2022 Hyundai Palisade: What to check before buying

Buckles release on their own while the SUV is moving, in the driver, front passenger, and second-row seats. Some buckles also refuse to latch until forced several times. Dealers often say they cannot reproduce it. Most recent reports concern recall 25V607000: owners got the notice but parts were on nationwide backorder, and many waited months for the fix. A belt that unlatches in a crash offers no protection. One separate report describes a third-row buckle crushed when the row was folded.

Wipers quit in snow when buildup packs the cowl area, so drivers have to pull over and clear it. Recall 23V180000 targeted this, yet several owners report the driver-side wiper failing again after the recall repair, in snow and in heavy rain. Windshields crack with no visible impact, sometimes within the first 3000 miles. Other complaints describe rain-sensing wipers running on dry days, washer fluid fumes entering the cabin through the vents, and a sunroof shattering on the highway.

Panoramic sunroofs shatter with a gunshot-like bang, usually at highway speed with nothing striking the roof. Glass falls into the cabin when the shade is open, and 5 people were cut. One sunroof broke in a parked car. Dealers have blamed rocks and refused warranty coverage. Windshields crack spontaneously on new vehicles, including after a remote-start warm-up and after a chip repair. Other reports cover wipers stalling in light snow and power mirrors that stop adjusting.

Fire risk tied to the tow package wiring is the most serious item here. One parked SUV burned in a driveway, and the fire started in rear wiring. Under the recall, dealers pulled a fuse as a stopgap, which disables towing, and the permanent wiring kit sat on backorder for months. The most common day-to-day fault is the child safety lock: it clicks repeatedly, then shows a failure message. Other reports describe the speedometer dropping to zero, a dark dash display, and parking sensor errors.

Rear self-leveling shocks leak and start clunking, thumping, or creaking over bumps. Many owners have had them replaced two to four times, and the noise often comes back within a few thousand miles. Leaking shocks are commonly reported between 29,800 and 48,860 miles. A service bulletin covers the rear insulator caps, but owners call it a temporary fix. Worn shocks are linked to uneven tire wear. The one crash-flagged report describes brakes that needed pumping to stop, not a shock failure.

Heavy oil consumption causes stalls at stops, rough running, and limp mode on the highway, often with no low-oil warning. These reports cluster at higher mileage, from about 48,000 to 95K. Radiators crack and leak coolant, with two failures at about 15,000 miles fixed under warranty. Isolated reports include a head gasket oil leak at 4500 miles, a drain plug falling out and seizing the engine, and a fragile plastic oil filter housing that some shops will not touch.

Pulling hard to the right is the most common problem, often from the first drive. The wheel sits off center and is harder to turn left. Alignments do not cure it, and a steering torque reset helps only briefly. Some owners link it to the steering angle sensor. More dangerous reports describe the wheel locking up or turning heavy, sometimes alongside a lane-assist or collision-avoidance warning. One repair replaced the steering motor and control unit. Alternator failures have also killed power steering and shut the engine off while driving.

Nearly every report is about a recall delay, not a breakdown. Owners got notice of recall 22V633000 for the tow hitch wiring, but the repair part was unavailable for an extended period. As a temporary step, dealers removed the tow hitch fuse, which leaves the hitch wiring dead. Owners say the manufacturer took an unreasonable amount of time to supply the permanent fix. Only one report describes an actual fault: no trailer lights after hooking up, on a vehicle covered by the recall.

Loss of power is the central complaint. The engine revs but the SUV fails to accelerate, hesitates when merging, or stalls coming to a stop, often with no warning light. Some dealers diagnosed transmission failure, and one transmission failed again after replacement. Parts shortages stretched repair waits. Radiator and coolant leaks also show up here, with overheating warnings and hoses needing repeat service. A service bulletin acknowledges radiator coolant leaks on these Palisades, but there is no recall.