2023 Hyundai Palisade

Trims, performance, features, fuel economy, safety and known problems — with the pros and cons against similar 2023 models.

Hyundai Palisade
Pictured: Hyundai Palisade 2.5T Calligraphy LX3 Creamy White Pearl (46) (cropped). Photo: Damian B Oh, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Body styles
4dr SUV AWD, 4dr SUV FWD
Engines
3.8L 6-cyl
Transmission
8-speed automatic
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Seats
7
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
MPG (best)
22 combined · 19 city / 27 hwy
Length
196.5 in
Curb weight
4,145–4,314 lb
NHTSA rating
★★★★★
Recalls
5 campaigns

Pros & cons

What's good

  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Seats up to 73 rows of seating.
  • 5-star NHTSA safety ratingTop overall score in federal crash tests.
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

Watch out for

  • Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 22 MPG combined, 20% below the 2023 small SUV average of 27.4 MPG.
  • Many owner complaints408 complaints filed with NHTSA versus about 76 for similar models — most often about the service brakes.
  • "Park outside" recallCheck that the recall repair was done before buying or driving.

Calculated from EPA, NHTSA and vPIC data against 26 similar 2023 models — not a review. How we calculate this →

Overview

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade is a small SUV offered with a 3.8L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.

It measures about 197 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 114-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,314 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

EPA rates its most efficient version at 22 MPG combined (19 city / 27 highway), 20% worse than the 2023 small SUV average of 27.4 MPG, for an estimated $3,050 a year in fuel.

In NHTSA crash testing it earned the top 5-star overall rating.

It has 5 recall campaigns on file and owners have filed 408 complaints with NHTSA since 2015, most often about the service brakes.

What changed for 2023

No changes to engines, powertrains, drivetrains, size, EPA ratings or NHTSA crash rating compared with the 2022 Palisade — a carry-over year in the data.

Compared with 2022; trim, feature and price changes aren't covered. See the 2022 Palisade →

Trims, performance & features

Engine–3.8L
Transmission8-speed automatic
DriveAWD/4WD
Seating7 seats · 3 rows

Trims

CaligraphyLimitedXRTSEL Prem

Safety & driver-assist features

Automatic emergency brakingStandard
Pedestrian emergency brakingStandard
Forward collision warningStandard
Blind-spot monitoringStandard
Rear cross-traffic alertStandard
Rear automatic brakingStandard
Lane departure warningStandard
Lane keeping assistStandard
Adaptive cruise controlStandard
Parking assistStandard
Backup cameraStandard
Automatic high beamsStandard
Keyless startStandard
LED headlightsYes

Built in: Ul-San, South Korea

NHTSA vPIC, as reported by the manufacturer for 5 2023 Palisade configurations; may not list every trim. How we calculate this →

Dimensions & weight

BodyLengthWidthHeightWheelbaseTrack F / RCurb weightWeight F/R
4dr SUV AWD196.5 in78 in68.9 in114.2 in66.9 / 66.9 in4,314 lb56/44
4dr SUV FWD196.5 in78 in68.9 in114.2 in66.9 / 66.9 in4,145 lb57/43

Transport Canada CVS (Open Government Licence – Canada), Canadian-market figures.

Will it fit your garage? Check with your measurements →

Engines, MPG & running costs

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCity / Hwy / Combvs. classFuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Palisade FWD3.8L 6-cylAutomatic (S8)Front-Wheel Drive19 / 27 / 22-20%$3,050406
Palisade AWD3.8L 6-cylAutomatic (S8)All-Wheel Drive19 / 25 / 21-16%$3,200422
5/10EPA fuel economy score (best version)
5/10EPA greenhouse gas score
Spend $3,250Fuel over 5 years vs. average new car
27.4 MPG2023 Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD average

EPA estimates; "vs. class" is combined MPG against the 2023 EPA class average. How we calculate this →

Safety ratings & technology

VersionOverallFrontalDriver / passengerSideSide poleRolloverRollover risk
2023 Hyundai Palisade SUV AWD★★★★★★★★★★5★ / 5★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★14.3%
2023 Hyundai Palisade SUV FWD★★★★★★★★★★5★ / 5★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★15.9%
StandardElectronic stability control
StandardForward collision warning
StandardLane departure warning
Frontal crash test — 2023 Hyundai Palisade SUV AWD
Frontal crash test — 2023 Hyundai Palisade SUV AWD. Photo: NHTSA.
Side crash test — 2023 Hyundai Palisade SUV AWD
Side crash test — 2023 Hyundai Palisade SUV AWD. Photo: NHTSA.

Similar 2023 small SUVs

ModelBest MPG / rangeNHTSA overallRecalls
2023 Hyundai Palisade (this car)22 MPG★★★★★5
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime38 MPG★★★★★2
2023 Toyota 4Runner17 MPG★★★★★1
2023 Ford Explorer27 MPG★★★★★15
2023 Toyota Highlander36 MPG★★★★★9
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee23 MPGNot rated23
2023 Kia Telluride23 MPG★★★★★6

Recalls (5)

Safety advisory: 1 recall for this model year carries a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Check your VIN now.
Air Bags › Side/Window › Curtain · Jan 22, 2026

NHTSA campaign 26V034000 · 568,576 vehicles

Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The side curtain air bags for third-row occupants may deploy improperly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 226, "Ejection Mitigation."
Risk
Improper side curtain air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix
Dealers will install a protective film over the rear window and remove padding, as necessary free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed beginning March 13, 2026. Final remedy owner letters will be mailed in phases, beginning in June 2026 and expected to continue through December 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 292. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 24, 2026.
Seat Belts › Rear/Other › Buckle Assembly · Sep 11, 2025

NHTSA campaign 25V607000 · 568,580 vehicles

Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Palisade vehicles. The seat belt buckles in the driver, passenger, and second-row window seats may fail to latch.
Risk
Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix
Passengers are advised to insert the belt firmly into the buckle with a quick and direct motion, pulling on the belt to confirm the seat belt is fully secured, until the recall remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the seat belt buckle assemblies, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed beginning October 23, 2025. Final remedy owner letters will be mailed in phases, beginning in June 2026 and expected to continue through December 2026. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 283. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 13, 2025.
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Fluid/Lubricant › Pump · Jul 27, 2023 Park outside

NHTSA campaign 23V526000 · 52,109 vehicles

Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Palisade Tucson, 2023 Sonata, Elantra, and Kona vehicles. The electronic controller for the Idle Stop & Go oil pump assembly may contain damaged electrical components that can cause the pump controller to overheat.
Risk
An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Fix
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will inspect and replace the electric oil pump controller, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed starting September 7, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 246.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist · Jun 8, 2023

NHTSA campaign 23V415000 · 322 vehicles

Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2023 Palisade vehicles. The brake booster diaphragm may become misaligned and cause an internal vacuum leak, which can result in a loss of power brake assist.
Risk
A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will inspect and replace the brake booster as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 245.
Visibility/Wiper · Mar 17, 2023

NHTSA campaign 23V180000 · 167,085 vehicles

Problem
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Palisade vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may operate intermittently or fail to operate due to snow or ice buildup on the windshield, causing the wipers to fail.
Risk
Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix
Dealers will replace the driver-side windshield wiper arm, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 15, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 243. This recall is an expansion of recall number 22V-627.
Check your VIN for open recalls at NHTSA ↗

Not every 2023 Hyundai Palisade is affected — only a VIN check confirms your car.

Owner-reported problems

408Complaints to NHTSA since 2015
6Involved a crash
1Involved a fire
2Injuries reported
18,000 miTypical mileage at failure
Service Brakes80
Seat Belts75
Unknown Or Other74
Visibility/Wiper53
Engine38
Electrical System38
Power Train38
Suspension26
Complaints received per month (last 24 months with reports)
24/10: 1424/11: 325/01: 2125/02: 825/03: 425/04: 425/05: 225/06: 225/07: 825/08: 925/09: 1025/10: 725/11: 825/12: 826/01: 626/02: 526/03: 2026/04: 1426/05: 1126/06: 226/07: 826/08: 1126/09: 526/10: 824/1025/0225/0525/0825/1126/0226/0526/08max 21

Unverified owner reports; best-sellers collect more.

Used 2023 Hyundai Palisade buyer's checklist

  1. Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 5 recalls this year — ask for proof of repairs.
  2. Safety-critical recall. At least one recall carries a "Do Not Drive" or "Park Outside" warning. Do not buy until the VIN shows it was repaired.
  3. Service Brakes — 80 owner reports. Brake firmly from speed; check for pulling, pulsing pedal or ABS warning light.
  4. Seat Belts — 75 owner reports. Confirm the airbag warning light turns off after start-up and any airbag recall was completed.
  5. Visibility/Wiper — 53 owner reports. Check all exterior lights, wipers and the windshield for cracks.
  6. Mileage to watch. Owners typically reported problems around 18,000 miles; ask what was repaired near that point.
  7. Before you pay: service records, a history report and an independent inspection.

Generated by DecodedCars from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the 2023 Hyundai Palisade. Not a substitute for a professional inspection.

Other Palisade years

Compare all years →
YearMPG (best)LengthOverallRecallsComplaints
2027 Palisade34–Not rated05
2026 Palisade34–Not rated3135
2025 Palisade22196.5 in★★★★★3254
2024 Palisade22196.5 in★★★★★5397
2022 Palisade22196.1 in★★★★★5316
2021 Palisade22196.1 in★★★★★6447
2020 Palisade22196.1 in★★★★★5541

Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Transport Canada, Wikimedia Commons. Not affiliated with NHTSA, the EPA or Hyundai. How we calculate this →