2021 Genesis GV80 Owner Complaints

Air conditioner evaporator core failure. Air conditioner stopped working. Took vehicle to shop and was told by dealer this was a common problem and that TSB 25-HA-002G was issued concerning this problem. After researching vehicle online, I found a Facebook page with numerous other owners having the same problem. Local dealer told me it would cost $3700 to repair. This vehicle is five years old and although the Genesis Corporations is aware of the problem (TSB) they seem to be pushing the repair of a defective product off onto the customers.

NHTSA ID

11762876

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

This complaint concerns Manufacturer Recall 033G (NHTSA Recall 26V229000) for a fuel crossover pipe with retention fasteners that may loosen over time, creating a fuel leak and engine compartment fire risk. The vehicle has not yet received the recall remedy because the nearest authorized Genesis retailer capable of performing the repair is over 620 miles round trip. The recall filing states that Genesis will reimburse owners for out-of-pocket expenses incurred to obtain the remedy, in accordance with a reimbursement plan submitted to NHTSA on March 2, 2026. I contacted Genesis's National Consumer Affairs team and requested written pre-approval of round-trip transportation costs consistent with that filed reimbursement plan, so I could arrange transport without paying out of pocket on an uncertain after-the-fact review. Genesis responded that they are unable to provide advance approval or written authorization for any round-trip transportation, mileage, fuel, or other travel-related costs. They stated only that a one-way tow may be considered for reimbursement after the recall is completed, subject to review and approval, with no commitment on the return trip. As a result, completing this safety recall requires me to pay for transportation costs out of pocket with no guarantee of reimbursement, despite Genesis's own filed commitment to reimburse expenses incurred to obtain the remedy. This creates a practical barrier to completing a safety recall that is supposed to be free of charge, particularly for owners who do not live near an authorized retailer. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether Genesis's actual practice is consistent with the reimbursement plan it submitted for this recall.

NHTSA ID

11761773

Incident

Sep 1, 2026

Component Affected: Electrical / Interior Cabin Comfort / HVAC SystemsDescription of Defect:I am reporting an active thermal defect in the dashboard footprint of my 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD 3.5T. Following a 35-to-40-minute dynamic road test under engine load, severe heat migrates directly from the engine compartment into the passenger cabin. The instrument cluster panel and surrounding dashboard structures reach an extreme, verified temperature of 110°F, while the adjacent passenger vents measure standard cooling at 80°F.This severe cabin heat soak began immediately following an authorized dealership replacement of the air conditioning evaporator coil, requiring complete dashboard disassembly. The thermal failure strongly indicates a compromised bulkhead/firewall seal, displaced steering column boot, or an uninstalled engine-bay thermal insulation blanket, which allows high-temperature engine bay heat and air pressure to blow directly into the vehicle's internal electronic housing components.Safety Hazard:An instrument cluster panel reaching 110°F poses an immediate safety hazard. It creates a severe cabin driver distraction, generates a risk of physical burns upon contact with vehicle instrumentation, and risks causing a thermal breakdown or electrical fire within the vehicle's primary digital dashboard wiring harness.Dealer/Manufacturer Actions:Two separate authorized Genesis retailers have refused to conduct a 40-minute dynamic road test to recreate the thermal failure. Technicians performed only a brief, 3-minute static idle test inside a shop bay and declared the vehicle "operating as designed." Genesis Motor America corporate customer care has used these insufficient 3-minute static shop tests to prematurely close my consumer safety case. The manufacturer refuses to diagnose this vehicle under dynamic driving loads or inspect the firewall seals under the 12-month dealer repair workmanship warranty. No crash or injury has occurred yet, but the thermal risk remain

