by Tragedy Due to Seat Malfunction in Hyundai Palisade
A woman from California claims that several months before the tragic incident in Ohio, she had informed Hyundai about a serious safety issue in her Palisade SUV. In Ohio, a toddler girl died after being trapped by the power seat mechanism.
The key facts of the case are:
The First Warning Was Ignored
Ashley Grossman recounted experiencing a terrifying moment on the very first day of owning the vehicle in August. While she was picking up her daughter, a third-row passenger pressed a seat button, causing the second-row seat to fold forward onto her child without stopping.
She started screaming, and I turned around and literally pulled her to safety
Shaken by the incident, Grossman repeatedly contacted Hyundai, warning that the Palisade posed a real danger. In a message sent in September, she described the problem as “urgent” and said it directly impacted passenger safety. She also shared her concerns publicly on social media, stating that the seat continued to move even when occupied.
Tragedy in Ohio
Despite her efforts, Hyundai closed her case after an inspection of her 2026 model year Palisade reportedly found the system to be functioning properly. But six months later, a tragic incident with similar circumstances occurred in Akron, Ohio. A two-year-old girl sustained fatal injuries when a power seat folded onto her inside a parked Palisade. According to police, the child was pinned and could not be quickly freed.
There were attempts to free the seat, and for quite a long time it was unsuccessful
The delay proved fatal. Upon learning of the incident, Grossman said she was devastated. Following this, Hyundai acknowledged that some customers had expressed concerns about seat operation. The company states it continuously reviews feedback as part of its safety process but declined to comment on individual cases.
Recall and Sales Halt
Following the incident and media inquiries, Hyundai suspended sales of certain 2026 model year Palisade trims and announced a recall covering approximately 68,500 vehicles in the United States and Canada. The recall notice states that power-operated rear seats may pinch passengers.
An interim software update is being implemented to improve how the system detects contact, although a permanent fix is still under development. However, the issue with Grossman’s Palisade has been resolved definitively. She says Hyundai has now agreed to buy back her vehicle, something she requested months ago.
This situation raises important questions about the effectiveness of automakers’ response systems to consumer warnings, especially when it comes to potentially fatal defects. Ashley Grossman’s story shows how critical the delay can be between the first signals of a problem and real action from the company. While a permanent technical solution for tens of thousands of Palisade owners is not yet available, the issue of passenger safety, especially for children, remains open and requires the utmost attention from both the manufacturer and regulatory bodies.
