, disabling seat folding from the infotainment screen, and requiring press-and-hold operation of the fold and walk-in controls. The update is free of charge.
What owners should do now
- Until the update is installed, do not use the power-fold/stow function when anyone — especially a child — is in or near the second- or third-row seats.
- Keep children away from the rear seats while any seat-adjustment feature is operating.
- Watch for your Hyundai owner-notification letter and get the free software update as soon as it is available.
- Confirm whether your specific VIN is affected.
- Keep your recall letter and every repair order.
How to check your VIN
Confirm whether a specific vehicle is included by entering the 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or hyundaiusa.com. Inclusion is VIN-specific, not just by model and year.
Hyundai customer service: 855-371-9460. NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline: 888-327-4236.
When this recall can become a California lemon law claim
A recall is not automatically a lemon — it is the manufacturer acknowledging a defect and offering a free fix. Your Hyundai may qualify under California's Lemon Law if the recall repair is significantly delayed, doesn't resolve the problem, or your vehicle has other unrepaired warranty defects. In those cases you may be entitled to a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees. For the full breakdown, see the guides below.
Read more on this recall
Frequently Asked Questions
What vehicles does recall 26V160000 cover?
Recall 26V160000 (Hyundai reference 296) covers 61,307 model year 2026 Hyundai Palisade and Palisade Hybrid vehicles in Limited and Calligraphy trims whose power-folding second- and third-row seats may fail to detect a person and keep moving.
What should families do until the repair is done?
Do not use the power-fold or stow function when anyone, especially a child, is in or near the rear seats, and keep children away from the seats while any adjustment feature is operating. Get the free software update as soon as it is available. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Could this recall support a California lemon law claim?
Possibly. If the repair is delayed, doesn't resolve the problem, or your Palisade has other unrepaired warranty defects, you may have a California lemon law claim — potentially a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement, with the manufacturer paying your attorney fees. A serious safety defect is treated more seriously under the law.
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Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome. Every case is different and depends on its own facts.
Recall details are summarized from public NHTSA data and are subject to change; confirm current information at nhtsa.gov/recalls. This page is general information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; for advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney.