Buyer Research

2020 Hyundai Palisade — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $26,000–$36,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

The three-row that made buyers take Hyundai seriously as a family brand — genuinely upscale and spacious. First-model-year, so verify the early software and recall work. The 3.8L V6 is proven; the concerns are electronics and a first-year build.

What we checked

Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11

NHTSA holds 529 owner complaints for the 2020 Hyundai Palisade, across 5 recall campaigns.

A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is the engine at 26%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.

5 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.

Not written up yet: glass, wipers and mirrors (132 complaints), the suspension (60 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.

Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.

Known Issues for the 2020 Hyundai Palisade

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

First-year electronics and software gremlinsMedium

Early Palisades had assorted electrical and infotainment bugs addressed by software updates and campaigns. Confirm they were applied.

Repair cost (estimate): $0 at a dealer

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (45).

Ticking/knocking noise campaigns (some engines)Medium

Some owners reported engine noise; verify any related campaigns and that the engine is quiet.

Repair cost (estimate): $0 if covered

Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (135).

Automatic emergency braking false activationsMedium

Reports of phantom braking; test the system.

Repair cost (estimate): $0 software

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Catalytic converter theft targetLow

Check for a shield or replacement.

Repair cost (estimate): $1,200-$2,500

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Software behind current
✗Engine noise
✗Phantom braking on the test drive
✗No dealer service history

Good Signs

✓All software updates and campaigns performed
✓Quiet engine
✓Remaining Hyundai warranty for an original owner

Found a specific Hyundai Palisade?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2020 Hyundai Palisade in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.