2020 Hyundai Palisade Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write in about the windshield, which many describe cracking or spreading after small stone impacts, sometimes with no impact noticed at all, and frequently early in ownership. Engine concerns come up next, most often oil consumption and oil leaks, though those reports tend to arrive at much higher mileage. A smaller, steady set of complaints covers wind noise around the doors, rear suspension noise, and seat belt buckles that will not latch.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield cracks or spreads from minor impacts

   • 109 complaints (20%)
   • median 3,500 mi at 0.9 yrs old (75 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe small stones or road debris producing a chip that spreads into a long crack, and some owners report cracks appearing while the vehicle was parked with no impact found. Several say a repair attempt made the crack run further, and some needed a full windshield replacement, with parts sometimes on back order. A few owners also describe the sunroof glass shattering or detaching, and wipers stopping in snow or ice. Mostly reported under about 10,000 miles, often on highways or in cold and mixed winter weather.

   Recall 22V627000

   What to check: Inspect the windshield closely for chips, repairs or replaced glass, and ask whether the wiper motor recall work has been done. On a test drive, run the wipers and listen for wind noise at highway speed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The windshield appears to be very probe to cracking. When purchased our vehicle the windshield cracked from what appears to have been a small pebble on the road but wasn't loud enough to noticed. It was until later that we saw the crack had expended from the passenger side to the middle of the windshield.”

   NHTSA complaint #11319974, filed 2020-04, 140 miles

   “I have have owned the Palisade for approximately 3 months and have already had 2 episodes where the windshield cracked when struck by a very small pebble. I have driven many cars over a 35 year period and have never seen issues like these. The glass appears very thin. This is not safe!”

   NHTSA complaint #11355032, filed 2020-09, 6,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   High oil consumption and oil leaks

   • 140 complaints (26%)
   • median 45,725 mi at 3.9 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe the engine using oil quickly, an oil-burning smell, and in some cases rough running, misfires, white exhaust smoke or stalling with the oil level found very low. Complaints mention dealers running oil consumption and compression tests, carbon cleaning or spark plug replacement, and in some cases not being able to confirm a cause. A service bulletin and warranty extension cover oil leakage at the oil filter housing seal. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 150,000 miles, with some reports far earlier.

   6 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for a fuel or burning smell on the dipstick, look under the engine for leaks around the oil filter housing, and ask whether an oil consumption test has been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that he initially began to notice that his engine would consume oil at a rapid pace. As the failure persisted, the vehicle would shudder upon depression of the accelerator pedal as the check engine light appeared on the instrument panel. In addition, the contact stated that white smoke would emit from the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the spark plugs were replaced on two separate occasions due to carbon build up. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11736117, filed 2026-05, 30,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked, and the engine seized. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer several times; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure occurred several times. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11607225, filed 2024-08, 92,000 miles
3. 3
   Body and structure

   Wind noise and whistling from doors

   • 29 complaints (5%)
   • median 800 mi at 0.3 yrs old (25 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2024

   Complaints describe a whistle or hum coming from the driver or passenger door area, sometimes from the sunroof, that gets louder at highway speed and can be loud enough to distract the driver. Owners often say the dealer could not reproduce the noise or did not find a fix. Typically reported within the first few thousand miles, at highway speeds and in crosswinds.

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at highway speed with the radio off and listen near the door frames and sunroof for whistling, and ask whether seals or window trim have been adjusted.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I do not feel that this vehicle is completely safe. There door/window area is not sealed properly. I do not feel comfortable driving the vehicle on the highway or at a high speed because the door area seems unstable.”

   NHTSA complaint #11307615, filed 2020-02, 17,000 miles

   “Wind noise from front driver & passenger door/window. Initial problem was low hum/whistle from driver's side intermittent at highway speeds. Has happened more recently at 50 MPH. More recently a high pitched whistle is coming from the passenger front window area at speeds as low as 30 MPH. Both sounds are very distracting to the driver.”

   NHTSA complaint #11316255, filed 2020-03, 1,200 miles
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Rear seat belt buckles will not latch

   • 32 complaints (6%)
   • median 64,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report rear seat belt buckles that take several attempts to latch or release on their own while driving. Complaints mention dealers replacing the buckle assemblies, sometimes with parts on back order. Reported at both low and high mileage; several complaints mention long waits for parts.

   Recall 25V607000

   What to check: Buckle and unbuckle every seat belt, especially the second- and third-row positions, and ask whether the seat belt buckle recall repair has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V607000 (Seat Belts). The contact stated that while parked on several occasions, the second-row driver-side and passenger-side seat belts buckles failed to latch and required three to four attempts to latch securely. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was determined that an object might be stuck in the buckle assembly, and the seat belt buckle assembly needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11748777, filed 2026-07, 25,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2020 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front driver's side seat belt and the second-row driver's side seat belt failed to latch as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the seat belt failures were confirmed. The contact was informed that the seat belts needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that parts were not available to repair the vehicle. In addition, the contact was informed that the parts were ordered to repair the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11728478, filed 2026-04, 64,000 miles

Buying note. Check the windshield for previous cracks or replacements and confirm the wiper motor and seat belt buckle recalls have been completed before buying. On a test drive, listen for wind noise at highway speed and rear-end clunks, and check the oil level and service records for oil consumption.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.