Hyundai is recalling 94,600 Genesis vehicles due to the risk of seat adjustment motors catching fire. The defect can cause overheating and fire even when the engine is off. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.
The problem affects Genesis models from 2015–2017 and G80 sedans from 2017–2020 without the seat memory function. According to Hyundai, a strong external impact on the adjustment switch block can displace internal components and jam the switch. As a result, the electric motor may continue to operate even after the vehicle is turned off and could cause a fire.
The recall covers 51,600 Genesis and 39,900 G80 vehicles. The company estimates that the defect may be present in about 1% of the vehicles.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), two fire incidents related to the seat adjustment mechanism have been recorded in the United States. The first occurred in 2021 with a 2018 Genesis G80, and a second possible case was identified in August 2022.
Hyundai has also received reports of similar incidents in South Korea, but the exact number is not disclosed.
The manufacturer advises owners to park outdoors and to watch for the smell of burning or switch malfunctions. A remedy for the defect is still being developed. Notifications to owners and dealers in the US will begin on December 6, but owners can already check their vehicle by VIN on the NHTSA website.
The premium sedan of the South Korean brand is officially sold in Kazakhstan at a price starting from 28.7 million tenge. However, the current recall applies to vehicles of specific model years and configurations for the American market.
Earlier, Kursiv Auto reported on the recall of nearly 5,400 Hyundai crossovers due to dangerous seats.