Hyundai Palisade Years To Avoid: Which Years Need Extra Caution?

That clean 2024 Palisade can pass a test drive and still need engine replacement. Certain engines contain damaged valve springs that can snap and cut power without warning. Hyundai’s recall 24V106 requires engine subassembly replacement on affected SUVs, even before a spring breaks.

Earlier models bring different concerns. The 2020–2021 Palisades need closer checks for stubborn cabin odor, wind noise, and unfinished recall work. A repaired example can still make sense. The buying risk depends on the fault, the vehicle’s condition, and proof that someone fixed it.

We’ll pin down which Palisade years need caution, where 2022–2023 fit, and which repairs should come before the sale.

1. Why 2020–2021 Palisades need a closer look

The headrest smell reached into 2021

Open the doors after the SUV sits in the sun. An unpleasant cabin smell deserves a closer look around the headrests. Hyundai addressed this complaint in TSB 21-BD-002H-1. It applies to certain 2020–2021 Palisades equipped with Nappa leather and built before November 23, 2020, not to every vehicle from those model years.

The repair starts by removing the affected headrests and opening their covers to expose the foam. Technicians apply odor eliminator to the foam, the inside cover surfaces, and the headrest-mounting holes. They reinstall the headrests and place the vehicle in direct sunlight for two to three hours. Hyundai calls for replacing only the headrests that still smell after treatment.

The bulletin does not establish a specific chemical cause for the odor. A receipt for cabin detailing also does not prove that Hyundai’s procedure was completed. Check the cabin while it is warm, before fresh air or an air freshener masks the smell. A headrest that still smells may need further treatment or replacement.

Highway whistles have specific repair points

A short trip around the block will not reveal every door-glass whistle. Include highway driving with the windows fully closed and the audio off. Listen near the front-door glass and mirror mounts. Persistent noise warrants a repair estimate and an inspection of any earlier seal work.

Hyundai’s TSB 21-BD-003H covers wind or whistling noise on certain 2020–2021 Palisades. The repair uses an inside belt molding and pads at specified mirror, glass-run, and wiring-hole locations. The vehicle’s build date determines which parts apply. Replacing every listed part on every vehicle would ignore the bulletin’s limits.

The inside-belt-molding repair applies to vehicles built before February 2, 2020. The glass-run pad and clip apply before December 23, 2019. Mirror-base pads apply before April 20, 2020. Pads around the mirror-wiring opening apply before September 28, 2020. The bulletin directs technicians to use the applicable production-date cutoff rather than replace a part automatically.

Inspect the windshield separately for chips, edge cracks, and poor replacement work. A crack alone does not prove that body flex or faulty factory adhesive caused it. If the glass was replaced, ask for the installation invoice and any required forward-camera calibration record. Missing calibration records leave the camera’s alignment unverified; that is general inspection advice, not a conclusion established by the door-glass TSB.

Repair records matter more than the year badge

A repaired, well-maintained 2020 or 2021 can remain a reasonable candidate. Ask for invoices that name the parts replaced and the complaint addressed. An entry that says “checked noise” does not confirm a molding or mirror-pad repair.

Keep cabin faults separate from engine symptoms and open safety recalls. Headrest treatment will not explain low engine oil, and new door seals will not close an unrelated recall. The body-related bulletins document repair procedures; they do not establish how often engines or transmissions fail across either model year.

2. The 2024 engine recall can stop the purchase

A damaged valve spring can wreck the engine

Certain 2024 Palisades left the factory with valve springs damaged during a supplier manufacturing process. Those springs can develop fatigue cracks and break while the engine runs. NHTSA recall 24V106, Hyundai Recall 255, applies to certain vehicles built from August 21 through October 12, 2023. It does not apply automatically to every Palisade built during that period.

A broken spring can cause a sudden loss of motive power. In rare cases, a broken valve can enter the combustion chamber and create a hole in the engine block, increasing fire risk. That is more precise than saying every broken spring causes complete engine failure.

