Is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade a bad year?
542 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Palisade years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Palisade are in line with other Palisade years. Visibility and wipers and seat belts stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2020 Palisade owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 5,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility and wipersSTANDS OUT | 131 (24%) | 2k–10k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat beltsSTANDS OUT | 51 (9%) | 36k–83k miles · ahead | — |
| Engine | 140 (26%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| SuspensionSTANDS OUT | 61 (11%) | too few with a mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 46 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 40 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 26 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 25 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 17 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 15 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 15 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 12 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Trailer hitch | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 5,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 542 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 7 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 15 say the car was towed.
117 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2020 Hyundai Palisade: 5
The side curtain air bags for third-row occupants may deploy improperly in a crash. Improper side curtain air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.
The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch. Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Debris and moisture accumulation on the tow hitch harness module printed circuit board (PCB) may cause an electrical short, which can result in a fire. A fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail. Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The mounting bolts used to secure the side curtain air bags may damage the side curtain air bags during deployment. Damaged side curtain air bags may not inflate properly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Hyundai: 163
Repair instructions Hyundai sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2020 Hyundai Palisade. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit engine oil leakage at the engine oil filter housing assembly due to deterioration of the housing seal
Diagnose and replace, if necessary, an automatic transmission with Incorrect Ratio DTC (transmission clutch slip in gear above limit) listed on Page 2
Some vehicles may exhibit a slight coolant leak at the radiator
Diagnose the push button shifter operation
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Inadvertent Seat Belt Unlatch
Neighbouring years
2021 Palisade: 448 complaints, keep it.
Every Hyundai Palisade year
2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Palisade years side by side
Other Hyundai models: Hyundai Accent · Hyundai Azera · Hyundai Elantra · Hyundai Elantra Touring · Hyundai Entourage · Hyundai Genesis · Hyundai Genesis Coupe · Hyundai Ioniq 5 · Hyundai Kona · Hyundai Kona Electric · Hyundai Santa Cruz · Hyundai Santa Fe · Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid · Hyundai Santa Fe Sport · Hyundai Sonata · Hyundai Sonata Hybrid · Hyundai Tiburon · Hyundai Tucson · Hyundai Tucson Hybrid · Hyundai Veloster · Hyundai Veracruz · Hyundai XG350. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade a bad year?
542 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Palisade years. At 5,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Hyundai Palisade?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: visibility and wipers (131), seat belts (51), engine (140), suspension (61), electrical system (46).
How many recalls does the 2020 Hyundai Palisade have?
5 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 26V-034), Seat belts (NHTSA 25V-607), Trailer hitch (NHTSA 22V-633), Visibility and wipers (NHTSA 22V-627) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.