Hyundai has issued a recall for nearly 100,000 Hyundai Genesis and Genesis G80 sedans for an issue with the power seats. That issue has to do with the motors and the switches controlling them. It’s not just a simple issue of them not working, either.
It’s an issue that can lead to a fire, and is serious enough that these cars should be parked outside.
Motors Can Create Heat, And Too Much Heat Leads To Fires
Of the 94,622 cars recalled, a slight majority involve the 2015 to 2016 Hyundai Genesis, which comes to 54,644 cars. The remaining 39,978 cars are 2017 to 2020 Genesis G80s. They’re all basically the same car, it’s just that Hyundai turned Genesis into its own separate brand for 2017.
genesis g80 rear blue in front of a buildingGenesis
Really, the problem in this recall is more the power seat switch, rather than the motor. According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documentation, the power seat switches on these cars are more susceptible to damage from getting a good whack than they should be. That damage can lead to a switch being stuck in an “on” position, which in turn will keep the related seat motor running continuously. Apparently, this situation can even happen when the car is off and parked.
Of course, a motor that’s running continuously that isn’t designed for it, and which is probably encountering resistance from a lack of any more seat travel, is going to generate lots of heat. That heat can then lead to a fire. The recall documentation notes that two incidents in the US have been reported related to these overheated motors, though fortunately none of them involve crashes, injuries, or deaths.
Hyundai also learned of a few reports related to switch and motor issues in South Korea, too. Even though no one has been hurt in the small number of incidents, owners are advised to park affected vehicles outside and away from buildings or other cars until the issue has been addressed.
What’s The Fix For This?
Frequently, when an automaker issues a recall, it has a solution ready to go. That’s not the case this time. Documentation reveals that Hyundai has no fix and is still working on one. When Hyundai does work out a solution, it will contact owners by mail. Additionally, the repairs will be done at no cost to the owner, and if an owner has had to pay for anything related to the recall, they will be reimbursed.
2020 Genesis G80 front 3/4Genesis
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Every manufacturer runs into situations where a component is faulty and has to issue a recall. Even paragons of reliability such as Toyota and Honda have had to issue their own major recalls. So there’s no reason to judge a vehicle’s or company’s overall reliability track record on any single recall. Of course, this is a fairly serious recall because of the fire risk. Thus, owners should take the advised precautions just to make sure the zero-injury record stays that way.
Also, remember, every recall, no matter how minor, should be addressed, because you paid plenty of money, and you’re owed a vehicle that operates as designed.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
