NHTSA Complaint #11669403 — 2020 HYUNDAI PALISADE

Over the past 5 years, this vehicle has experienced three major powertrain failures: two complete transmission failures and, most recently, a catastrophic engine failure. The most recent issue involved the engine burning excessive oil without warning. While my wife was driving downhill, the vehicle shut off completely, causing a total loss of power steering and braking. She was barely able to get it safely to the side of the road. It was a serious safety risk, especially with children in the vehicle. Each failure has occurred well before it should in terms of mileage, and despite repairs, the issues continue. After this third failure, Hyundai offered to cover only 50% of the repair costs—which seems to acknowledge some degree of corporate responsibility—but we declined, as this is a relatively new vehicle and the problem is clearly systemic. We paid the second total transmission replacement completely out of pocket. A quick Google search and outreach to social media revealed that hundreds of Hyundai owners (across multiple models from this era) are experiencing very similar engine issues, many with official recalls for consumption, but there being no official recall or widespread support for Palisade owners. Personal stories suggest a clear pattern. The original dealership that sold the vehicle listed it as Certified Pre-Owned, but has since changed ownership and retains no records, which has made verifying the warranty status impossible. Hyundai corporate and customer service have been extremely difficult to work with—there are multiple active case numbers, no internal communication, and the local dealership doesn’t coordinate with national reps. This vehicle has spent over 100 days in service across these failures. I’ve tried every route available—dealership, corporate support, and online forums. The community is unsafe, and without broader action, other families could be at risk.