2021 Hyundai Palisade Brake Fluid Recall (21V840)
Hyundai Motor America · 995 vehicles · Reported October 27, 2021
Hyundai Motor America is recalling 995 2021 Hyundai Palisade vehicles. The brake fluid may be contaminated, which can cause the brake master cylinder inner-cup seals to swell, and reduce braking performance. Reduced braking performance can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V840 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V840000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 212 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 27, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Hyundai Motor America |
| Vehicles | 2021 Hyundai Palisade |
| Units affected | 995 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Fluid |
| Safety risk | Reduced braking performance can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Hyundai Palisade in recall 21V840?
The brake fluid may be contaminated, which can cause the brake master cylinder inner-cup seals to swell, and reduce braking performance.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Palisade vehicles. The brake fluid may be contaminated, which can cause the brake master cylinder inner-cup seals to swell, and reduce braking performance.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Palisade with recall 21V840?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Reduced braking performance can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Reduced braking performance can extend the distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the fluid.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V840?
Recall 21V840 covers 995 vehicles: 2021 Hyundai Palisade.
NHTSA lists 995 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Hyundai | Palisade |
What is the fix for the Palisade brake fluid recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, and flush the brake fluid, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder, and flush the brake fluid, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 212.
When was recall 21V840 announced?
Hyundai Motor America reported recall 21V840 to NHTSA on October 27, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 27, 2021 | Hyundai Motor America filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V840000. |
| December 24, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 60 months ago. If your Palisade was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Palisade is part of recall 21V840?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V840 is open on your Palisade, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V840000 is open on your Palisade, it will be listed there, along with Hyundai recall number 212. You can also ask any Hyundai dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Palisade owners do about recall 21V840?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V840000 applies to your Palisade.
- Call a Hyundai dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the fluid happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Palisade owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 437 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 21V840 was reported on October 27, 2021, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the brakes and were received on or after October 27, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 437 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the brakes. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Hyundai Palisade: 437 complaints in total, 11 about the brakes
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
On expressway traveling through Atlanta, changing lanes with plenty of clearence using signal at approximately 55 mph when suddenly alarm sounded and breaking system engaged bringing car to almost complete STOP. COULD NOT ACCELERATE and fortunately made it to berm area without causing SERIOUS accident.
2021 Hyundai Palisade owner, KY, NHTSA complaint 11635389, filed January 11, 2025
The forward collision warming sign just activated when there is no danger. The car will suddenly apply sharp brakes when you are even on the high with a speed over 65 miles per hour. It is very dangerous and scary and can lead to accidents.
2021 Hyundai Palisade owner, CT, NHTSA complaint 11668254, filed June 20, 2025
Brake pedal intermittently goes soft or does not respond properly. Dealership flushed brake lines but issue returned within weeks. No ABS or brake system warning lights are triggered. Safety is a concern due to potential brake failure and lack of system alerts.
2021 Hyundai Palisade owner, LA, NHTSA complaint 11679055, filed August 7, 2025
Can recall 21V840 make my Palisade a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Brake defects are safety defects. California's lemon law presumption can apply after two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, when the manufacturer has been notified directly.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Hyundai Palisade has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Palisade went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Palisade been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Hyundai Palisade recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V840
Did the recall 21V840 fix work?
Since recall 21V840 was reported on October 27, 2021, owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V840000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Palisade is part of recall 21V840000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V840000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Hyundai. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.