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2021 Hyundai Palisade problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
24%
76 of 323 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Hyundai Palisade. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 24% of relevant complaints.

Better than 81% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 116 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 17%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 76 of 323 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Palisade concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 32% and the 2022 scores 26%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
76
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
439
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
8 crashes · 20 injuries

Complaints by component

SEAT BELTS109 · 25%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER83 · 19%
ENGINE58 · 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55 · 13%
VISIBILITY/WIPER48 · 11%
SUSPENSION30 · 7%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
no data
2015
no data
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
no data
2019
no data
2020
32%
153 of 537
2021
24%
76 of 439
2022
26%
60 of 309
2023
21%
66 of 400

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

STRUCTURE,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM05/04/2026CRASH5 INJURED
While driving, the vehicle in front of me stopped suddenly. When I pressed on the brake pedal it felt stuck and did not respond properly. The forward collision automatic braking system did not activate. This resulted in a crash. After the incident, the vehicle had fluid leaks and severe front-end damage and is not driv…
ENGINE09/25/2026
Whatever you do, do not purchase a Hyundai vehicle. Their engines are defective. On XXX, I brought my car in for service at Castle Hyundai, [XXX]. I informed the service representative that I was having issues with my car stopping and automatically applying the braking system intermittently. They looked at the car an…
ENGINE09/23/2026
I have been dealing with the oil consumption issues for this vehicle for about 2 years now. There are documented complaints and a class action lawsuit in California about this issue. Bottom line, the engine burns too much oil to be safely driven between oil changes without the owner checking and adding oil. My partic…

Three of 76 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2021 Hyundai Palisade (6)

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FLUID
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Palisade vehicles. The brake fluid may be contaminated, which can cause the brake master cylinder inner-cup sea…
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
TRAILER HITCHES
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling 2020-2022 Palisade vehicles potentially equipped with a tow hitch harness installed as original equipment, or purchased as an…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2021 Hyundai Palisade

Questions people ask about the 2021 Hyundai Palisade

Does the 2021 Hyundai Palisade have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 76 of 323 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Hyundai Palisade concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (24%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2021 Hyundai Palisade. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Hyundai Palisade years are better?

Among the Hyundai Palisade years we track, the 2023 (21%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (24%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2021 Hyundai Palisade?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 Hyundai Palisade shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.