Used car safety, rank #141 of 188
Hyundai Palisade 2WD Safety Rating (2020-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2020-23 Hyundai Palisade 2WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
IIHS 2026 edition Β· 2021β2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits Β· Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2020-23 Hyundai Palisade 2WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 61 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24, which is 154% above the class average. That places it #141 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 32.2/100.
What the Hyundai Palisade death rate means
At 61 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Hyundai Palisade 2WD is 154% worse than the midsize SUVs average of 24. The 95% confidence interval is 25 to 96, entirely above the class average, so the gap is unlikely to be chance.
The other-driver death rate of 59 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Hyundai Palisade. Its 95% confidence interval is 29β89. It is no higher than the Hyundai Palisade's own driver death rate. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Hyundai Palisade 2WD highlighted. It ranks 9 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas 2WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 16) | 89.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (1 to 13) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Atlas 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 16) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Telluride 2WD | 2020-23 | 8 (0 to 22) | 84.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Bronco 4WD | 2021-23 | 10 (1 to 19) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2022-23 | 10 (0 to 23) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander hybrid 4WD | 2020-23 | 11 (1 to 20) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 4WD | 2022-23 | 11 (0 to 25) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Hyundai Palisade 2WD (this page) | 2020-23 | 61 (25 to 96) | 32.2 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Hyundai Palisade
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Hyundai Palisade we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Hyundai Palisade | TSP+ | 96.8 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 32.2 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Hyundai Palisade 2WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Park outside
1 campaign tells owners to park away from buildings and other vehicles, usually a fire risk. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
5 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering air bags, seat belts, power train, service brakes, hydraulic, visibility/wiper.
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Air bags: side/window, curtain
Risk: Improper side curtain air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: 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.
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Seat belts: rear/other, buckle assembly
Risk: Seat belt buckles that fail to latch may not properly restrain occupants in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
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Power train: automatic transmission, fluid/lubricant, pump Park outside
Risk: An electric oil pump assembly that overheats increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
Remedy: 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.
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Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist
Risk: A loss of power brake assist can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake booster as necessary, free of charge.
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Visibility/wiper
Risk: Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side windshield wiper arm, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Hyundai Palisade 2WD: Common Questions
Is the Hyundai Palisade 2WD a safe car?
Not on this measure: its drivers died at a higher rate than its class average. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 61 per million registered vehicle years for the 2020-23 Hyundai Palisade 2WD, 154% above the class average (24 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 32.2 out of 100 and rank #141 of 188 used vehicles.
What is the Hyundai Palisade 2WD driver death rate?
61 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 25 to 96. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Hyundai Palisade died at a rate of 59 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2020-23 models.
How does the Hyundai Palisade 2WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24 driver deaths per million; the Hyundai Palisade 2WD sits at 61. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 9 by safety score; the top of that group is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD with a death rate of 5.