Unintended Palisade Seatbelt Unlatching? Hyundai Under Investigation

Class Action Investigation

Updated on March 3rd, 2025 Author: Sergei Lemberg

Lemberg Law is investigating unintended seatbelt unlatching in 2020-2023 Hyundai Palisade vehicles. A number of owners have reported that seatbelts in the front and second-row seats suddenly release while driving.

What’s Happening with Hyundai Palisade Seatbelts?

Palisade owners are experiencing safety issues with the seatbelt systems, with complaints stating that seatbelt spontaneously release. Some drivers complain that the seatbelt comes undone when driving on smooth roads, while others state that even slight movements cause the buckle to release.

What Owners Are Saying

• Seatbelts Unlatching While Driving – Owners report that seatbelts randomly release while driving, even when properly buckled.
• Unbuckling with Minimal Movement – Some complaints indicate that minor adjustments in seating position or pressure on the belt can trigger an unintended release.
• Repeated Failures – Owners say that once the issue starts, it continues to happen.

Examples of Actual Complaints

“Front driver and passenger as well as second-row seatbelts randomly unlatch while driving.” (2023 Palisade)

“The passenger-side 2nd row seatbelt will randomly unbuckle, even when the passenger is sitting still.” (2022 Palisade)

“Rear passenger seatbelt behind driver side started unlatching on its own while driving.” (2021 Palisade)

NHTSA Investigation

On August 21, 2024, the NHTSA launched an official investigation (PE24-021) into Hyundai Palisade seatbelt failures after receiving 37 consumer complaints regarding the issue.

But our company’s research has found at least three times more complaints from Palisade owners whose vehicles experience unintended seatbelt unbuckling.

The below is a screenshot of the official notice from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) to Hyundai, detailing the details of the investigation:

Read the full NHTSA ODI Palisade Seatbelt notification

Palisade Seatbelt Unlatching? Get Help

Lemberg Law is actively investigating seatbelt safety concerns in the Hyundai Palisade. If your seatbelt unlatches unexpectedly, we want to hear from you.

You may be entitled to legal remedies, including a vehicle buyback, replacement, or cash compensation.

Sources:

1. 2020 NHTSA Complaints
2. 2021 NHTSA Complaints
3. 2022 NHTSA Complaints
4. 2023 NHTSA Complaints
5. NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Notification
6. NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Update
7. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Complaint Database

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."

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