Hyundai recalls Palisade SUVs with faulty wipers following US government investigation

Fountain Valley, CA – April 2, 2023 – Hyundai (NASDAQ: HYMTF) has recalled 167,085 2021-2023 Hyundai Palisade SUVs because their windshield wipers may fail to operate. This reduces visibility, increasing the risk of a crash and injury. 

This recall, which comes on the heels of an ongoing U.S. government investigation, is an expansion of a previous one conducted for the same issue in August 2022. 

Recall summary  

Windshield wipers are held in place and moved with a metal arm, which is mounted to the wiper mechanism with an electric motor. 

In affected vehicles, snow and ice may build up around the wiper arm’s base and obstruct its movement. This may result in the wipers stopping to work.

The component causing this recall is the driver’s windshield wiper arm, with part number 98311-S8000. 

Recall risks

Inoperable windshield wipers will reduce the driver’s visibility, especially in harsh weather, which increases the risk of a crash and injury.  

Background of the recall 

This windshield wiper problem was first spotted on Hyundai Palisade models made before the end of November 2020 around three years ago and was addressed during a recall in August 2022. However, soon after, the U.S. government auto safety regulator, the National Transportation Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched an investigation to access the adequacy and scope of that recall as it was revealed that SUV made after November 2020 were also potentially affected. The present recall is a direct result of the investigation.

Other Hyundai recalls

Apart from this Hyundai Palisade recall, vehicles made by this manufacturer have been plagued by various issues causing them to catch fire.  Aside from this, the manufacturer is currently dealing with an ongoing issue with its seat belt pretensioners, which so far resulted in seven recalls.

The repair

Dealers will replace the driver’s windshield wiper arms with an upgraded version, which is not prone to snow and ice accumulation. The repair will be free of charge.

Owners will be notified on May 16, 2023. 

Is your vehicle part of this recall?

More than 160,000 SUVs are recalled over this Hyundai windshield wiper failure. To do a Hyundai recall check and see if yours is one of them, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool

Bojan PopicHyundai recalls Palisade SUVs with faulty wipers following US government investigation

Hyundai under investigation for recent Palisade windshield wipers’ recall

Fountain Valley, CA – December 18, 2022 – The U.S. government’s auto safety regulator is investigating Hyundai (NASDAQ:HYMTF) regarding “the scope and remedy” of a recent recall conducted for faulty windshield wipers.

The investigation could result in a recall of an additional 126,081 cars, including the following:

  • 2021 Hyundai Palisade
  • 2022 Hyundai Palisade
  • 2023 Hyundai Palisade

Investigation summary

The regulator, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), has opened a probe on December 2, 2022 on the back of six complaints about windshield wiper failures in winter conditions. According to these complaints, the wiper motor would work intermittently or malfunction due to accumulated snow or ice. 

Hyundai previously initiated 2020–2021 Hyundai Palisade recalls involving 122,919 vehicles in August 2022 over the problem. However, the vehicles included in the present investigation were not part of that recall.

Risks

Defective windshield wipers prevent drivers from seeing the road clearly when driving in rainy or wintry conditions, increasing the risk of the vehicle crashing.   

Other Hyundai recalls

In September, NHTSA placed Hyundai and sister company Kia under investigation for an estimated 5.2 million vehicles over allegations of a sudden and severe oil leak that can lead to the engine stalling and an increased risk of an accident. In November, Hyundai also recalled 14,928 electric and plug-in vehicles over exploding seat belt pretensioners that pose an increased risk of fire.    

Is your vehicle part of a recall?

More than 126,000 vehicles could be recalled as a result of this Hyundai windshield wiper investigation. To do a Hyundai recall check for your vehicle, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.

Joseph EstabilloHyundai under investigation for recent Palisade windshield wipers’ recall