The Biggest 2020 Hyundai Palisade Problems After One Year
The Hyundai Palisade is an award-winning SUV that deserves your attention. The 2020 Hyundai Palisade should definitely be considered if you’re in the market for a three-row SUV. However, there are a few potential drawbacks that were discovered after a year of ownership.
2020 Hyundai Palisade problems
The team at Cars.com purchased a 2020 Hyundai Palisade Limited to spend a year with. The number of miles the team accrued is slightly below average for a year due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, but they still managed to rack up over 11,000 miles.
But another issue made the Palisade undrivable for a little while. Apparently, their SUV stank. No one wanted to drive it, and the issue required multiple trips to the dealership to try and address. Also, this issue wasn’t very uncommon.
The Hyundai Palisade odor was so common that Hyundai had to release a fix. Apparently, in the Calligraphy and Limited trims, the smell was coming from the imitation leather used in the headrests. Other trim levels didn’t have this issue.
To fix the problem, Hyundai recommends using an odor-neutralizing agent on the headrests or taking your SUV in for a deep clean.
If detailing your Palisade doesn’t work, then Hyundai will replace the headsets for free. So, this issue does have an easy fix, but it’s annoying. Plus, some drivers said the odor was like smelling dirty socks or old spicy cabbage.
The Hyundai Palisade windshield kept cracking
Along with smelling terrible, the 2020 Hyundai Palisade also had windshield problems. The windshield was prone to cracking and took up their $1,000 insurance deductible. Palisade windshield problems are so common that a lawsuit was filed against Hyundai for defective glass.
It seemed as if the slightest pebbles caused significant cracks, but windshield cracks or replacements are covered by the standard manufacturer warranty. People were paying to have windshields replaced before accruing as little as 2,000 miles.
Plus, the windshield issues seemed to cause electrical problems with equipment related to the windshield as well. The cracks interfered with safety technology, including the rearview camera and Head-Up Display.
Would they buy the 2020 Palisade again?
After a year with the Hyundai Palisade, the Cars.com team seems to be on edge about it. For some team members, the terrible odor and windshield cracks were dealbreakers, while others said the smell was barely noticeable.
Aside from the odor and windshield problems, the 2020 Palisade received complaints about having a little bit of wind noise. It was found to be distracting at times. One review by Mike Hanely suggested that the Kia Telluride has better tech.
But the team had tons of positive things to say as well. They loved the upscale interior once it passed the sniff test, and the tech was very easy to use. It seemed like an excellent option for road trips and running errands because of the comfort and space it provides.
If you can get past the smell in higher trim models, and if the windshield problems don’t feel risky, then the Hyundai Palisade is an excellent family hauler to consider. One review even mentioned that it’s great for dogs.
