I heard from our intake team about an issue involving engine misfires in a 2026 Hyundai Palisade. That stood out to me, because I was already very familiar with similar problems in earlier Palisade model years. It seemed unusual that the issue had not been resolved, especially since the 2026 Palisade is a brand new redesign for the North American market. So, I decided to examine the data more closely.
I am Sergei Lemberg, and I have more than twenty years of experience representing vehicle owners in lemon law and vehicle defect matters. I reviewed owner complaints, NHTSA reports, recall information, and available industry data related to the Palisade. Below is a summary of what I found.
Let’s start off with the top problems based on frequency and then I will dive into the issues in more detail below.
Engine Misfires and Check Engine Light Malfunctions: Cylinder misfires often triggering warning lights that sometimes blink indicating safety-critical faults.
Power Seat Safety Hazards: Second-row powered seats that move without proper obstruction detection, potentially pinning or injuring passengers.
Instrument Cluster Failures: Digital displays going blank or showing incorrect speed and RPM data while driving, creating critical safety concerns.
Other minor issues reported include battery failures, front bumper air flap malfunctions, and interior grille deformation due to heat damage.
Top Problem #1: Engine Misfires and Check Engine Light Malfunctions
I found that many Palisade owners experience persistent check engine lights triggered by fuel injector issues in multiple cylinders. These misfires can cause engine hesitation, reduced acceleration, and potential safety hazards during driving.
What Owners Described:
Blinking check engine light signaling a critical safety issue
Engine hesitates or jumps during acceleration
Reduced performance and fuel efficiency
Diagnostic scans confirming misfires in multiple cylinders
Here’s a direct quote from an owner:
“I have been continuously receiving check engine notifications that show the engine cylinders misfiring. This seems to only happen at highway speeds which could cause a safety hazard should the driver need to accelerate for merging/passing/etc”
Top Problem #2: Power Seat Safety Hazards
Several owners and NHTSA complaints highlight a lack of force feedback sensors or obstruction detection in the powered second-row seats. This exposes passengers, especially children, to injury risks if seats fold or slide while occupied.
Symptoms and concerns:
Seats move automatically without stopping when resistance is met
Passengers have been trapped or injured when seats fold unexpectedly
Absence of force feedback or obstruction sensors on power seats
Dealerships acknowledge the lack of safety sensors and warn owners to manually intervene to stop seat movement
Here’s an account from one owner:
“A passenger got into the passenger side middle row seat and the seat fold up button was accidentally bumped while the person was trying to get situated and buckled. The seat began moving and folding forward, pinning the passenger between the seat they were in and the back of the front seat. This incident hurt the passenger who had the force of the seat against her and it frightened her very badly. If the door had been locked, the passenger would not have been able to be helped out and could have sustained worse injuries.”
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Top Problem #3: Instrument Cluster Failures
My research also found complaints about the instrument cluster freezing or going blank while driving. This includes the speedometer, tachometer, and safety indicators which are essential for driver awareness and compliance with safety regulations.
Noted issues include:
Instrument screens suddenly going blank and requiring vehicle restart
Speedometer lagging by several seconds or showing wrong speeds
Loss of turn signal and warning light indicators
Dashboard freezes leading to unsafe inability to monitor vehicle status
An owner recounted, “The entire instrument cluster goes black while driving. Speedometer, odometer, tachometer, turn signal indicators, everything stops working and just a blank screen. Have a video of it happening. Took it to Hyundai and they would not approve tear down to find what is causing it and said that it is not a safety concern, yet this would cause the vehicle to fail safety inspection in our state.“
What Should You Do If Your 2026 Hyundai Palisade Is a Lemon?
I want to emphasize that under lemon laws, a vehicle like the 2026 Hyundai Palisade may be considered a lemon if it has substantial defects that impair use, value, or safety and cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts or time in the shop.
Here are steps to take if you suspect your Palisade qualifies:
Document all issues thoroughly, including dates, symptoms, repair attempts, and communications with dealers
Keep copies of all service records and repair invoices
Contact a lemon lawyers for a law consultation to understand your legal rights and options
Lemberg Law offers no-cost representation and works on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case.
If your Palisade continues to show unresolved safety or performance issues despite repeated repairs, don’t wait to seek help.
Please contact us today to get a free evaluation. I’m Sergei Lemberg, and I’m here to stand with you against defective vehicles and protect your rights.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
