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).
Another vehicle t-boned my vehicle on the front left side. We were both traveling around 15 mph. As soon as he struck my vehicle, the air bags were deployed and the car instantly caught fire. The car was on fire before I was at a complete stop. I was able to pry the door open and crawl through a small opening after moving the air bags out of the way. I had to crawl into traffic to be able to escape the fire. If the door had been jammed more severely then I wouldn't have been able to make it out in time before the fire reached me. If my kids had been in the vehicle, then I would not have been able to get them out before the fire got to them. The police determined that the fire started at the engine. My insurance totaled the vehicle and then it was removed from the towing yard and taken to Montgomery. There were no prior issues or any warnings/messages before the incident.
The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle lost motive power. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced due to excessive oil consumption. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified on the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 107,000.
My vehicle experienced a sudden and immediate loss of motive power due to a catastrophic internal engine failure, creating a severe road safety hazard. While driving and attempting to accelerate or merge, the vehicle exhibits extreme hesitation, severe misfiring on cylinder #2, and rough, unstable idling. This unexpected loss of drive power made the vehicle unpredictable and unsafe to operate under normal driving conditions, significantly increasing the risk of a crash. The vehicle is currently at the Hyundai dealership (Fox Ann Arbor Hyundai) for diagnosis. The dealer has confirmed and documented the following internal mechanical defects at only 86,000 miles: Compression loss in cylinder #2. Cylinder wall scoring and pitting. Evidence of blow-by and heavy carbon buildup in the combustion chamber. Misfire and rough idle. Oil consumption as a result of the cylinder failure. …
The engine failed due to excessive oil consumption/internal oil loss. The engine is currently installed in the vehicle and available for inspection upon request. The issue began while the vehicle was under warranty and has progressed to the point where engine replacement has been recommended. Ongoing oil loss and engine malfunction created a risk of sudden engine failure or loss of power while driving, which could lead to stalling or reduced ability to safely control the vehicle. This presents a safety risk to the occupants and other motorists, especially at highway speeds. Yes. The issue was confirmed by an authorized Hyundai dealership through oil consumption monitoring, diagnostic testing, and inspection after the check engine light illuminated. Hyundai has acknowledged the problem by authorizing testing, attempting repairs, and recommending engine replacement. Yes. …
The engine in my 2021 Hyundai Palisade experienced sudden loss of oil leading to engine failure. The vehicle had been regularly serviced and maintained at a Hyundai dealership according to recommended intervals. During multiple service visits, the dealership informed me the vehicle was low on oil. An oil consumption test was performed but the results were inconclusive. At approximately 99,500 miles, the vehicle developed an oil leak which the dealership diagnosed as a gasket issue and repaired under warranty. An oil change was completed at that time. Approximately 5,000 miles later, while driving, the vehicle began experiencing loss of power and rough engine operation. I immediately drove the vehicle to the dealership. The dealership later informed me the engine had no oil in it when inspected. There were no active external leaks observed at that time. …
A week or so after taking the car in for an oil change, I was on the highway and heard a rattling sound coming from the engine. There were no indicator or warning lights from the dashboard. The car then stopped accelerating. It was on, and the accelerator increased the RPMs but the car did not move faster. I safely got home and checked the oil and it had less than a quart. There were no low-oil indicator lights telling me the oil was low. Separately, this week, while driving in the city, the engine again started making rattling sounds and completely shut off forcing me to pull off the road. Again, prior to the shut off there were no indicator lights. I was able to pull to the side of the road safely. I tried to restart the car and it would idle roughly befor the engine shut off again. …
In the past two weeks, our 2021 Hyundai Palisade has shut off completely when driving. It has around 110,000 miles on it and was just purchased used (second owner) three months ago. At that time, the dealership had to fix a leak in the engine and did a complete oil change. Based on internet searches, we just checked the oil dipstick and it is COMPLETELY empty. We have NOT driven more than 3,000 miles since purchasing the vehicle and there is absolutely no oil left. Based on searches, it appears this is a fairly common, known issue and nothing is being done. It is incredibly dangerous that the car shut down while driving (on the highway, in the middle of a right-hand turn). Every single warning light lit up at once then the car completely shut off within a matter of seconds. …
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 after owning the car for only 2 months and before the next oil change was dure the car started surging and then died when turning a corner. No check engine light or any warning or error lights triggered on the car. The car was restarted and limped home slowly about 2 min from where I'd shut off. The hood was opened and oil lipstick checked to find no oil in the vehicle. Not oil leaks anywhere, no check oil or engine light and no error codes found by dealership. The dealership confirmed no oil leak and consumption issue, oil change done and have to return in another month to jump through hoops to get engine repaired as this is a consumption issue not a leak issue. Dealership is playing games with us around this and trying to get out of repairing the car. But internal engine issue was confirmed. …
I have been dealing with the oil consumption issues for this vehicle for about 2 years now. There are documented complaints and a class action lawsuit in California about this issue. Bottom line, the engine burns too much oil to be safely driven between oil changes without the owner checking and adding oil. My particular vehicle is burning just under 1 quart of oil per 1000 miles. Hyundai's owner manual suggests changing the oil every 7,500 miles, but the oil capacity is under 6 quarts. At the current rate, I would run out of oil before the suggested oil change interval. This is a severe safety issue as engines require oil to run correctly, not overheat, and lubricate all the moving parts. The previous generation Hyundai models also had similar oil consumption issues. Those vehicles had a NHTSA campaign which resulted in Hyundai being responsible to fix the engines. …
Engine complaints in other Palisade years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?
NHTSA has 62 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade, 14% of the model year's 446 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2021 Hyundai Palisade engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling 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 engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 107,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.