⌘K
Find a vehicle
RecallsCompareNewsPricing
Your vehicle
VIN decoderWindow stickerProblems by systemTitle brands
Federal filings
Service bulletinsOwner complaintsInvestigationsEarly Warning reportsWarranty extensionsDriver-assist crashesTrouble codes
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesQuarterly reportsWhat is in the data
Paperwork
Repair Claim KitCar CheckFor attorneysFor expert witnessesFor repair shopsRecall disclosure formRecall fix sheets
Tools and data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkCost calculatorsCar crosswordAPI & data
Sign inGarage
Your vehicleHome›Hyundai›Palisade› 2021
Active NHTSA advisory: park outside and away from structures until repaired. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.
Hyundai · Large SUV

2021 Hyundai Palisade

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26
D
Safety Signal
61 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Counts recalls, not crash safety — this vehicle earned 5 of 5 stars from NHTSA. A much-recalled best-seller scores low here; see the methodology.
Recalls1 critical 6
Complaints8 crash · 1 fire · 20 injured reported 447
Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA 22 mpg
20272026202520242023202220212020

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Palisade FWD, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of D. Owners have filed 447 complaints, most often about the seat belts. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Hyundai Palisade — photograph via Wikimedia Commons
Hyundai Palisade · Photo: LuvsMG481 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Palisade FWDGasFWD3.8L 6-cyl192622$3,050
Palisade AWDGasAWD3.8L 6-cyl192421$3,200

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42609, 42610.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates
ConfigurationSmog ratingEmission standardWhere it can be sold newSmartWay
Palisade AWD, Palisade FWD5 / 10California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body styleSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
Doors5
GVWR classClass 1D: 5,001 - 6,000 lb (2,268 - 2,722 kg)

Engine Basics

Displacement3.8 L

Fuel Economy

FuelGasoline

Seating

Seat rows3
Seating capacity8 seats

Transmission

Drivetrain4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4
TransmissionAutomatic
Transmission speeds8

Driver assistance

Standard: Adaptive cruise control, Anti-lock brakes, Backup camera, Blind-spot monitoring, Electronic stability control, Forward collision warning, Lane departure warning, Lane keeping assist, Pedestrian automatic emergency braking, Rear cross-traffic alert

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Calligraphy, Limited, SE, SEL). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada
Length196.1 in
Width (body, without mirrors)78.0 in
Height68.9 in
Wheelbase114.2 in
Track, front66.9 in
Track, rear66.9 in
Curb weight4,145–4,314 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear56/44 to 57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 2 configurations: 4-door SUV AWD, 4-door SUV FWD. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Also on file Beside the 2021 Palisade
Other years The 2027 Palisade Recalls Hyundai recalls
Advertisement

Factory warranty running out?

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.

What to check before you buy →

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

292
568,576 vehicles 8% reported repaired
Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The side curtain air bags for third-row occupants may deploy improperly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation." Risk Improper side curtain air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash. Fix Dealers will install a protective film over the rear window and remove padding, as necessary free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Final remedy owner letters will be mailed in phases, beginning in June 2026 and expected to continue through December 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 292. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this rec
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 26V034000 reported Jan 22, 2026 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Seat Belts

283
568,580 vehicles 20% reported repaired
Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch. Risk Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Passengers are advised to insert the belt firmly into the buckle with a quick and direct motion, pulling on the belt to confirm the seat belt is fully secured, until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assemblies, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed beginning October 23, 2025. Final remedy owner letters will be mailed in phases, beginning in June 2026 and expected to continue through December 2026. O
Filed with NHTSADefect report PDFOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 25V607000 reported Sep 11, 2025 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Visibility/Wiper

243
167,085 vehicles 93% reported repaired
Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may operate intermittently or fail to operate due to snow or ice buildup on the windshield, causing the wipers to fail. Risk Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the driver-side windshield wiper arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 243. This recall is an expansion of recall number 22V-627.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 23V180000 reported Mar 17, 2023 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
!critical

Trailer Hitches

235
Park outside 244,980 vehicles 92% reported repaired
Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling 2020-2022 Palisade vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. Risk A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury. Fix Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 235.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V633000 reported Aug 18, 2022 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
●moderate

Visibility

233
122,949 vehicles 90% reported repaired
Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail. Risk Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the driver-side windshield wiper arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 233.
Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDFRemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 22V627000 reported Aug 15, 2022 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

