Used Hyundai Palisade Buying Guide: Years, Calligraphy and Recalls

For a used Hyundai Palisade, the 2020-2022 and refreshed 2023-2025 SUVs share a 291-hp 3.8-liter V6 and an eight-speed automatic, while the 2026 redesign moved to a 287-hp 3.5 V6 plus a 329-hp hybrid. The bigger issue is safety recalls: about 568,000 2020-2025 Palisades are covered by a seat belt buckle recall and a third-row curtain air bag recall, and the remedies were still rolling out this year. Check both by VIN, then test every buckle yourself.

We decoded Palisade patterns in NHTSA's vPIC decoder on October 13, 2026. Every one started with KM8R and came back as Hyundai Motor Co. in Ulsan, South Korea. The 2020-2024 patterns returned the GDI Lambda II 3.8, and a 2026 Calligraphy pattern returned the Lambda-III 3.5. vPIC spells the top trim "Caligraphy" on some years, which looks like a typo, but the trim itself is right. For the other positions, see our Hyundai VIN decoder.

Which years, and what the 2023 refresh fixed

The 2023 update is the sweet spot for most families. In its 2023 drive, Car and Driver confirmed the same 291-hp V6 and eight-speed carried over, and noted that 2023 added second-row side air bags, a massaging driver's seat, and a tow mode on all-wheel-drive models, with towing still capped at 5,000 pounds. A Calligraphy started at $50,835 that year, plus $1,900 for all-wheel drive. The XRT, which Car and Driver describes as a rugged-looking model with 20-inch wheels and blacked-out trim, is a style package. Do not pay extra because a seller calls it the off-road version.

The 2026 is newer, roomier and, honestly, slower. Car and Driver's current Palisade page says the Calligraphy it tested took 8.0 seconds to 60 mph, significantly slower than the old model, largely from extra weight. If you want the newest design, look at the hybrid. If you want the best value, a 2023-2025 Limited or Calligraphy is where the money goes furthest.

The seat belt and air bag recalls

This is the Palisade-specific trap, and it is not the same list as its Kia cousin. Recall 25V-607 covers about 568,600 2020-2025 Palisades whose driver, front passenger and second-row window seat buckles may fail to latch; until the fix, Hyundai told owners to insert the belt firmly and pull on it to confirm it is latched, and dealers replace the buckle assemblies. Recall 26V-034 covers nearly the same population for third-row side curtain air bags that may deploy improperly; dealers add a protective film to the rear window and remove padding, with final letters going out in phases from June 2026.

So on a test drive, buckle every seat you can reach and tug hard. A belt that clicks and then pulls free is the exact failure the recall describes. And if the seller has kids, ask whether the third row was in daily use, because that is the row the curtain bag recall protects.

Other recalls by year

Recall 22V-633 covers about 245,000 2020-2022 Palisades with a tow hitch wiring module, factory or dealer accessory, whose circuit board can short and start a fire; owners were told to park outside until the fuse and wire kit went in. Smaller campaigns are worth a look too. Recall 21V-840 covers 995 2021 Palisades with contaminated brake fluid, and 23V-415 covers 322 2023 SUVs whose brake booster can lose power assist. On 2024 models, recall 24V-106 covers about 4,200 SUVs whose engine valve springs may break, fixed with a new engine sub-assembly. Our Hyundai-Kia engine recall check explains how that differs from the four-cylinder campaigns.

If you are looking at a 2026, two newer recalls hit Limited and Calligraphy trims: 26V-160 for about 61,300 SUVs whose second- and third-row power seats may not detect a person and keep moving, and 26V-169 for third-row buckle wiring that can show a belted seat when it is empty. Run any VIN through our guide to checking recalls by VIN.

Calligraphy wear, title and history

A Calligraphy has nappa leather and powered everything, which is lovely on day one and costly when a seat motor or trim panel fails out of warranty. Push every seat button, try the power-folding third row, and look at bolster wear. Car and Driver notes the Palisade shares a platform with the Kia Telluride, but the Kia is built in Georgia and the Palisade in Ulsan, and the recall lists differ. If the Palisade is more SUV than you need, our used Hyundai Santa Fe guide covers the next size down.

CARFAX says its reports can show title brands, odometer readings and reported accidents. Order it yourself; seller PDFs can be edited. As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us is about $5.50 as a guest or about $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle is about $6.75, versus roughly $39.99 to $44.99 at retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian.

Sources

• NHTSA vPIC VIN Decoder
• NHTSA: Hyundai recall report 25V-607 (seat belt buckles)
• NHTSA: Hyundai recall report 26V-034 (third-row curtain air bags)
• NHTSA: Hyundai recall report 22V-633 (tow hitch module fire)
• Car and Driver: 2023 Palisade drive
• Car and Driver: Hyundai Palisade
• CARFAX: Vehicle History Reports