The Lemon Index2020 Hyundai Palisade.
The 2020 Hyundai Palisade is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 269 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 258, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 21 to 22 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Palisade year is 2022.
Lemon alert. 2.6× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2022
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 541 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Palisade year. 2020 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 1K to 13K miles on the car (163 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- wipers & visibility complaints mostly came at 1K–8K miles
Recalls 5
- airbags 2026
The side curtain air bags for third-row occupants may deploy improperly in a crash.
- seat belts 2025
The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch.
- trailer hitches 2022
Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire.
Show all 5 recalls
- visibility 2022
The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
- airbags 2019
The mounting bolts used to secure the side curtain air bags may damage the side curtain air bags during deployment.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Hyundai told dealers about
Hyundai sent dealers 180 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- If you are servicing an applicable vehicle with a ?Check Engine?
- This bulletin provides troubleshooting information on how to identify and repair…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedInadvertent seat belt unlatch2024–2025
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai Palisade SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Palisade SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.8L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Got a stone chip on windshield and with in an hour it has turned into a ten inch crack
2020 Hyundai Palisade owner · NHTSA complaint 11343044
More owner reports
Tiny pebble hit my windsceen while I was driving and immediately a large crack spread all over the windcsreen
NHTSA complaint 11488934
With snow, the wipers just stop working if too much snow piles up in the well even when driving.
NHTSA complaint 11396810
Quick answers
Is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.6× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 258; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Palisade year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2020 Hyundai Palisade problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (41%), engine (8%) and body structure (7%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Palisade have?
5 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2020 Hyundai Palisade get?
21 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2020 Hyundai Palisade problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 1,200 and 13,700 miles. The middle report was at 4,500 miles, from 163 complaints.
Does the 2020 Hyundai Palisade have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 5% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2020 Hyundai Palisade cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2020 Hyundai Palisade have?
3.8L 6-cyl.
What Hyundai Palisade year is better than the 2020?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2022, 2021 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works