CarBrief

The 2021 Palisade has 446 owner complaints on file with NHTSA[1] and 6 recalls, more than any other Palisade model year[2]. Several recalls involve seat belts, wipers and tow hitch wiring, so check every one against the VIN before you buy.

446owner complaints[1]
6recalls[2]
21–22MPG combined (EPA)[3]
5★NHTSA overall rating[4]

Most reported problems

NHTSA has 446 owner complaints for this model year[1]. Eight mention a crash, one a fire, and the complaints report 20 injuries and no deaths[1]. These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one component. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold.

Component group Complaints
Seat belts[5] 112
Unknown or other[6] 83
Engine[7] 62
Electrical system[8] 56
Visibility/wiper[9] 48
Suspension[10] 31
Power train[11] 25
Structure[12] 20

Seat belts. This is the biggest group, with a median mileage of 50,000 at the time of the problem, one injury and no crashes or fires[5]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe second-row captain's chair buckles that are hard to latch, especially with booster seats, and belts that let go on their own while driving[5]. A seat belt buckle recall is listed below.

Wipers and windshield. There are 48 complaints, with a median mileage of 1,325 and no crashes or injuries[9]. In a sample we read, owners describe wipers that stop when snow or ice builds up, and windshields that crack from small stones[9]. Two wiper recalls are listed below.

Electrical. There are 56 complaints, with 2 crashes and 1 fire[8]. Owners in the sample describe a phone connection that keeps dropping in the infotainment system, and some are waiting on the tow hitch repair[8].

Engine. There are 62 complaints, with 1 crash and 1 fire[7]. In a sample we read, owners describe the engine shutting off or sputtering while driving[7].

The structure group is small at 20 complaints, but it has 6 reported injuries and 1 crash[12].

Recalls

NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year[2]. Newest first:

You can check any car on NHTSA.gov by VIN, and Hyundai customer service is listed at 1-855-371-9460[13].

Fuel economy

Both versions use a 3.8L 6-cylinder engine with an Automatic (S8) and run on regular gas[3][19].

Version City / Highway / Combined MPG EPA annual fuel cost
Front-wheel drive[3] 19 / 26 / 22 $3,050
All-wheel drive[19] 19 / 24 / 21 $3,200

The EPA cost figure uses the EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new.

Safety ratings

NHTSA gives the all-wheel-drive version 5 stars overall, 5 for frontal crashes, 5 for side crashes and 4 for rollover, with a rollover risk of 14.3%[4]. The front-wheel-drive version has the same star ratings and a rollover risk of 15.9%[20].

Engine and size

The EPA lists the 3.8L 6-cylinder at 291 hp[21]. Dimensions below are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

All-wheel drive Front-wheel drive
Length 196 in 196 in
Width 78 in 78 in
Height 69 in 69 in
Wheelbase 114 in 114 in
Curb weight 4,314 lb 4,145 lb

How 2021 compares with other years

2020: 541 complaints, 5 recalls20202021: 446 complaints, 6 recalls44620212022: 315 complaints, 5 recalls20222023: 408 complaints, 5 recalls20232024: 395 complaints, 5 recalls20242025: 252 complaints, 3 recalls20252026: 130 complaints, 3 recalls20262027: 5 complaints, 0 recalls2027
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Palisade model year. The 2021 is highlighted[2].
Show the numbers
Model yearComplaintsRecalls
20205415
20214466
20223155
20234085
20243955
20252523
20261303
202750

The 2021 model year has 6 recalls[2]. That is the highest count of any Palisade year on file, ahead of 5 each for 2020, 2022, 2023 and 2024, 3 each for 2025 and 2026, and none for 2027[2]. Its 446 complaints rank second, behind 541 for 2020[2].

Should you buy a used 2021 Palisade?

The 2021 Palisade has strong crash ratings[4][20], but it also has the highest recall count of any Palisade year[2]. Before buying, run the VIN on NHTSA.gov and confirm that the buckle, curtain air bag, wiper and tow hitch recalls have been done or scheduled[13][14][15][16]. Two of those recalls still have final remedies rolling out in phases, so ask the seller what has been completed[13][14]. Owner complaints about seat belts, wipers and the engine are worth a test drive and a careful check of the second-row belts[5][9][7]. These complaints are unverified, so treat them as questions to ask, not as proof.

Frequently asked questions

What are the common problems with the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?
Seat belts have the most complaints at 112, followed by the unknown or other group at 83 and the engine at 62[5][6][7]. In a sample of complaints we read, owners describe hard-to-latch second-row buckles and wipers that stop in snow[5][9].
How many recalls does the 2021 Palisade have?
NHTSA lists 6, covering air bags, seat belt buckles, wiper motors, a tow hitch harness and brake fluid[2][13][14][15][16][17][18].
What is the gas mileage of the 2021 Palisade?
The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive version at 22 combined MPG and the all-wheel-drive version at 21 combined MPG[3][19].
How safe is the 2021 Palisade?
NHTSA rates it 5 stars overall, with 4 stars for rollover[4][20].
Is 2021 a good year for the Palisade?
It has the most recalls of any year at 6 and the second-highest complaint count at 446, behind 2020 at 541[2]. Check recall status by VIN before buying.

Facts and sources

  1. NHTSA has 446 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade (8 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 20 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
  2. Owner complaints and recalls for every Hyundai Palisade model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
  3. EPA rating for Palisade FWD, 3.8L 6-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, Front-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,050. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  4. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV AWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 14.3%. NHTSA vehicle records
  5. 112 complaints name the seat belts component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 50,000). NHTSA vehicle records
  6. 83 complaints name the unknown or other component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 299). NHTSA vehicle records
  7. 62 complaints name the engine component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  8. 56 complaints name the electrical system component group (2 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 63,400). NHTSA vehicle records
  9. 48 complaints name the visibility/wiper component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 1,325). NHTSA vehicle records
  10. 31 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  11. 25 complaints name the power train component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  12. 20 complaints name the structure component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries). NHTSA vehicle records
  13. Recall 26V034, filed January 22, 2026: Air Bags › Side / Window › Curtain. NHTSA recall database
  14. Recall 25V607, filed September 11, 2025: Seat Belts › Rear / Other › Buckle Assembly. NHTSA recall database
  15. Recall 23V180, filed March 17, 2023: Visibility / Wiper. NHTSA recall database
  16. Recall 22V633, filed August 18, 2022: Trailer Hitches. NHTSA recall database
  17. Recall 22V627, filed August 15, 2022: Visibility › Windshield Wiper / Washer › Motor. NHTSA recall database
  18. Recall 21V840, filed October 27, 2021: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Fluid. NHTSA recall database
  19. EPA rating for Palisade AWD, 3.8L 6-cyl, Automatic (S8), Regular, All-Wheel Drive: 19 city / 24 highway / 21 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,200. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
  20. NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV FWD: overall 5 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 4 stars; rollover risk 15.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
  21. EPA Test Car List, 2021 Hyundai Palisade with 3.8L 6-cylinder: rated 291 hp. www.epa.gov
  22. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, PALISADE 4DR SUV AWD: length 196 in, width 78 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 114 in, curb weight 4,314 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
  23. Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, PALISADE 4DR SUV FWD: length 196 in, width 78 in, height 69 in, wheelbase 114 in, curb weight 4,145 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.