Check recall eligibility by VIN before arranging an inspection. The model year alone will not identify an affected engine. A door-jamb label can narrow the build period, but the VIN check determines campaign eligibility and completion.

A quiet engine does not clear the recall

Hyundai requires engine-subassembly replacement on affected vehicles. A quiet idle, clean scan, or smooth highway run cannot rule out the defect. Waiting for noise or a warning light leaves the underlying defect unaddressed.

“Engine subassembly” also has a specific scope. Do not assume that every accessory attached to the engine is replaced. Hyundai’s repair procedure identifies the parts in the subassembly and specifies which existing parts are transferred or reused. The dealer’s repair order should identify the VIN, completed campaign, and replacement work. Match those details to the SUV in front of you.

For an affected vehicle, make documented recall completion a condition of purchase. An appointment for next month does not establish that anyone replaced the engine. If the SUV suddenly loses power, Hyundai advises against attempting to drive it and directs the owner to dealer assistance.

3. Falling oil levels need a diagnosis, not a guess

Find where the oil goes before blaming the rings

The 2020–2025 Palisade uses a 3.8-liter gasoline-direct-injection V6 and an eight-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai’s model-year specifications support those powertrain details. The cited specifications do not expressly establish the article’s earlier “torque converter” wording, so do not present that detail as a conclusion from the specifications alone.

A low dipstick reading needs investigation, whether oil escapes through a seal or burns inside the engine. Hyundai’s TSB 23-EM-008H requires technicians to address external leaks before testing oil consumption. Abnormal engine noise, relevant diagnostic faults, and applicable campaigns or bulletins also need attention when they prevent normal operation.

The mileage test can start with fresh oil and a filter change. Technicians warm the engine, allow it to settle for about 10–15 minutes, set the level near the dipstick’s full mark, and record the starting condition. The vehicle then covers at least 1,000 miles before reinspection. The exact procedure varies if the vehicle recently received an oil and filter change, and anti-tamper marking is recommended rather than an absolute requirement.

At the return visit, technicians measure how much oil restores the level. The bulletin expresses the threshold as miles per quart: below 1,000 miles per quart triggers further steps. That is equivalent to consumption of more than one quart per 1,000 miles. The guidance applies across eligible gasoline Hyundai models; it does not establish a Palisade-specific failure rate.

Ask how often the seller adds oil and how much each time. Compare oil-change dates and mileage against the correct normal or severe-use schedule. Request results from any previous consumption test, including the distance covered and oil added. A full dipstick on sale day will not reveal how much oil disappeared during the previous month.

A leaking housing seal now has extended coverage

TSB 26-EM-012H, issued in May 2026, addresses deterioration of the engine oil-filter-housing seal on certain 2020–2025 Palisades built from April 10, 2019, through June 10, 2025.

Warranty extension Z15 covers the eligible seal for 15 years or 180,000 miles, whichever comes first. Original and subsequent owners qualify. The clock starts at original retail delivery or first use, whichever occurred earlier. Confirm the VIN and the leak source with Hyundai before agreeing to pay for repairs. Coverage is for the specified seal and condition, not a blanket warranty for oil loss.

The repair replaces the seal after technicians remove the housing and clean its mating surfaces. It does not establish coverage for unrelated oil burning or every damaged housing. A cracked housing needs its own diagnosis and coverage decision.

The bulletin warns against adding the engine’s full 7.08-quart capacity during this seal repair. The oil filter stays installed, retaining oil. Hyundai specifies an initial fill of approximately six quarts, followed by adjustment to near the dipstick’s full mark. Adding the full capacity can overfill the engine.

4. Snow can stop the wipers on 2020–2023 models

Packed snow can trip the motor’s circuit breaker

Snow or ice can collect between the driver-side wiper arm and the cowl below the windshield. That buildup can impede the wiper system, increase motor load, and activate the motor’s circuit breaker, temporarily stopping the wipers. Losing that sweep during snowfall can quickly cut visibility.