212
995 vehicles 92% reported repaired
Problem Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Palisade vehicles. The brake fluid may be contaminated, which can cause the brake master cylinder inner-cup seals to swell, and reduce braking performance. Risk Reduced braking performance can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, and flush the brake fluid, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 212.
Filed with NHTSARemedy instructions PDF
NHTSA campaign 21V840000 reported Oct 27, 2021 Hyundai Motor America the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Seat Belts — Inadvertent Seat Belt Unlatch closed

On August 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24021 to investigate complaints alleging inadvertent unlatching of seat belts in model year (MY) 2020-2023 Hyundai Palisade vehicles manufactured by Hyundai Motor America. The complaints alleged that, without warning, the seat belts sometimes inadvertently unlatch, increasing the risk of injury due to full loss of seat belt protection in the event of a crash. As a result of information exchanged as part of the investigation, on April 3, 2025, Hyundai initiated a warranty extension policy for seat belt buckles on model year 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles in the U.S. and Canada.  Hyundai subsequently initiated a request for warra

Opened Aug 7, 2024 · closed Dec 12, 2025 · action PE24021 · the investigation’s page →

Visibility/Wiper — Windshield Wiper Failure closed

On August 15, 2022, Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) filed a safety recall (NHTSA Recall 22V-627) of 122,919 model year (MY) 2020-2021 Hyundai Palisade vehicles produced from April 10, 2019 to November 30, 2020. This recall addressed windshield wipers that may function intermittently or stop functioning when impeded by the accumulation of snow and/or ice at the bottom of the windshield. Intermittent or inoperative windshield wipers could reduce driver visibility while operating the vehicle in inclement weather, increasing the risk of a crash. On December 2, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) after receiving 6 consumer complaints alleging windshield w

Opened Dec 2, 2022 · closed May 26, 2023 · action RQ22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Palisade

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2021 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Hyundai publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Hyundai’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Advertisement

Parts & accessories for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade

Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.

Find parts for this Palisade →

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
447complaints filed

8 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 20 injuries · 0 deaths reported

54 per 10,000 built · Hyundai reported 83,135 Palisade built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2020: 16 · 2021: 57 · 2022: 39 · 2023: 52 · 2024: 63 · 2025: 118 · 2026: 102

Most-cited components

Seat Belts → 113
Unspecified 83
Visibility/Wiper → 63
Engine → 62
Electrical System → 56
Suspension 31

In depth: seat belt problems → · visibility and wiper problems → · engine problems → · electrical problems →

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

Driver side glass has developed a hairline crack approximately 8 inches long, while vehicle was parked overnight in my garage
Structure at 1,501 miles Apr 13, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11407892
2 months old , already have chips on the windshield.. There has not been any hit as far as we know of.. But glass is chipped in two diff places
Visibility/Wiper at 2,000 miles Apr 5, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11406372
Car smells like rotten onions and had to replace windshield because it crack easily while driving on the road
Seats at 4,000 miles Apr 5, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11406370
2021 Palisade calligraphy - while driving on highway (comfor mode - cruise control) htrac error light came on. After stopping and shutting car off the error resolved for a few minutes and then came back on while driving. Noticed no power to rear wheels while driving - snowed next day- AWD vehicle became only FWD.
Electrical System at 812 miles Dec 31, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11385952
I purchased a Palisade 2021 limited AWD trim from a local dealership on 12/01/2020 night. I test drove a different Palisade, but purchased this specific Palisade as we were looking for a beige interior. We drove the new Palisade for the first time on the highway on 12/06/2020. It vibrates and rumbles on the highway.
Suspension at 150 miles Dec 6, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11378168
I was travelling at 50mph under cruise control with lane following and lane keeping. A car drove past me in the lane to my left at about 65mph. The computer quickly turned my wheels and sent me into the lane at my right. It was a turning lane and unoccupied. The angle of the car to the turning lane was steep.
Forward Collision Avoidance at 700 miles Nov 23, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11375859

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Hyundai itself: 21 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 2 killed, 27 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 25 per 100,000 built. Every Palisade model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 4k

miles, typically

Half the 53 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 63,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

under 10k 27
10k–20k 4
20k–30k 0
30k–40k 2
40k–50k 3
50k–60k 3
60k–70k 3
70k–80k 2
80k–90k 1
90k–100k 1
100k–150k 5
150k + 2

Median mileage by component

ComponentReportsMedian milesVs same age
Visibility/Wiper153,5000.23×
Seat Belts1450,0001.43×

Vs same age is this model year’s median for the system divided by the median of every 2021-model-year complaint about the same system, all makes: under 1× means owners of this car reported it at lower mileage. Here, owners reported earlier than same-age vehicles: visibility/wiper (0.23×). Which systems go early across the whole fleet: the component study.

