Sunita Somvanshi
Hyundai has announced a major recall affecting almost 600,000 vehicles in the United States due to serious safety issues that could put drivers and passengers at risk.
The larger recall involves 568,580 Hyundai Palisade SUVs from model years 2020 through 2025. The problem? Seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch properly, especially in cold weather. This malfunction could leave occupants unprotected during an accident.
The seat belt issue stems from manufacturing problems with specific components. According to federal safety records, the buckles contain “out-of-specification” parts made by supplier ZF Lifetec. These faulty components create interference within the latch channel, potentially increasing friction when trying to secure the belt. The problem becomes worse in cold temperatures.
For Palisade owners concerned about their safety, Hyundai recommends a simple temporary fix: insert your seat belt firmly with a quick, direct motion, then pull on the belt to make sure it’s fully secured. Dealers will inspect and replace the faulty seat belt buckles for free.
In a separate recall, Hyundai is also calling back 31,042 IONIQ 6 electric vehicles from model years 2023-2025. These vehicles have charging port doors that may detach completely. Dealers will inspect and fix these doors at no cost to owners.
The Palisade recall notifications are planned to begin November 10, 2025. Hyundai reports no crashes or injuries related to either problem. The company estimates only about 1% of the recalled vehicles actually have the defects, but is taking the precautionary step of checking all potentially affected vehicles.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the Palisade seat belt problem in August 2024. Over the following year, Hyundai worked with regulators, conducting extensive testing and supplier audits. On September 4, 2025, Hyundai finally decided to issue the recall after confirming the source of the problem.
Owners can verify if their vehicle is included in either recall by contacting Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. The recall number for the seat belt issue is 283, while the charging port door recall is number 282. Owners can also check their vehicle identification number (VIN) through Hyundai’s recall portal or at NHTSA.gov/recalls.
This recall comes as Toyota also announced a separate recall of nearly 600,000 vehicles for display screen issues.