NHTSA 22V627, Hyundai Recall 233, covers certain vehicles produced from April 10, 2019, through November 30, 2020. NHTSA 23V180, Hyundai Recall 243, covers certain vehicles produced from December 1, 2020, through November 22, 2022. Together, the campaigns reach certain 2020–2023 model-year vehicles, not every Palisade in that range.

Hyundai states that operation can return after the breaker resets or someone clears the obstruction. That temporary recovery does not correct the arm-to-cowl clearance problem. For 22V627, early recall documents described the precise issue as still under investigation; the load and breaker-activation explanation should therefore be stated cautiously.

The repair changes the arm, not just the blade

Both recalls call for a redesigned driver-side wiper arm. Its shape provides more room for snow between the arm and cowl, reducing motor load and the possibility of tripping the breaker. Replacing the rubber blade alone does not complete this repair.

During inspection, wet the windshield and check normal wiper operation. Do not pack snow around the arm or hold it back to test the motor. A clear windshield will not reproduce the obstruction described in the recall. Confirm arm replacement through the VIN campaign record and dealer repair order.

A receipt for new blades does not establish that the dealer installed the revised arm. Nor does normal operation in dry weather prove recall completion. The recall repair is free for affected vehicles, including those outside Hyundai’s new-vehicle warranty.

5. Three fire recalls involve different electrical faults

A tow-harness module can short even while the Palisade sits parked with the ignition off. Separate campaigns concern the controller for the transmission’s auxiliary electric oil pump. That pump helps maintain transmission hydraulic pressure during Idle Stop & Go operation.

The pump-controller recalls also have different causes. Manufacturing damage affected capacitors in certain 2023–2024 vehicles. Poor housing seals allowed moisture to reach the electronics in certain 2025 models. Each campaign requires its own VIN check and documented remedy.

The 23V526 production cutoff is June 27, 2023, not July 13, 2023. July 13 was associated with an investigation or testing update, not the Palisade production range.

6. Seat belts and airbags need separate recall checks

A buckle can click without fully locking

Certain 2020–2025 Palisades have buckle components that can create excess friction inside the latch channel. Cold weather can worsen that drag. Insert the belt tongue slowly, and the buckle may fail to engage fully. NHTSA 25V607, Hyundai Recall 283, addresses this defect.

Watch for a weaker click than normal or a release button that stays recessed. Hyundai’s interim guidance calls for firm insertion with a quick, direct motion. Then pull the belt to confirm it holds. That check does not replace the recall repair.

Dealers inspect the applicable front-row and second-row outboard buckle assemblies and replace them as necessary. The replacement buckles contain latch guides made to the correct dimensions. The recall does not require automatic replacement of every affected buckle.

Third-row protection failed a federal test

NHTSA 26V034 covers certain 2020–2025 Palisades for inadequate third-row ejection protection. Federal testing measures how far a head-shaped test device travels beyond a window opening. Tests exceeded the standard’s 100-millimeter displacement limit, about 3.94 inches. That shortfall raises injury risk in certain crashes, including rollovers.

The recall concerns the rear quarter-window and nearby headliner areas in the third-row outboard positions. The remedy calls for protective film on the rear quarter-window glass. Affected vehicles with dual sunroofs also need specified headliner foam removed above those windows. Ordinary window tint does not establish that Hyundai completed this repair; confirm completion by VIN and dealer documentation.

Ask the dealer to confirm the current campaign status for the VIN. On a dual-sunroof vehicle, the repair record should account for both required steps. Hyundai lists no advance warning for this defect, so a clear dash cannot rule it out.

Certain 2024 suede seats can suppress the passenger airbag

NHTSA 23V599, Hyundai Recall 249, covers 63 potentially involved 2024 Palisades with Dark Premium suede seats built from July 4–19, 2023.