Across 2020–2021 model years the Hyundai Palisade ranks 3 of 79 nameplates in the odometer-at-first-complaint study: owners reported problems at 0.28× the mileage of vehicles the same age (median 5,000 miles against a fleet 23,512).

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆14%
SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆16%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking.

Driver-assist crash reports (1)

Source: NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01
1report filed

1 severity unknown

Jul 2021 to Jul 2021 · 1 with an air bag deployment · 1 towed

What was engaged, and what was hit

System named: Highway Drive Assist (1)

Crash partner: SUV 1

Filed by: Hyundai Motor America

IncidentSystemStruckInjury allegedStateSpeedReport
Jul 2021Level 2 · Highway Drive AssistSUVunknownTX80 mph669-1350

From the manufacturer’s own filing

The reporting entity’s narrative as NHTSA published it, with anything identifying removed and nothing added. A narrative is a notice, written before the entity had verified what happened.

According to the customer's email, the vehicle was being driven on a two-lane highway at an unspecified speed. The customer did indicate the Highway Drive Assist mode was on. The customer alleges that the vehicle left the lane of travel when driving a steep curved road, initiating a crash.
Hyundai Motor America report 669-1350 Jul 2021 NHTSA SGO filing

A report under the General Order is a notice the manufacturer or operator must file within days of hearing of a crash in which a Level 2 driver-assist or automated-driving system was engaged within 30 seconds of impact. It is filed before anything is verified, and entities with telematics hear of far more crashes than entities that rely on complaints, so counts say as much about the reporting as about the car and are not comparable across makes. Nothing is normalised by fleet size. Every report on file, by make and year → · NHTSA’s page and files

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications
Extended coverage on file 6 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Hyundai warranty extension (62) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 129
Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-10-08
Kindsas classified by NHTSA 87 service bulletins, 28 warranty extensions, 8 service campaigns

Most often about: Electrical System, Engine, Equipment, Power Train, Suspension.

  • 26-EM-017H TSB Service bulletin
    2026-10-08 · Engine
  • Certain Palisade (LX2) and Santa Fe (NC) vehicles equipped with Lambda II 6-cylinder engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin outlines the combustion chamber cleaning procedure for vehicles diagnosed with this condition. All internal combustion engines consume some engine oil during normal operation, depending on driving conditions and mileage, and this proced
  • 26-EM-015H TSB Service bulletin
    2026-10-07 · Engine
  • Certain vehicles equipped with internal combustion engines may exhibit higher-than-expected engine oil consumption. This bulletin provides the inspection and repair procedures for vehicles exhibiting this condition. All internal combustion engines consume engine oil as part of normal engine operation. Oil consumption rates may vary based on mileage, operating conditions, driving habits, and mainte
  • Z05 OL Warranty extension
    2026-08-26 · Unknown Or Other
  • Certain vehicles may exhibit excessive paint peeling or bubbling of the primer/paint film on the exterior metal body panels: hood, fender(s), roof, door(s), quarter panel(s), and tailgate/trunk. This warranty extension only applies to factory-applied paint and does not cover collision-related paint repairs or vehicles with a salvaged title. Hyundai is extending the warranty coverage for certain wh
  • Z15 OL Warranty extension
    2026-08-03 · Engine
  • Certain 2020 – 2025 model year Palisade vehicles may exhibit engine oil leakage at the engine oil filter housing assembly due to deterioration of the housing seal. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment, the warranty coverage for the Engine Oil Filter Housing Seal under these conditions has been extended to 15 years
  • Z12 OL Warranty extension
    2026-07-15 · Suspension
  • Certain 2020 – 2024 model year Palisade vehicles may exhibit a clunking or thumping noise from the rear of the vehicle while driving over rough roads. This may be caused by worn rear self-leveling shock absorbers. At Hyundai, we are committed to providing vehicles of outstanding quality and value. In an effort to meet this commitment, Hyundai is extending warranty coverage for the self-leveling re
  • 26-EE-007H TSB Service bulletin
    2026-06-17 · Electrical System
  • Some Palisade (LX2), Tucson (NX4), and Tucson Hybrid (NX4 HEV) vehicles may experience battery drain due to continuous operation of the cooling fan after vehicle ignition has been turned off, potentially resulting in a no-start condition. The continuous cooling fan operation is caused by a stuck relay in the engine room PCB block. This bulletin provides instructions to replace the engine room PCB
  • 26-TC-001H Service bulletin
    2026-06-01 · Suspension
  • Some Palisade (LX2) vehicles may produce noise from AWD coupling vibrations when making turns caused by a logic error with the All Wheel Drive Electronic Control Unit (AWD ECU). This bulletin provides instructions to update the AWD ECU to reduce the coupling noise.
  • 11032523 Other
    2026-04-10 · Air Bags
  • The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

