Genesis Owners Are Being Told To Park Outside, And Not For The Reason You Think

Take just a moment and think about all of the switchgear in your car. If one had to make a list of the top 10 knobs or buttons that might set off a fire, the power-adjustable seat likely would not make the cut. But, owners of almost 95,000 Genesis sedans are now subject to a new recall for exactly that. The brand says that a certain damaged switch can leave the motor running and, in some cases, start a fire. 

In fact, it could even happen after owners have left the car. Specifically, the Korean automaker is recalling 94,622 vehicles, including 2015–2016 Hyundai Genesis sedans and 2017–2020 Genesis G80s. Until a repair is available and completed, affected owners have a clear directive from the brand: Park outside and away from buildings. Usually, that type of approach is reserved for things like fires from modern high-tech automotive components or fuel leaks. This time, it's a simple switch. Notably, this recall is related to the forward/back and height-adjustment switch on non-memory front power seats. 

In other words, if your Genesis G80 or Hyundai Genesis has memory seats, you should be in the clear. For those with non-memory seats, the issue seems to stem from external impacts. Such an encounter can displace or misalign the components inside. If that happens, the switch may remain engaged and continuously powering the seat-adjustment motor. Obviously, most people would notice that, but drivers who position their seat at the limits of the seat adjustment might not. Hyundai says that prolonged operation can overheat the motor and increase the risk of a fire while the vehicle is parked or being driven.

Both driver-side and passenger-side switch assemblies are suspect. Hyundai doesn't explain what sort of impact is sufficient to cause the problem, so there's no basis to say that an ordinary bump from, say, a shoe will trigger the problem. What the automaker does do is give us a little insight as to what to look for in the case that there is an issue. Owners might notice a burning smell from the seat or find that its controls no longer work.

That second warning is particularly easy to dismiss as an annoyance. In this case, though, it could indicate a high-priority issue. So, if you own one of these cars and the switch isn't working, consider bringing the car into a dealer for inspection. In terms of specific figures, the recall includes 54,644 Hyundai Genesis sedans and 39,978 Genesis G80s. Affected owners can check their VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup tool under campaign 26V664. For now, Hyundai — which is launching more than 100 vehicles by 2030 — is developing the remedy. Once available, the repair will be free regardless of whether the vehicle is still under warranty or not.