The Lemon Index2021 Hyundai Palisade.
The 2021 Hyundai Palisade is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 227 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 247, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about wipers & visibility, it has 6 recalls, and it gets 21 to 22 mpg combined. The best Hyundai Palisade year is 2022.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 445 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Hyundai Palisade year. 2021 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 0K to 56K miles on the car (60 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- seat belts complaints mostly came at 10K–82K miles
Recalls 6
- 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.
- wipers & visibility 2023
The windshield wiper motor may operate intermittently or fail to operate due to snow or ice buildup on the windshield, causing the wipers to fail.
Show all 6 recalls
- 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.
- visibility 2022
The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
- brakes 2021
The brake fluid may be contaminated, which can cause the brake master cylinder inner-cup seals to swell, and reduce braking performance.
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 131 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Certain Hyundai vehicles may not be equipped with an immobilizer
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
- ClosedWindshield wiper failure2022–2023
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 FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Hyundai Palisade SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2900–3050 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 3.8L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Windshield on 2021 Palisade cracks easily i had two cracks developed within 3 days of each other. Cracks easily developed into a 2 feet crack
2021 Hyundai Palisade owner · NHTSA complaint 11499376
More owner reports
In the second row, the middle seat belt will not retract.
NHTSA complaint 11554173
I have noticed while driving my seat belts in passenger and driver side will come un latched while driving.
NHTSA complaint 11575522
Quick answers
Is the 2021 Hyundai Palisade reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 2.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 247; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Hyundai Palisade year by this measure is 2022.
What are the most common 2021 Hyundai Palisade problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are wipers & visibility (19%), seat belts (17%) and electrical (14%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have?
6 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 2021 Hyundai Palisade get?
21 to 22 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2021 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 2021 Hyundai Palisade problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 700 and 56,000 miles. The middle report was at 3,500 miles, from 60 complaints.
Does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade cost in fuel a year?
About $2900 to $3050 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have?
3.8L 6-cyl.
What Hyundai Palisade year is better than the 2021?
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