The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has concluded its Hyundai Palisade seat belt defect investigation after Hyundai issued a safety recall and a warranty extension for 2020–2025 Palisade vehicle owners.
The investigation focused on reports of seat belts unlatching unexpectedly in 2020–2023 Palisade SUVs. Seat belts unlatching during normal driving or a crash significantly increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.
If you own a 2020–2025 Hyundai Palisade, you may be eligible for the warranty extension and/or recall repairs when the remedy is available. We recommend that you confirm your inclusion in Hyundai’s safety actions and schedule repairs accordingly.
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Hyundai Palisade Seat Belt Defect Investigation (2020–2023)
NHTSA opened its investigation on August 7, 2024, after receiving 37 complaints of unbuckling seat belts in 2020–2023 Hyundai Palisades. The investigation initially covered an estimated 332,288 Palisade vehicles.1
On April 3, 2025, Hyundai issued Warranty Extension Z06. The automaker requested warranty parts returns from its dealerships and conducted further analysis in coordination with its seat belt buckle supplier, ZF Lifetec.
On September 11, 2025, Hyundai issued Recall 25V-607. In its filings to NHTSA, Hyundai stated that certain components in the seat belt assemblies were manufactured out of specification. These components caused interference within the latch channel and increased friction, preventing the seat belt buckle from fully latching.
During the course of its investigation, NHTSA expanded the vehicle population to include 2024–2025 Palisades. By the time the probe concluded, NHTSA had 195 reports associated with the defect.2
Hyundai Palisade Seat Belt Safety Actions (2020–2025)
After investigating complaints from Palisade owners, NHTSA’s review led Hyundai to take two separate safety actions related to the defect: a warranty extension and a formal safety recall. Issued months apart, these safety actions provide consumers with some recourse for their faulty seat belts.
Hyundai Palisade Seat Belt Warranty Extension
Hyundai issued Warranty Extension Z06 to address reports of the defect in certain 2020–2025 Hyundai Palisade vehicles and mailed notices to affected owners.
The extended warranty notice explains the following:
"Hyundai is extending warranty coverage for the Seat Belt Buckle under this condition to 15 years/150,000 miles (whichever occurs first) from the date of original retail delivery or date of first use and is valid for original and subsequent owners."
Owners who did not receive an extended warranty notice can check their vehicle’s eligibility through Hyundai’s VIN Validation tool. Entering their Vehicle Identification Number into the search bar allows owners to confirm if Seat Belt Buckle Warranty Extension Z06 applies to them.
Hyundai Palisade Seat Belt Recall
Hyundai issued a safety recall to address defective seat belt buckle assemblies in more than 568,000 model year 2020–2025 Hyundai Palisade vehicles.
The recall remedy involves replacing the seat belt buckles in the driver, front passenger and second-row window seats to ensure proper latching.
Hyundai’s seat belt buckle recall will offer the remedy in waves over the course of a year.
For additional details, Hyundai Palisade owners can review their recall notices, use Hyundai’s recall lookup tools or review the recall entry in NHTSA’s public database.
Is There a Hyundai Palisade Seat Belt Class Action Lawsuit?
No. While consumer law attorneys have investigated the viability of class action litigation, no class lawsuit has been filed for the Palisade seat belt defects.
Hyundai has faced class action lawsuits addressing defects in other vehicle components and safety systems, such as seat belts, exterior lighting and braking systems.
Examples include lawsuits alleging:
- Seat belt pretensioner defects that made the components explode in 2019–2022 Hyundai Accent, 2021–2023 Hyundai Elantra, and 2021–2022 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid vehicles.
- Defective seals allowing moisture to enter headlight assemblies in 2020–2025 Kia Telluride and 2021–2025 Hyundai Palisade vehicles, resulting in dimming lights.
- Loss of vehicle speed or control when 2023–2025 Hyundai Palisade vehicles are driving over rough surfaces due to anti-lock braking and traction control system defects.
These lawsuits are unrelated to the Hyundai Palisade seat belt issue discussed here.
