2018 Genesis G80

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received eight Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) and eight Kia America, Inc. (Kia) Part 573 Recall Reports between 2016 and 2023. The combined 16 safety recalls all involve the antilock braking system (ABS) modules or Hydraulic Electronic Control Units (HECU) manufactured by the equipment supplier Mando. The Part 573 Recall Reports contain varying defect descriptions and differing remedy descriptions for the same or similar equipment supplied by Mando. Safety recalls included in this Audit Query (AQ) review include: Hyundai recalls 20V-520, 20V-543, 21V-161, 21V-160, 21V-303, 22V-056, 22V-810, and 23V-651. Kia recalls 16V-815, 20V-518, 20V-519, 21V-137, 21V-331, 22V-051, 22V-800, and 23V-652 The purpose of this AQ is to evaluate the timeliness and scoping of Hyundai and Kia’s defect decision making and adherence with reporting requirements; and understand the varying defect descriptions and remedies between these recalls.

This complaint is filed regarding an under-hood thermal fire incident and unauthorized modification involving a federally mandated safety recall for a 2018 Genesis G80 (VIN: [XXX]). To resolve a starting issue, technicians at Van Hyundai in [XXX], bypassed the standard ignition circuit and installed an un-fused manual starter bypass switch kit. This bypass directly conflicted with active NHTSA Safety Recall Campaign 24V107000, which requires a specific fused relay kit (Part 91950-DH15KQQH) to prevent engine fires. This unauthorized, un-fused modification caused a severe electrical short and a subsequent thermal fire incident under the hood. The fire physically melted and destroyed the recall component and adjacent wiring infrastructure. The dealership and corporate office are now refusing to fix the fire damage they caused unless I pay out of pocket. I request an immediate federal investigation into this hazardous repair practice that completely compromised a critical safety recall remedy. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11774214

Incident

Oct 22, 2026

Failing oil pressure sensor which “blinds” the driver of the engines true oil levels. It occasionally causes the car to go into “limp” mode or stall which could cause unnecessary and unreasonable traffic safety hazards. This is a well known and documented critical safety defect by Genesis as they’ve already executed a recall for the issue in their home country / market of South Korea.

NHTSA ID

11773029

Incident

Mar 1, 2026

When negotiating a curve, the steering wheel sticks and does not return to center without the driver forcing the wheel back to the required direction. Instead of a smooth and consistent feeling when turning the wheel, the steering wheel feels "locked" until the driver's force breaks the steering wheel free. In addition, the steering wheel makes a faint but noticeable grinding noise when turned in either direction. No warning lights illuminate.

NHTSA ID

11772248

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Genesis G80. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V664000 (Seats); however, the parts to complete the recall repair were unavailable. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed the parts were unavailable to perform the recall repair.

NHTSA ID

11772053

Incident

Oct 19, 2026

After 2 hours on the road August 1, 2026 (from [XXX] to [XXX]), in 119-degree heat, the AC stopped blowing cold air out of the dash vents. There was cold air coming out of the rear-seat vent. The vehicle became unbearably hot. (Took my wife 2 days to recover from heat exhaustion.) The AC started working properly after the car sat for a few days in [XXX]. The Genesis Escondido service shop has not been able to duplicate the problem. The vehicle is still there at the shop. Genesis Customer Care assigned a case # XXX, but are unwilling to buy the car back, or do anything else except contact Genesis Escondido service dept. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11757185

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

Dear NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, I am submitting this letter to request an urgent review of a recurring and widespread air‑conditioning failure in the 2018 Genesis G80. The AC system consistently shuts off after extended driving and does not cool down when the car starts, especially in high‑heat environments In Texas, cabin temperatures can exceed 120°F, creating conditions that can lead to heat exhaustion or heat‑related illness. This is not an isolated incident. Many owners have reported identical symptoms: AC cooling stops after prolonged operation, airflow continues but without cooling, and the system only resets or thaws after the vehicle sits for an extended period. Despite these repeated complaints, no investigation or recall has been initiated. While AC failure is typically categorized as a comfort issue, the extreme heat exposure caused by this defect presents a legitimate safety concern. Occupants may become ill, visibility can be affected by humidity and fogging, and the failure appears to be tied to HVAC components that may not be functioning as designed.I respectfully request that NHTSA open a defect investigation into this issue to determine whether a safety recall is warranted. Thank you for your time and consideration.

NHTSA ID

11749342

Incident

Jul 9, 2020

Driver side rear door electric latch is stop working and i tried to open the latch manually but the locked latch won't let me but remain locked. I have concerns with the situation because when door latch were broken due to accident, the door would remain locked and passengers would not be able to escape from inside of the car

NHTSA ID

11749002

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Genesis G80. The contact stated that the Check Oil and Low Oil warning light illuminated while the vehicle was idling. The warning lights turned off while driving. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic to be repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,200.

NHTSA ID

11733225

Incident

Apr 9, 2026

Mileage

72,200 mi

This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN). These inflators were not supplied, approved, or authorized by the vehicle manufacturers and have primarily been found in vehicles that previously experienced a crash and underwent airbag replacement using non-genuine parts. These dangerous inflators have ruptured during deployment, posing a serious risk of injury or death due to metal fragments entering the vehicle cabin. To date, Hyundai is aware of three people who have died while driving a Hyundai vehicle with one of these substandard replacement airbag inflators that deployed in what likely would have been a survivable crash. NHTSA has issued a public advisory urging vehicle owners and service professionals to have vehicles inspected if there is reason to believe that a non-genuine replacement airbag may have been installed. Vehicles with salvage or rebuilt titles, prior airbag deployments, or unknown repair histories may present a higher risk. NHTSA strongly cautions against self-inspection by vehicle owners and recommends inspection by trained technicians.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit driver‑side airbag inflators manufactured by Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN), that have been identified in U.S. vehicles following prior crashes, theft, or non‑certified airbag replacements. These inflators are not approved for use, may rupture during deployment, and have caused serious injuries and fatalities. Please see attached announcement, provided by NHTSA, for more details.

This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the headlamp, rear combination lamp, daytime running lamp (DRL), or fog lamp. This TSB illustrates the various causes of condensation inside the lamp assembly. Lamp assembly replacement is NOT necessary in most cases. This condition can be eliminated by turning on the lamps with the engine running for several minutes or during normal driving operation.

This bulletin provides repair information for the dark chrome trim when stains are present. Some stains may occur from hard water or cleaning chemicals used during a car wash. Follow the procedures below to replace the affected dark chrome moldings.

Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Connected Car Services functions. This may be due to an irregular disconnection on Verizon’s communication network. Follow the procedure in this TSB to reestablish the connection by resetting the AVN unit.