Hyundai Motor Company announced on Friday that it will cease the sales of certain new Palisade SUV models in Canada and the United States. The company will also recall tens of thousands of these vehicles due to an issue with the power seats. This decision comes after a recent tragic incident in Ohio where a two-year-old girl lost her life.

The automaker has halted sales of the 2026 Hyundai Palisade Limited and Calligraphy trims because the second- and third-row power seats may fail to detect contact with an occupant or object as intended. While no specific details were provided about the incident on March 7, which resulted in the fatality, the company stated that approximately 68,500 vehicles, including around 8,000 in Canada, are included in the recall.

Hyundai expressed its condolences to the family of the child and mentioned that the incident is still under investigation. The company is actively working on a solution for the recall and is offering affected customers rental vehicles until a permanent fix is available, should they require alternative transportation.

In light of this issue, Hyundai is advising caution when using the second- and third-row power seat functions. They recommend ensuring that no person or object is in the seat or seat-folding area before operating the power seat. Additionally, Hyundai is in the process of developing an interim over-the-air software update, expected to be released by the end of March. This update aims to improve the system’s response to contact with occupants or objects, introduce extra operating safeguards, and enhance overall system safety.

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has not yet responded to requests for comments on this matter.