This Is Worrying News For Palisade Owners

Hyundai has found itself in hot water over braking issues on its three-row Palisade, one of the company’s most popular models in the United States. A class action lawsuit has been filed against Hyundai Motor America, dated May 9, claiming that problematic anti-lock braking or traction control systems on certain Palisades lead to increased stopping distances. The lawsuit alleges the Korean automaker was aware of the defect but did not resolve it. 

Uneven Or Rough Surfaces Expose Palisade’s Braking Issues

According to the lawsuit, certain 2023 to 2025 model year Palisades experience braking problems over rough or uneven surfaces. The plaintiffs claim that there are miscalculations of wheel speed when braking, causing the sudden release and reapplication of braking power. Ultimately, drivers have experienced longer stopping distances than anticipated, and the safety implications of this are obvious.

“Hyundai has failed to repair the ABS Defect in Class Vehicles within a reasonable time,” stated the lawsuit. “As a result, many Class Vehicle owners have been forced to continue driving their cars with faulty brakes that suffer from the ABS Defect.”

Plaintiffs claim that since Hyundai did not rectify the problem quickly enough, this was a breach of its express warranty. Furthermore, this is a violation of consumer protection laws in Ohio and New York.

One customer who leased a 2024 Palisade described that it felt as if the SUV skidded over the road surface when applying the brakes. Another customer experienced the same, but the Hyundai dealership simply explained that this was normal behaviour for the ABS system. On the NHTSA’s site, we quickly found an incident reported by a customer in April this year, whereby their 2025 Palisade has an ABS issue and failed to stop before a stop light; this customer said: “The car felt extremely unsafe when this event occurred.”

Palisade’s High Safety Scores Misled Plaintiffs

Many customers involved in the lawsuit pointed to the Palisade’s strong safety reputation as a reason for purchasing or leasing the vehicle. Specifically, they referenced Hyundai’s marketing materials, which points to the Palisade’s high safety specification and Top Safety Pick award from The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The braking issues have soured these drivers’ perception of the vehicle, many of whom no longer feel safe when driving the SUV.

This Isn’t The Only Palisade Lawsuit

Another safety-related lawsuit has been filed against Hyundai for the Palisade. This one affects 2020 to 2023 models, due to an issue where the vehicle’s seatbelts could unexpectedly unlatch. The NHTSA currently lists an open investigation for these Palisade model years, stating that the Office of Defects Investigation has received 37 complaints about unlatching seatbelts.

An estimated 332,288 Palisades are implicated in this investigation. Fortunately, no accidents or injuries have yet been reported, but an unlatching seatbelt would be a serious safety concern for anyone, especially in a vehicle that’s likely to have kids seated in the back.

Palisade Remains A Core Hyundai Model

In May 2025, Hyundai sold 11,207 Palisades, behind only the Elantra (15,741) and Tucson (19,905). A highly regarded SUV with spacious seating for up to seven occupants, the Palisade has consistently been one of America’s favorite SUVs since its launch, alongside the related Kia Telluride.

A new-generation Palisade was revealed in April, featuring a more efficient hybrid powertrain alongside the familiar V6. It also has ultra-fresh looks and a more spacious interior with dual curved displays ahead of the driver.

It would be in Hyundai’s best interest to address the first-gen’s Palisade’s safety issues sooner rather than later, as it wouldn’t want to taint the brand’s image just as an all-new version arrives.

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