CodeWhat it meansMost often filed underWhere it appears
P0087Fuel rail pressure is below what the system commanded.Engine · Fuel pump →1 owner report
P0430The catalytic converter on bank 2 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.Engine · Catalytic converter →1 owner report
P0741
P0741 on Hyundai →		The torque converter clutch is not locking up when commanded.Power Train1 owner report
P219EManufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.Engine1 owner report

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade failed the emissions check on 2.0% of first inspections — close to the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%).

New York inspections 2.0%

failed emissions

2,031 initial inspections of 1,999 vehicles.

MeasureThe 2021 PalisadeEvery 2021 vehicleBehind it
Failed the emissions check2.0%1.9%2,027
Failed the safety inspection1.2%1.5%2,031
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit0.05%0.19%2,031
Miles driven a year11,84410,343odometer at inspection
Average odometer62,79854,681odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2021 vehicle” is every 2021 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Palisade by model year

all years, side by side →
Year Safety Recalls Complaints
2027 A 0 5 34 mpg2026 B 3 132 34 mpg2025 C 3 254 Park outside2024 F 5 397 Park outside2023 D 5 408 Park outside2022 D 5 316 Park outside2021 this page D 6 447 Park outside2020 D 5 541 Park outside

Common questions about the 2021 Palisade

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 6 recall campaigns for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 22V633000, covering Trailer Hitches. 2 of them were filed with no repair available at the time — NHTSA's file records what the manufacturer had in hand on the filing date, not what exists today. There is an active park outside advisory — act on it before driving. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

NHTSA gave the 2021 Hyundai Palisade 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it D (61/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, the best EPA combined figure is 22 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

Transport Canada measured it at 196.1 in long, 78.0 in wide (body, without mirrors), 68.9 in tall, on a 114.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,145–4,314 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

Owners have filed 447 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, most often about seat belts, unspecified, visibility/wiper. Of those, 8 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 20 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

The EPA smog rating for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

The manufacturer has filed 129 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, most often covering electrical system, engine, equipment. The most recent is dated 2026-10-08. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2021 Hyundai Palisade failed the emissions check on 2.0% of first inspections — close to the 1.9% for every 2021 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2021 vehicle: 1.5%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

DataHeldSourceWhat it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations2 configurationsEPA certification recordsEvery configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates2 configurationsEPA emission certificatesSmog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls6NHTSA recall campaignsA complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints447NHTSA complaint databaseAlso complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings2 testedNHTSA NCAPOnly the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins129NHTSA manufacturer communicationsEverything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations2NHTSA Office of Defects InvestigationOpen and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports1NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01Crashes the manufacturer or operator reported with a Level 2 or automated-driving system engaged. Notices, filed before verification; not comparable across makes.
Specifications filed with NHTSA10 fieldsNHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patternsWhat the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions7 fieldsTransport Canada, Canadian Vehicle SpecificationsLength, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipmentnoneManufacturer press kitWe have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Where to go next

pages beside this one
Other years The 2027 Palisade The Palisade model year with the cleanest record on file — grade A, 0 recalls.Recalls Every Hyundai recall on file All campaigns filed against Hyundai vehicles, newest first, with the manufacturer's own number.Recall Watch Watch this Palisade by VIN Give it the VIN and you hear the night a campaign is filed — from $29 a month for a lot, free for ten.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API