Head-to-head reliability
Hyundai Tucson vs Hyundai Palisade
How the Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai Palisade compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Hyundai Tucson vs Hyundai Palisade: The Tucson has 2993 complaints over 10 years, while the Palisade has 2327 over 7 years, averaging 299.3 and 332.4 per year respectively. The Tucson has more engine issues, while the Palisade has more brake and seat belt problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Hyundai Tucson or Hyundai Palisade more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Hyundai Tucson
The Hyundai Tucson, over a decade of ownership, shows a heavy concentration of engine-related complaints, with owners reporting sudden unintended acceleration and loss of control. This is a serious safety concern that overshadows other issues like power train glitches and brake system interventions. The high number of complaints and recalls suggests that the Tucson may have systemic reliability problems that could affect a buyer's peace of mind.
Hyundai Palisade
The Hyundai Palisade, while newer, has a higher average annual complaint rate, with brakes and seat belts being the top problem areas. Owners describe brake fade after software updates and seat belts that randomly unlatch, which are critical safety issues. The vehicle also has engine power loss incidents, but the overall pattern points to a mix of safety-critical and quality control concerns.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Hyundai Tucson | Hyundai Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,993 | 2,327 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 27 | 10 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 139 | 56 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 299.3 Better | 332.4 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 136 | 69 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Hyundai Tucson
- 01ENGINE1,281
- 02POWER TRAIN540
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER410
- 04SERVICE BRAKES378
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM342
Owners report sudden unintended acceleration, leading to loss of control and crashes. This is a severe safety issue that could result in injury or death.
Transmission and steering issues, such as the vehicle getting stuck in reverse or steering locking up, can leave drivers stranded or unable to control the vehicle.
The automatic emergency braking system can lock up brakes unexpectedly, causing rear-end collisions or sudden stops, which is dangerous in traffic.
Infotainment and software update loops can cause distractions and system failures, impacting the driver's ability to use essential features like backup cameras.
“I experienced sudden unintended acceleration which propelled me over a curb, up an embankment, over a boulder and into a fence. I could have been killed or I could have killed others because I had no control of the car. The Hyundai corporation will not acknow…”
Hyundai Palisade
- 01SERVICE BRAKES433
- 02SEAT BELTS398
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER361
- 04ENGINE286
- 05VISIBILITY/WIPER265
A software update disables engine braking, leading to brake fade on grades, which can increase stopping distances and cause accidents.
Seat belts randomly unlatch while driving, which is a critical safety defect that can lead to ejection in a crash.
Sudden loss of engine power while driving, especially at highway speeds, can cause the vehicle to decelerate unexpectedly, creating a hazard.
Windshield wiper motor failures can impair visibility in rain, increasing the risk of crashes.
“Hyundai's recent emissions software update (9C9) has disabled engine braking, creating a risk of brake fade on grades. The vehicle is no longer able to hold speed while descending grades, regardless of downshifting, forcing the brakes to be implemented to avo…”
“On 7/22/26 at about 5:15pm, I was operating my vehicle, a 2022 Hyundai Palisade in the Parking lot of Publix Supermarket at Valrico Commons and was attempting to enter a parking space. I made a right from the parking thruway to enter a right parking space. I…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Hyundai Tucson — 27 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles. The connecting rod bolts in the engine may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power and engine damage, possibly resulting in an oil leak.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash. An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2025. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 281.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), 2026 IONIQ 5, Santa Cruz, Kona, Palisade, Palisade Hybrid, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Hybrid, Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, and Tucson vehicles. Due to a software error, the instrument panel displa…
The risk: An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The instrument panel display software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 24, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025 Elantra N, 2026 Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV), and Elantra vehicles. The B-pillar impact sensors may have been misassembled, which can delay air bag deployment.
The risk: Air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the impact sensor(s), as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 11, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 2…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Santa Cruz, Tucson, Tucson Hybrid, and Tucson Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) vehicles. Software in the front cameras may cause the forward collision avoidance system to activate prematurely and unexpectedly apply the brakes.
The risk: Unexpected braking increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the front camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 17, 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 302. Vehi…
Hyundai Palisade — 10 recalls
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020 Palisade vehicles. The mounting bolts used to secure the side curtain air bags may damage the side curtain air bags during deployment.
The risk: Damaged side curtain air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover on the mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this rec…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
The risk: Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the driver-side windshield wiper arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2022. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 233.
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling 2020-2022 Palisade vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an accessory through a Hyundai dealership. Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (…
The risk: A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a new fuse and wire extension kit, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2023. Own…
The defect: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch.
The risk: Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Passengers are advised to insert the belt firmly into the buckle with a quick and direct motion, pulling on the belt to confirm the seat belt is fully secured, until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle…
Buyer analysis
Hyundai Tucson or Hyundai Palisade: which should you buy?
The Hyundai Tucson has fewer complaints per year (299.3) compared to the Palisade (332.4), but the Tucson's issues are more severe, with a higher number of crashes and injuries. The Palisade's higher rate is partly due to its shorter reporting period, but its problems are also safety-critical. In practice, the Tucson may have more long-term reliability concerns, while the Palisade has a higher frequency of issues per year.
Key differences
- The Tucson has a much higher number of engine complaints (1281) compared to the Palisade (286), indicating a more systemic engine problem.
- The Palisade has a higher rate of seat belt complaints (398) than the Tucson (not in top 5), which is a critical safety issue.
- The Tucson has more recalls (27) than the Palisade (10), suggesting more widespread defects.
- The Palisade's brake issues are linked to a software update, while the Tucson's brake issues are from the automatic emergency braking system.
- Check for any signs of unintended acceleration by test driving in a safe area and monitoring the engine response.
- Inspect the automatic emergency braking system for any previous repairs or complaints, and test it in a controlled environment.
- Test the seat belts repeatedly to ensure they latch securely and do not release during driving.
- Check the brake performance on a downhill slope to see if engine braking works properly, and ask about the software update status.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to see if any recalls were performed and if there are open recalls.
- Have a mechanic inspect the engine and transmission for any signs of wear or previous issues.
- Test drive both vehicles on various road types, including hills, to assess braking and acceleration.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recalls for the specific model year you are considering.
- Ask the seller for service records, especially for any software updates or repairs related to the known issues.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Hyundai Tucson | Hyundai Palisade |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 54 | 102 |
| 2025 | 267 | 233 |
| 2024 | 88 | 373 |
| 2023 | 127 | 385 |
| 2022 | 371 | 297 |
| 2021 | 75 | 417 |
| 2020 | 174 | 520 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Hyundai Tucson or Hyundai Palisade in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Hyundai Tucson vs Hyundai Palisade
- Hyundai Tucson total complaints
- 2,993
- Hyundai Palisade total complaints
- 2,327
- Hyundai Tucson total recalls
- 27
- Hyundai Palisade total recalls
- 10
- Hyundai Tucson avg complaints/year
- 299.3
- Hyundai Palisade avg complaints/year
- 332.4
- More reliable overall
- Hyundai Tucson
- Hyundai Tucson top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Hyundai Palisade top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES