Hyundai Palisade: common faults & what to check

Which Hyundai Palisade are you looking at?

2 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Petrol

1 variant documented

2020–nowLX22020–nowLX23.8 V6 petrolPetrolDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Ki hoon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Diesel

1 variant documented

2020–nowLX22020–nowLX22.2 dieselDieselDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Ki hoon via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Hyundai Palisade

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Hyundai Palisade before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Look under the rear bumper for a tow hitch and its wiring plug.

  See why

  Tow-hitch wiring harness fire risk (accessory hitch only)

  Palisades fitted with the genuine accessory tow hitch can suffer an electrical short in the hitch wiring module if moisture and debris get into its circuit board, which in the worst case can start a fire while driving or even parked and switched off. This was a formal recall in the US (NHTSA 22V-633 / Hyundai Campaign 235) covering 2020-2022 cars with the accessory hitch. Cars without a factory tow hitch are not affected. NZ/AU-delivered and imported cars should be checked to confirm the fix (fuse removal / harness kit) was carried out.

  What you would notice

  • Burning-plastic smell near the rear bumper
  • Blown fuse for the trailer lights
  • Trailer lights not working
  • Scorch marks near the hitch wiring

  Typically $0–$400 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Confirm typical owner driving pattern.

  See why

  2.2 CRDi A8LH Diesel DPF Blockage in City/SUV Use

  The 2.2-litre diesel Palisade is frequently purchased as a family SUV used predominantly for school runs and suburban driving — exactly the usage profile that blocks DPFs. The large, heavy Palisade demands more fuel in urban stop-start conditions, loading the DPF with soot faster than passive regeneration can clear it. Owners report DPF warning lights within the first 50,000-80,000 km of predominantly suburban use. Documented across the R2.2 engine family in Palisade, Santa Fe, and Tucson in NZ and AU markets.

  What you would notice

  • DPF warning light on dashboard
  • Significant power reduction and activation of limp mode
  • Excessive white or grey exhaust smoke during attempted active regen
  • Increased fuel consumption as regen cycles become more frequent

  Typically $1,000–$3,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Ask how the car is used — mostly city or open road.

  See why

  2.2 diesel DPF/EGR clogging on short urban trips

  The 2.2 turbo-diesel Palisade (the common NZ/AU drivetrain) uses a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and EGR that need regular longer, warm drives to burn off soot. A car used mainly for short school-run and city trips can clog the DPF, triggering warnings, limp mode and eventually a forced or failed regeneration. Carbon can also build up in the EGR and intake. It is a use-pattern problem: a highway-driven example is usually fine, a city-only one may have a blocked or replaced DPF in its future.

  What you would notice

  • DPF or engine warning light
  • Loss of power / limp mode
  • Strong diesel/sooty smell
  • Poor fuel economy and frequent regens

  Typically $400–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Check ATF colour and condition on dipstick or via service plug — should be clear red.

  See why

  8-Speed Automatic Transmission Valve Body Solenoid Wear

  The Palisade 3.8 V6 petrol uses an 8-speed automatic whose solenoid pack and valve body are susceptible to wear from extended ATF intervals or towing use. Symptoms include harsh or delayed shifts, particularly from a cold start, and shudder during low-speed maneuvering. The issue mirrors the same platform transmission used in the Stinger and is documented in independent transmission rebuild workshops across AU and NZ. ATF service at 60,000-80,000 km intervals is the primary preventive measure.

  What you would notice

  • Harsh upshift from first to second gear, especially when cold
  • Hunting or flaring between gears at highway cruise
  • Shudder at low speed during parking maneuvers
  • Transmission warning light activation

  Typically $1,400–$3,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Pull the dipstick and check the oil level and colour.

  See why

  3.8 V6 petrol oil consumption and A/C pulley TSB

  Early 3.8 V6 petrol Palisades (roughly 2020-2021 build) have reports of higher-than-normal oil consumption as they age, with some owners topping up regularly between services; ignored, low oil accelerates wear. Hyundai also issued a service bulletin for A/C compressor pulley alignment on 2020-2022 builds, which can cause a squeal or belt problem. Neither is guaranteed on every car, but both are worth checking on a big, thirsty V6 that gets worked hard towing.

  What you would notice

  • Oil level dropping between services
  • Blue-ish puff of smoke on cold start
  • Squeal or chirp from the front of the engine
  • Burnt-oil smell at idle

  Typically $300–$2,500 to put right.

Hyundai Palisade service schedule

What falls due, and at what distance, for each generation of the Hyundai Palisade. These are the model’s intervals — the car’s own service book is the only thing that can tell you what has actually been done to it.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Hyundai Palisade’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• DPF Repair and Replacement Cost
• EGR Valve and Cooler Repair Cost

Other Hyundai models