2021 Hyundai Palisade

Seat Belts

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade has generated 180 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Recall for safety seat belts not repaired in a timely manner. It’s been 2.5 months, I called the first time after one month to see how much longer for the parts to come in and was basically told it is what it is, most people wait over 2 months, that was in January. It is now March and still no repairs done. Finally on an expedited list after this second phone call. Hopefully not too much longer because I don’t feel safe driving my twins in this vehicle.” (NHTSA Complaint #11721349)

Other Systems

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade has generated 86 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “The vehicle is experiencing a transmission failure that causes sudden jerking, hesitation, and loss of smooth acceleration when the engine reaches approximately 1,500–2,000 RPM. When driving under normal conditions on both city roads and highways, the transmission appears to slip or fail to properly engage or shift gears within this RPM range. When this occurs, the vehicle jerks violently and momentarily loses power, creating a dangerous driving situation. This happens while accelerating in traffic and when attempting to maintain speed. The sudden hesitation and loss of proper transmission engagement creates a serious safety concern because the vehicle may not respond properly to acceleration, increasing the risk of a rear-end collision or crash, especially when merging onto highways or driving in traffic. This issue occurs regularly and has become progressively worse over time, indicating a potential transmission defect rather than a one-time malfunction. The problem was inspected and documented by Bill Luke Marana dealership in Tucson, Arizona. During their inspection, diagnostic data showed abnormal transmission input and output speed readings, confirming irregular transmission operation. The dealership marked the concern as requiring immediate attention. There were no consistent warning lights prior to the failure, despite the severity of the symptoms. The vehicle and the dealership diagnostic documentation are available for inspection upon request.” (NHTSA Complaint #11725199)

Visibility/Wiper

The 2021 Hyundai Palisade has generated 80 NHTSA complaints for this defect category. If your vehicle has experienced recurring issues in this area that the dealer has been unable to repair after multiple attempts, you may have a qualifying lemon law claim under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Owner reports include: “Large crack formed without any projectile involved. Car was sitting in the garage and temperature was around 40 degrees. Crack starts from the bottom of the windshield near the driver’s side and extends upward about 12 inches. The car had been sitting in the garage for 4 days without being driven. Vehicle only has 21,455 miles but is out of warranty due to age.” (NHTSA Complaint #11724099)

Engine

Engine and cooling problems are among the most serious defects under California’s Song-Beverly Act. Owners of the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have reported issues including stalling, overheating, loss of power, rough idling, excessive oil consumption, and check engine lights that return after dealer repairs. With 48 NHTSA complaints on record, this defect pattern is well-documented. Owner reports include: “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. The dealership stated that it is “normal” for this engine to consume up to one quart of oil per 1,000 miles. The engine now requires full replacement due to internal damage caused by oil loss. This situation created a safety concern because the vehicle began losing power while in operation. The failure occurred suddenly without warning indicators prior to the loss of engine performance. The vehicle had documented oil level concerns during previous service visits, suggesting a potential excessive oil consumption or engine defect. The failed engine is currently available for inspection at the dealership.” (NHTSA Complaint #11723272)

Electrical System

Electrical system failures are notoriously difficult to diagnose and repair, which often results in multiple unsuccessful repair attempts — a key element of a lemon law claim. Reported issues for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade include infotainment malfunctions, battery drain, warning lights, power window failures, and intermittent starting problems. 44 NHTSA complaints have been filed for this category. Owner reports include: “The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while attempting to park, the rear parking sensor became inoperable, and a message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that no audible alert was heard while reversing. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the rear parking sensor wiring harness had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000” (NHTSA Complaint #11721672)

Active NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Hyundai Palisade

The following 6 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade by the NHTSA or Hyundai. If your vehicle is affected, the manufacturer is required to provide a free remedy. Check your VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls.

California Lemon Law — Song-Beverly Act

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest lemon laws in the United States. It protects buyers and lessees of new and certified pre-owned vehicles that develop substantial defects the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, a lemon law presumption is triggered when any of the following apply to your 2021 Hyundai Palisade:

• 4+ repair attempts for the same non-safety defect without resolution
• 2+ repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury
• 30+ calendar days out of service for warranty repairs (cumulative, not consecutive)

Once the presumption is triggered, the burden shifts to Hyundai to prove the vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Hyundai must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning qualified representation costs you nothing out of pocket.

What You Can Recover

If your 2021 Hyundai Palisade qualifies as a lemon under California law, Hyundai may be legally required to:

• Repurchase your vehicle — Full refund of your down payment, all monthly payments, registration fees, and incidental costs (towing, rentals), minus a mileage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt
• Replace your vehicle — Provide a new, comparable vehicle at no cost to you
• Pay your attorney’s fees — Under § 1794(d), Hyundai pays all legal fees if you prevail
• Civil penalty up to 2x damages — If Hyundai willfully violated the Act, courts may award double the actual damages

Steps to Protect Your 2021 Hyundai Palisade Claim

Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders, work orders, and dealer invoices. Each visit counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.

Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give Hyundai a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit different authorized Hyundai dealers if needed and ask for written documentation of each visit.

Step 3: Contact a California lemon law attorney. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts for non-safety defects, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — contact an attorney for a free case evaluation. Under § 1794(d), Hyundai pays your fees if you win.

Step 4: Send a demand letter. Your attorney will send Hyundai a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.

2021 Hyundai Palisade Lemon Law Questions

How many repair attempts qualify my 2021 Hyundai Palisade as a lemon?

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, four or more repair attempts for the same non-safety defect, or two attempts for a safety-related defect, triggers the lemon law presumption. Additionally, 30 or more cumulative days out of service qualifies regardless of the number of repair attempts.

Does Hyundai pay my attorney fees?

Yes. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), Hyundai is required to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if you prevail in a lemon law claim. This means qualified lemon law representation is free to you if your case succeeds.

Can I file a lemon law claim without an active recall?

Yes. A recall is not required to file a lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Act covers any substantial defect that impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle that the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts. NHTSA complaints support the claim by establishing a pattern, but are not a prerequisite.

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim for my 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

California lemon law claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations from the date you discovered or should have discovered the defect. However, you must still be within the manufacturer’s original warranty period when the defect first appears. Contact an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.