Most common 2020 Hyundai Palisade problems
Share of the 541 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Hyundai Palisade complaints by model year
2020 Hyundai Palisade recalls (5)
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain
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."
Remedy: 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.
Seat belts › Rear/other › Buckle assembly
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.
Remedy: 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.
Trailer hitches
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.
Remedy: 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.
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Side/window
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Palisade vehicles. The mounting bolts used to secure the side curtain air bags may damage the side curtain air bags during deployment.
Remedy: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover on the mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2020 Hyundai Palisade:
Inadvertent Seat Belt Unlatch
On August 7, 2024, the O ce 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.
What 2020 Hyundai Palisade owners say
Engine & cooling all 139 →
The contact owned a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, he heard an abnormal popping and hissing noise. The contact stated that he started to smell a burning odor. The contact was losing forward momentum. No warning lights illuminated. When he applied the accelerator pedal, the vehicle continued to slow down. The contact pulled off the highway, stopped the vehicle, and turned off the engine. The contact stated that almost immediately, smoke was issuing from under the front end. The contact stated that the vehicle burst into flames. The police and fire department were called. The fire was extinguished using chemicals. The police and fire departments issued reports. The vehicle was towed away to an impound lot. The contact stated that he had the transmission replaced in 2024. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. …
I had just pulled into a (handicapped) parking space at my bank in Marana Az. as I prepared to stop with the brake still depressed, the car suddenly surged, with the tach going to 5000rpm. The vehicle jumped the sidewalk (with rear wheels making drag marks on the sidewalk. Vehicle shot up the slight rise , hit and demolished a concrete bench and some plants and was heading toward the main entrance when I shut the engine off with the ignition key. The car stopped less than 10 feet from the bank entrance. the car came close to going through the entrance shattering the glass doors and possibly injuring bank customers and employees. There was no warning, but this car has had 3 or 4 sudden engine surges before - about one every 1 1/2 years. Hyundai service has checked and denied any problems. On line queries indicate the surging problems are not uncommon. …
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 131 →
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated while driving 30-35 MPH in a snowstorm, with his son in the front passenger's seat, another vehicle drove by the driver's side of the vehicle and sprayed a significant amount of snow on the vehicle, and the windshield wipers seized. The contact then lost visibility of the roadway and slowed down. The vehicle was rear-ended by another vehicle. Both the contact and his son sustained back injuries but did not received medical assistance. The contact was unsure whether the other driver had sustained an injury. A police report was filed. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the residence. The vehicle was taken to an auto body repair shop, where it was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the windshield wipers seized on a second occasion, due to the presence of snow at the base of the windshield. …
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the windshield wipers were engaged and wiped across the windshield once and then stopped working. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V627000 (Visibility) and 22V633000 (Trailer Hitches) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the tow hitch fuse was removed. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure with the windshield wipers. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 100. Parts distribution disconnect. The contact stated that the trailer hitch issue was resolved. …
Suspension all 61 →
The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the tires were making a grinding sound. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to several dealers. The first dealer diagnosed the failure with tire cupping. The second dealer diagnosed the failure and determined that the rear wheel bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 16,000. This car has become a dangerous noisy vehicle in the rain (due to tire cupping) and a real noisy vehicle during non-rainy operating days. The contact has stated that although the vehicle has a lifetime alignment, the issue still persisted and they no longer have the vehicle.
In August of 2023, Stivers Hyundai located in Columbia, SC replaced the rear shock absorbers on my 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited due to a rattling and knocking noise in the rear of the vehicle. The noise never completely went away, but was somewhat better. In July of 2024 the noise was back to the same noise as we were hearing in 2023. We took the vehicle to the dealership in August of 2024 complaining of the same noise previously heard. The dealership stated that we needed new shock absorbers (same as which they replaced a year ago) and which only had approx. 20,000 on them. When we explained that they had just replaced them a year ago, they completely dismissed our concern and noted that they needed to be replaced and offered no explanation as to why they would wear out in a years time. …
2020 Hyundai Palisade engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | FWD | 19 / 26 / 22 |
| 3.8L 6-cyl | 8-speed automatic | AWD | 19 / 24 / 21 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Palisade to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 541 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Hyundai Palisade?
The engine & cooling — 139 complaints, 26% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › oil/lubrication. Next are the windows, wipers & sunroof (131) and suspension (61).
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Palisade have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2020 Hyundai Palisade, the most recent from January 22, 2026 (curtain). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Hyundai Palisade?
Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2024, 2023 and 2025. See the full Hyundai Palisade years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Palisade problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 5,000 miles; 90% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.