Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Hyundai Palisade owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While driving, the vehicle in front of me stopped suddenly. When I pressed on the brake pedal it felt stuck and did not respond properly. The forward collision automatic braking system did not activate. This resulted in a crash. After the incident, the vehicle had fluid leaks and severe front-end damage and is not drivable. I am concerned there was brake system failure prior to impact.
1) While I was driving, the "Rear passenger door trim" started to come off of my car. My car was not hit and I did not hit anything. Upon further evaluation, the plastic pieces holding the trim on were broken. How they became broken is unknown. I was able to reattach trim to my car, but it is still loose because the plastic pieces holding the trim on are still broken. 2) It was a safety hazard to others while driving on the road. If it flew off my car while driving on the highway, it could hit other cars, potentially causing an accident. In addition, it was difficult for my child to climb out of the car without getting cut by the trim. 3) my dealer has verified that the trim is broken and loose on my car. 4) the Hyundai dealer has inspected to problem. $550 was the verbal quote to replace. Not covered by warranty. 5) no warning messages for the problem. …
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Rear Exhaust System How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Fire hazard as it was similar to a blowtorch, melted several rear panels, lights and trim while driving. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? The dealership (Elyria Hyundai) requested a PA from Hyundai and it was authorized, but am having a very difficult time getting reimbursed. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I am not sure what the dealership did with the exhaust. At one point, I had requested to keep it for evidence. There are pictures. I suggested having the manufacturer look at it or at least Hyundai. …
While driving our Palisade on the freeway, the sunroof exploded without warning. Fortunately, the sunroof was closed and we had the internal compartment closed and no one was behind us on the freeway. So the glass did not enter the vehicle or hit another vehicle. But if the indoor compartment was open then glass would have entered into the vehicle and striking individuals in the car. The shattered glass did do damage to the top of our car (i.e. scratches deep enough to take off the paint completely). Based on online forums, and one law firm's (based in Connecticut) website, this is a known problem with the Hyundai Palisade. It also appears that the NHTSA is investigating the Kia Sorento for this same problem. Thus, the problem has been replicated in other vehicles and Kia/Hyundai are aware of the problem. …
When i was driving on an interstate suddenly the Sunroof glass bursted and shattered in to pieces. There was nothing fell on to us only because I had the sunroof cover closed. I just heard a huge noise like shotgun fired and found out that the glass shattered and blew out a hole in the sunroof glass about 18" across. I was 6 hours from home and took it the the local dealer for review the following day. The dealer did promptly and professionally address the matter and they are covering it under warranty. Many owners of Palisades reported this issue as well
While driving down the freeway my first row sunroof exploded. Insurance wouldn't cover it because it is a manufacturer defect, but Hyundai wouldn't cover it because it "isn't a manufacturer defect." The temperature outside when the sunroof exploded was 74 degrees and it was cloudy. Then less than 2 months later my engine got a rod knock even with oil changes every 5k miles. No warning signs for either and no lights on the dash. It just started when I started it to leave for work one morning.
Paint started chipping... Dealer stated it was from a rock, however a rock chip doesn't cause a whole section of paint bigger than a quarter to just flake off.. ironically there was another vehicle on the lot having the same issues . Picture is included.. Second issue is the engine It makes a grinding noise when driving almost like the cams or transmission is going to go bad, but i think it's the timing chain. Lasty the suspension it has clicking noises that cannot be resolved.
While driving down the interstate heard a loud sound, sounding like a shot gun. Looked and the sunroof shattered. Immediately took it into the dealership and they determined it was not hit by anything and they have been seeing a rise of this happening. They are fixing under warranty and had to give me rental car because they don't know how long it will take. It was extremely scary and thankfully my sunroof cover was closed. I can easily see this causing a car accident.
I tried opening my sunroof and it made a clicking noise and is now stuck partially open. The dealership said that there is a set of Hyundai vehicles that are being covered by this malfunction but that my particular VIN isn't included. A Hyundai dealership is looking at it on Monday 03/17/2025 and is unsure if Hyundai will cover the repair since my VIN isn't included and I am past the bumper to bumper warranty. I only have the powertrain warranty left.
Tried to open sunroof and it came off its track and twisted which caused some pieces to break. It is stuck in an open position. The vehicle has 144,000 miles so it no longer has any warranty coverage. We had to gorilla tape it down otherwise it could fly off while going down the road. I've read there has been many of the same incident happening to others.
Body complaints in other Palisade years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the body & structure of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, 4% of the model year's 446 complaints. The component named most often is body (19 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Hyundai Palisade body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2021 Hyundai Palisade body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 2,000 miles, and 100% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 6 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.