Instead of exuding that exhilarating new-car smell, the Hyundai Palisade large crossover smells like "garlic breath" or "old worn socks," some owners lament.
Hundreds of Palisade owners have complained about the foul aroma on Internet forums. A Hyundai spokesperson told The Drive last week that the automaker was aware of the odor problem and was working on "identifying and validating a fix." The automaker said it planned to give dealers instructions to resolve the issue — once it determined how exactly to do that.
The funky smell appears to be limited to Palisades equipped with the premium nappa leather seats and reportedly becomes strongest after the vehicle has been driven for a few thousand miles.
Cars.com said it conducted a "CSI: Car Smell Investigation" on the Palisade it bought as a yearlong test vehicle. Managing Editor Joe Bruzek said the 2020 Palisade Limited has "a sharp chemical odor with a dash of something organic like garlic or rotten produce, and it started at the arrival of 90-degree days in the Chicago area, where Cars.com is headquartered." He said a local dealership thinks replacing the headrests should finally clear the air but that the parts have been on back order for more than two months.
