Hyundai Motor Philippines issues recall for 123 Palisade units

Hyundai Motor Philippines Inc. (HMPH) is moving to address a concern on the power folding seat function of select units of the all-new Palisade Hybrid currently on local roads.

The South Korean automaker has initiated a proactive service action covering 123 Palisade Hybrid units in the country. Authorized Hyundai dealerships nationwide will be carrying out a software update targeting the second-row and third-row power seat system, giving owners more deliberate control over how those seats operate.

The recall stems from a tragic accident in the United States, involving a child and the Palisade’s aforementioned power-folding rear seats. Beyond the incident, separate complaints have also come up involving injuries and intermittent operation of the fold-flat seat function, prompting Hyundai to act on a global scale.

The main change that will be implemented in the safety recall is simple: the one-touch activation feature for the power seats will be replaced by a press-and-hold function. Basically, passengers will now need to hold the button down to fold or unfold the seats rather than tapping it once and letting the system fold the seats automatically. According to HMPH, the update is aimed at improving overall passenger safety by requiring more intentional input before the seats start moving.

As with all recalls, owners won't have to shell out anything for the fix. The service will be done free of charge at any authorized Hyundai dealership, and Hyundai assures the procedure itself isn't expected to eat up much of your time.

Affected customers will be contacted directly by their respective dealerships, who will walk them through scheduling a service appointment. HMPH is encouraging those with covered units to get it done sooner rather than later. For questions or concerns, owners can get in touch with their local Hyundai dealer or reach out through the Hyundai Contact Center.