Their occupant-detection software can use calibration intended for standard leather seats. The wrong calibration can fail to detect a passenger and suppress the front passenger airbag. The passenger “AIRBAG OFF” lamp may illuminate. Dealers update the occupant-detection software with the correct suede-seat calibration. Eligibility depends on the installed seats and VIN, not the 2024 badge alone.

7. Rear suspension thumps can reach into 2024

Rough roads can expose worn self-leveling shocks

A dull clunk from the rear over broken pavement deserves a suspension inspection. Hyundai documents this complaint in TSB 26-SS-001H for certain Palisades with self-leveling rear shocks. Worn shocks may cause the noise. The bulletin covers certain 2020–2024 vehicles built from April 10, 2019, through August 29, 2023; it does not establish that every rear clunk comes from the shocks.

Diagnosis starts with a road test to reproduce the clunk or thump. Technicians then inspect the rear shocks, suspension arms, stabilizer bar, crossmember, and related components for visible damage. Damage elsewhere requires normal diagnosis before the shocks are condemned. After replacement, another road test must confirm that the noise has stopped.

Include uneven pavement in your test drive, with loose cargo secured. A smooth highway run gives the rear suspension little chance to reveal this complaint. If the seller calls it “normal SUV noise,” ask for a diagnosis before accepting the vehicle.

Coverage follows the vehicle, but repair history matters

Hyundai expanded warranty extension Z12 in May 2026 to include eligible 2023–2024 models. Coverage lasts 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first, and includes subsequent owners. Time runs from original retail delivery or first use, whichever occurred earlier. Eligibility is limited to certain vehicles and equipment and should be confirmed by VIN through Hyundai’s warranty system.

The first qualifying repair replaces both rear shocks and their insulators. Later qualifying repairs replace only the noisy side or sides and reuse the insulators. If both sides are affected during a later repair, both may be replaced. Ask whether a previous owner already received the first repair.

Check the actual suspension equipment when comparing trims. This extension concerns self-leveling rear shocks, so the model year alone does not establish coverage. Hyundai also requires new shock lock nuts during replacement and prohibits impact tools for tightening them.

8. Which used Palisade years deserve a place on your list

A 2022 earns consideration through condition and price

A 2022 makes sense if you prefer the original styling and find a well-maintained example. Compare its price with vehicles of similar mileage, trim, and repair history. Leave room in the budget for wear items identified during inspection.

Do not pay extra on the assumption that Hyundai cured windshield cracking or oil consumption for 2022. The documented repairs do not establish either claim. Wiper and restraint recalls still matter, along with the tow-harness campaign where applicable. Self-leveling rear shocks also fall within the expanded warranty program on eligible vehicles.

Ask the inspecting shop to record oil leaks, suspension noise, and windshield damage before you negotiate. Those findings give you repair needs tied to that vehicle. A fresh oil change cannot establish its oil-consumption rate.

The 2023 refresh adds useful features, with one brake recall to check

The 2023 refresh brought revised styling, a redesigned dashboard, and a larger navigation display. Hyundai also added USB-C ports and increased wireless-charging output from 5 to 15 watts. The 3.8-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic remained. These changes can justify your preference for 2023, but they do not prove greater engine durability.

Certain examples built April 28–May 11, 2023, fall under NHTSA 23V415, Hyundai Recall 245. A poorly assembled brake booster can let its diaphragm slip out of position. The resulting vacuum loss reduces brake assistance and can increase stopping distance.

Hyundai’s procedure requires checking the booster’s production lot and replacing it when necessary. Boosters marked DSA2 on the rear shell require replacement. Other lot numbers can remain after the prescribed inspection. A valid recall completion record can therefore show inspection without replacement.

