Child’s Death Prompts Hyundai Recall

Hyundai is recalling certain Palisade sport utility vehicles and warning dealers to stop selling the cars following the tragic death of a child.

A two-year-old Ohio girl reportedly died after a power seat in a Palisade SUV collapsed and trapped her. The child was sitting in the third row passenger seat in the vehicle while her parents were shopping nearby when the seat collapsed, according to news reports. 

Hyundai is now recalling some 70,000 new Palisade and Palisade Hybrid SUVs, the automaker told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The company is still trying to determine the “root cause” of the problem and how to fix it, Hyundai said.

Meanwhile, a California woman says she tried to warn the company about the safety issue months before the child’s death. The woman said her toddler was also trapped in a folding seat, a harrowing experience that happened on the very first day she drove her Palisade SUV.

“In a message sent in September, she described the issue as 'urgent' and said it directly affected passenger safety,” CarScoops reports. “She also shared her concerns publicly, on social media, claiming the seat continued moving even when occupied.”

Here is how Hyundai described the defect in a March recall report: “The 2nd and 3rd row power seat assemblies equipped in the subject vehicles may not respond to contact with an occupant or object as intended during activation of certain powered seat functions, including the automatic power-folding (stow) function and the “one-touch” tilt-and-slide (walk-in) feature of the 2nd row power seat assembly.”

“If contact with an occupant or object occurs without recognition during operation of these powered seat functions, there may be an increased risk of injury,” Hyundai added.

The tragedy puts an exclamation point on safety issues that have plagued Hyundai and its drivers. 

The automaker, for example, late last year recalled some 300 vehicles across models whose side airbags may not properly deploy in the event of a crash. The move came months after the company’s Kia brand said it would recall some 39,000 Sorrento SUVs due to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning defect that could increase fire risk. 

California Lemon Law Rights for Hyundai Drivers

Californians have important rights and protections regarding malfunctioning and defective cars. You do not need to wait around for a recall to get your car fixed, with the vehicle manufacturer picking up the tab.

The California lemon law generally requires carmakers to perform various repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also forces them to buy back covered vehicles that they are unable or unwilling to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the car’s purchase price, as well as financing fees, rental car costs, and other related expenses.

There is no specific number of repair requests or attempts required before the buyback or replace requirement kicks in. An experienced lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action.

Speak with a Sacramento Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a Sacramento lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a Sacramento lemon law attorney.