2021 Hyundai Palisade Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe windshield glass that chips or spider-cracks from small road debris, and seat belt buckles that are hard to latch or release on their own. A separate group of complaints describes wipers stalling when snow or ice packs into the wiper well, and several owners report Apple CarPlay dropping out or the screen going dark. Many of these reports arrive at very low mileage, often within the first few hundred to few thousand miles.

1. 1
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield chips and cracks from small impacts

   • 46 complaints (10%)
   • median 2,000 mi at 0.4 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,561 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Complaints describe windshields that chip or develop long spider cracks after small stones or pebbles strike the glass, sometimes at low speed or from a passing vehicle rather than one being followed. Several owners say the damage spread quickly into a runner crack before they could reach a shop. A few report cracks appearing with no impact heard at all, and some note the replacement glass was backordered or that recalibration of the safety cameras added cost. Dealers generally treated these as external damage rather than a defect. Widely reported on nearly new vehicles, many within the first 2,000 miles and a few on the drive home from purchase.

   What to check: Inspect the windshield closely for chips, sandblasting or repaired cracks, and check the glass date code against the build date. Ask whether the front camera behind the glass has been recalibrated if the windshield was replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just purchased the vehicle and on the same day I was driving on the highway on my way home, I discovered a rock chip on the windshield, I did not hear anything impact the windshield but judging but not hearing any sound. The windshield seems to be very fragile compared to other vehicles I've owned.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396559, filed 2021-02, 60 miles

   “Driving down the highway at approximately 55-60 MPH. A small stone kicked up and cracked the windshield immediately. This resulted in a spiderweb that as of now has stretched approximately 12 inches across. The sound was strangely loud. I'm now responsible for a full replacement for a back ordered windshield over an something that at most should have a caused a chip if anything. I can hear the crack spreading and am concerned for the overall integrity of the glass.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351919, filed 2020-08, 500 miles
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Seat belt buckles that won't latch or pop open

   • 90 complaints (20%)
   • median 50,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (15 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe buckles that take several attempts to click in, and belts that release on their own while the vehicle is moving, in some cases repeatedly. Owners mention the front row, second-row captain's chairs and the rear bench, with a few noting the problem is worse in cold weather. Some dealers replaced the buckle assembly; others told owners the part was on backorder under an open recall, or that no fault could be found. Reported from a few dozen miles up to roughly 170,000 miles, with many between 35,000 and 120,000 miles and several tied to cold weather.

   Recall 25V6070001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Buckle and unbuckle every seat belt, tug each one after it clicks, and ask whether the buckle recall and any related warranty extension were completed on this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the seat belt disengaged unintentionally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11653627, filed 2025-04, 38,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the driver-side and passenger-side captain seat belts independently unlatched while occupied by the contact's minor children. The contact stated that the failure occurred during the winter. The dealer was made aware of the failure, which the dealer associated with an open recall; however, parts were unavailable. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11770935, filed 2026-10, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Wipers stop in snow or ice buildup

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe wipers that stop mid-cycle or fail to start when snow or ice packs into the recessed area below the windshield, including snow sliding off the roof onto the glass. The usual fix reported is pulling over and clearing the wiper well by hand before the wipers work again. Complaints note this can repeat several times in a single drive and that the wiper well is difficult to clear. Mostly reported under about 4,000 miles, in snow and freezing conditions.

   Recall 22V627000Recall 23V180000

   What to check: Ask whether the wiper motor recalls have been performed, and on a cold-weather test drive check that the wipers park correctly and clear the full windshield with snow around the cowl.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Twice this has happened. My windshield wipers lock up and will not clear the window. It seems like there may be snow or ice below them where they tuck in when this happens, which is hard to clear out anyway. While I am driving, if any snow or ice comes down from the roof, they will lock up as well, and this has left me absolutely not able to see the road. It is a major major hazard. Luckily I have been able to pull off the road both times to clear the window manually”

   NHTSA complaint #11396759, filed 2021-02, 2,000 miles

   “When it is snowing too heavily, too fast, or snow falls on to your windshield from your roof while driving the windshield wipers stop. They do not turn back on until you have manually cleared the windshield. This happens while you are driving. So you have to try and navigate to the side of the road while you cannot see in the middle of traffic. Then get out of your car to clean the windshield...this can happen multiple times in one drive. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11395987, filed 2021-02, 850 miles
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Second-row belts hard to buckle or stuck

   • 58 complaints (13%)
   • median 22,500 mi at 3.1 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe second-row buckles recessed into the seat cushion that are awkward to reach and slow to latch, especially when fitting a booster seat or helping a child. Others report belts that seize and will not pull out or release, sometimes requiring the belt to be cut to free an occupant. Owners who took the vehicle in say dealers could not duplicate the problem or could not identify a cause. Several reports come from almost-new vehicles under 600 miles; seized-belt reports appear later, from about 80,000 miles upward.

   Recall 25V6070001 related service bulletin

   What to check: With a child seat or booster in place, try buckling and releasing each second-row belt several times, and pull the belt all the way out to confirm it retracts smoothly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The buckles in the captains chairs are recessed into the seat and the tongue is angled. It is incredibly difficult for an older person to properly buckle themselves in, and especially difficult to buckle the seat belt when using a booster seat. It has taken 5 minutes on several occasions to get it in correctly. At times, it seems it is in with a click, until I pull it, and it disengages. I am also concerned that the booster may actually lay in the button, completely releasing the seatbelt in an accident. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11408318, filed 2021-04, 550 miles

   “I purchased my car two days ago. I have 6 year old twins in high back booster seats in the 2nd row. We cannot get the seat belts to buckle. I have to end up climbing back there which is very difficult and fight with the seat belts. They just won't click in. My children definitely can't do it and after a good 10 minutes if I'm lucky I will get one buckled. However, even when I hear it click, it isn't always secure. Thank goodness after getting one child buckled I tugged on it before closing the door and sure enough, it came right out. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11413619, filed 2021-04, 30 miles
5. 5
   Other or unknown

   Apple CarPlay drops out and screen goes black

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe wireless CarPlay connecting and then dropping after a few minutes, with navigation and music cutting out and the display going blank while driving. Owners report the screen returns when they press the home button but the dropout repeats, and some say the loss of directions and calls is distracting. Dealers suggested making a service appointment; owners note the problem persisted with current software. Reported within the first few hundred miles of ownership in most of these complaints.

   What to check: Pair a phone and use CarPlay for a full test drive, including navigation, and ask whether the infotainment software has the latest update applied.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I just bought a 2021 sel Palisade on thursday and I'm having problems with the apple wireless carplay connection. It will connect, shows the navigation apps, and play music for about 5 to 10 minutes then drops out. Then a message pops up saying I have no bluetooth connection with any device. If I push the home menu button, however, the carplay button is still showing. If I push it I'm back in carplay, but the blank out process repeats itself again after a few minutes. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11383187, filed 2020-12, 80 miles

   “This vehicle only allows for wireless apple carplay connectivity. When using this feature, calls drop constantly, maps and directions drop constantly, and the navigation screen goes black while driving. This has caused major distraction and lost calls/directions. This happens despite all software updates being current. This happens when stationary, in motion, on why or city streets. At all times.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383886, filed 2020-12, 3,500 miles

Buying note. Check the windshield for chips or repairs, test every seat belt buckle front and rear, and confirm the open seat belt buckle and wiper motor recalls were completed. Because many of these reports come from very low-mileage vehicles, a careful inspection matters more than the odometer reading.

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.