Reported Hyundai Palisade Seat Belt Complaints
"The contact owns a 2022 Hyundai Palisade. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH the seat belt on the third-row passenger’s side unlatched without warning. The contact attempted to insert the tongue into the buckle, however, the seat belt failed to latch securely. The dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed. The contact stated that the front passenger’s seat belt latch was previously replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 18,200."
“The front passenger side seatbelt buckle holder stopped working randomly after driving in our 2024 Hyundai Palisade which is 2 months old. It worked correctly on a 5 minute ride. And when we got back into the car the red 'Press' button was stuck in a recessed position. My wife could not buckle her seatbelt. It would not stay in. There was nothing dropped into the buckle receiver and it was taken to the dealership and a new buckle receiver has been ordered. This is extremely dangerous and I have lost all confidence in the seat belt buckles throughout the vehicle. I have small children, and I’m glad we were on a short drive and did not get into an accident where my wife could have been ejected from the car from a faulty seatbelt.”
“The seatbelts in the second passenger captains chairs will appear to be latched/locked in, and then when driving will unlatch. We have our daughters tug on them to assure proper locking and they will appear locked and still come unlatched frequently while we are driving. This problem has been going on and off since we owned the vehicle. It definitely puts the safety of our children at risk as their seatbelts clearly have a defect and I'm scared to think what would happen if this occurred during a car wreck. It often cannot be reproduced, which is why we haven't taken it to a dealer. There's no rhyme or reason as to when/why it occurs. It probably happens 3-4 times per month. In reading on-line forums with other owners of this vehicle, dealers are not willing to fix it due to its inconsistency. The seatbelts warning light does not always come on when this happens.”
How to Schedule Hyundai Palisade Seat Belt Repairs
Hyundai owners can schedule a repair service appointment through their local Hyundai-authorized dealership.
To find a repair location, use Hyundai’s dealership locator and enter your zip code to identify nearby service departments. Once you identify a dealership near you, dial the phone number to contact their customer service and schedule an appointment for recall or warranty-related repairs for your seat belts.
Hyundai Palisade Recall and Safety Contact Information
Hyundai Palisade owners can contact the following numbers for further information:
- Hyundai Customer Service: 1-855-371-9460
To inquire about recall and warranty extension eligibility or schedule a repair service. - NHTSA Safety Hotline: 1-888-327-4236
To report further issues with Hyundai vehicles to federal regulators.
Keep a copy of any documents you receive from your manufacturer or dealership, such as recall notices, extended warranty notices, repair orders or other communications. In the event that your Hyundai vehicle cannot be repaired to conform to warranty in a timely manner, your extended paper trail can help you get legal recourse with the help of a Hyundai lemon law attorney.
References
- (2024, August 7). ODI RESUME: Inadvertent Seat Belt Unlatch. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2024/INOA-PE24021-11679.pdf
- (2025, December 12). ODI RESUME: Inadvertent Seat Belt Unlatch. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/inv/2024/INCLA-PE24021-87121.pdf
- (2025). Hyundai Extended Warranty Reference: Z06. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2025/MC-11018733-0001.pdf
- (2025, November 21). Part 573 Safety Recall Report 25V607. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V607-3620.pdf
- (2025, September 12). Seat Belt Buckles May Fail. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. https://www.nhtsa.gov/?nhtsaId=25V607000
- (2022, June 8). Hyundai class action alleges seat belts pose dangerous explosion risk. TopClassActions.com. https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/hyundai-class-action-alleges-seat-belts-pose-dangerous-explosion-risk/
- Rizzi, C. (2024, April 1). Newer Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade Models Equipped with Defective Headlights, Lawsuit Alleges. ClassAction.org. https://www.classaction.org/news/newer-kia-telluride-hyundai-palisade-models-equipped-with-defective-headlights-lawsuit-alleges
- Rizzi, C. (2025, May 13). 2023-2025 Hyundai Palisade Vehicles Plagued by Brake Problems, Class Action Suit Claims. ClassAction.org. https://www.classaction.org/news/2023-2025-hyundai-palisade-vehicles-plagued-by-brake-problems-class-action-suit-claims