A repaired 2024 can stay in contention

Separate a 2024 outside the valve-spring recall from an affected example with documented engine replacement. Both can merit inspection. For the repaired vehicle, match the engine work to its VIN and check for leaks or unresolved faults. Replacement does not renew the transmission, suspension, or the rest of the SUV.

A 2025 offers the final year of the first-generation design, but less accumulated long-term evidence. Its narrow oil-pump-controller recall and broader restraint campaigns still require VIN checks. Do not treat low mileage as proof that those repairs are complete.

Compare the remaining warranty by both time and mileage, especially on vehicles with self-leveling shocks. A 2024 can qualify for Z12 if its equipment and VIN fit. The published shock extension covers certain 2020–2024 vehicles; it does not include the 2025 model year.

9. The redesigned 2026 starts a different reliability record

New engines change what past failures can tell you

The 2026 Palisade replaces the previous 3.8-liter V6 with a 3.5-liter V6 and eight-speed automatic. A separate hybrid pairs a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with a six-speed automatic and electric drive hardware.

You cannot carry the older V6’s repair history straight across to either version. The gasoline model uses a different engine, and the hybrid adds a different propulsion system. As of October 2026, long-term Palisade-specific evidence for these new powertrains remains limited. Claims that either will last longer run ahead of the available evidence.

New seats and screens already need recall checks

Certain 2026 Palisades have safety recalls involving powered seats, buckle wiring, and the instrument cluster. The seat campaigns target specific Limited and Calligraphy models, including gasoline and hybrid versions. Confirm eligibility and completed repairs by VIN before delivery.

A general “software updated” entry does not identify which controllers received the required changes. Ask the dealer to match the work to each open campaign. Keep people and objects clear when operating powered seats; do not test their response with a hand or body.

Before buying any used Palisade, run the VIN through Hyundai’s recall portal and NHTSA’s recall lookup. Ask for the dealer repair order, not just a seller’s verbal assurance, and confirm that the completed campaign matches the vehicle’s VIN and the repair actually performed.

Sources & References

The article relies primarily on NHTSA-hosted Hyundai recall reports and technical service bulletins, together with official Hyundai campaign and model-information pages. Recall eligibility and completion should always be confirmed by VIN.

1. Hyundai TSB 21-BD-002H-1: Headrest odor
2. Hyundai TSB 21-BD-003H: Wind and whistling noise
3. NHTSA Recall 24V106: 2024 Palisade valve springs
4. Hyundai Recall 255: Valve-spring recall remedy
5. Hyundai Recall 255 remedy procedure
6. Hyundai TSB 23-EM-008H: Engine oil-consumption testing
7. Hyundai TSB 26-EM-012H: Oil-filter-housing seal and Z15 coverage
8. NHTSA Recall 22V627: Snow-related wiper malfunction
9. NHTSA Recall 23V180: Updated wiper-arm remedy
10. NHTSA investigation closeout: Palisade wiper system
11. NHTSA Recall 22V633: Tow-harness fire risk
12. Hyundai Recall 235: Tow-harness campaign
13. NHTSA Recall 23V526: Electric oil-pump controller
14. NHTSA Recall 25V291: 2025 electric oil-pump controller
15. NHTSA Recall 25V607: Seat-belt buckle assemblies
16. NHTSA Recall 26V034: Third-row ejection protection
17. NHTSA Recall 23V599: Suede-seat occupant-detection calibration
18. Hyundai TSB 26-SS-001H: Self-leveling rear-shock noise and Z12 coverage
19. Hyundai 2023 Palisade launch and specification information
20. NHTSA Recall 23V415: 2023 brake-booster inspection
21. Hyundai Recall 245: Brake-booster campaign
22. Hyundai 2026 Palisade specifications
23. NHTSA Recall 26V160: Powered-seat software
24. NHTSA Recall 26V169: Third-row buckle wiring
25. NHTSA Recall 26V047: Instrument-cluster software
26. Hyundai recall campaign lookup
27. NHTSA recall lookup