NHTSA ID

11757976

Incident

Jul 18, 2026

I am filing an official complaint against Genesis Motor America for failing to provide a free and accessible remedy for an active, mandatory safety recall on my 2021 Genesis GV80 Genesis has closed and removed all physical dealerships from my entire state, creating an absolute geographic barrier to service. Corporate representatives have acknowledged the safety risk and offered to tow the vehicle 400 miles to the nearest out-of-state dealership. However, they are refusing to provide a round-trip transport return ticket, demanding instead that I personally travel 400 miles out of state to retrieve the vehicle upon completion of the safety repair. Furthermore, they refuse to provide a direct-billed loaner vehicle or alternative mobility, instead instructing me to pay out-of-pocket for an open-ended rental and apply for a "case-by-case" reimbursement later. Under federal law, safety recalls must be executed entirely free of charge and without placing undue logistical or financial burdens on the consumer. By forcing a 400-mile retrieval trip and open-ended financial exposure for alternative transit, Genesis is violating the "free remedy" provision of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. I request that the NHTSA review Genesis Motor America's handling of recall compliance for owners stranded by their recent dealer network restructuring.

NHTSA ID

11757241

Incident

Jul 15, 2026

On June 23, 2026, while operating my 2021 Genesis GV80, the vehicle's entire infotainment and system software rebooted without warning as I was leaving a parking lot. As a direct result of this reboot, the driver seat automatically moved out of my saved position. I was no longer able to reach the pedals and could not properly control the vehicle. This incident occurred while the vehicle was in motion. It took me several minutes to safely bring the vehicle to a stop, at which point I turned the car off and restarted it. Upon restart, all of my saved settings had been wiped. This is a safety defect, not a minor software issue. A seat repositioning without driver input while a vehicle is in motion constitutes a loss of vehicle control. Had this occurred at highway speed the consequences could have been fatal. I am aware that Genesis issued Safety Recall 031G for mid-drive infotainment reboots on other GV80 model years. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether this defect extends to 2021 model year vehicles and whether a recall expansion is warranted.

NHTSA ID

11746299

Incident

Jun 23, 2026

Vehicle was parked in a residential garage with the engine off. A [XXX] child was secured in a rear driver-side car seat. The key fob was inside the vehicle on the passenger side. After the final door was closed, an adult immediately attempted to reopen the driver's door and found it locked. All vehicle doors were locked despite the key fob remaining inside the vehicle. No warning beeps, alerts, or messages were observed before or during the lockout. The cause is UNKNOWN. The vehicle appeared to lock with the key fob and child occupant inside. The outside temperature was approximately 90°F, and the garage was significantly hotter. The child was trapped inside for approximately 5–7 minutes, crying and visibly sweating. Because access could not be gained through any door, the passenger-side window had to be broken to rescue the child. This incident created a serious safety risk due to heat exposure and the inability to access a child occupant. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or dealer at the time of this report. The suspected malfunction involves the electronic door locking and/or key detection system, but the exact cause is UNKNOWN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11745316

Incident

Jun 19, 2026

Vehicle was brought in for a recall repair related to a water leak through the sunroof. The repair took over 30 days. The manufacturer directed me to rent a vehicle from a specific rental company and promised reimbursement at $80 per day. The manufacturer is now refusing to reimburse the full rental duration and has capped reimbursement at 60 dollars per day, leaving me out of pocket. The recall repair was confirmed by the dealer and completed by the dealership.

NHTSA ID

11738054

Incident

Mar 26, 2026

AC has failed. It’s a common issue with this year make and model. Evaporator Core

NHTSA ID

11736090

Incident

May 8, 2025

Purchased CPO 2/28/24. Water intrusion defect manifested 5/28/24 (3 months) with electrical failures and dampness odor. Active leak discovered 9/25 - water leaked onto passenger during operation. CHILD HEALTH EMERGENCY: My daughter required THREE emergency room visits for severe allergic reactions after riding in vehicle - suspected mold/biological contamination from water intrusion. MANUFACTURER RESPONSE: Vehicle out of service 139 DAYS for warranty repairs (11/1-12/6/25: 35 days; 12/18/25-4/1/26: 104 days). Genesis inspection 1/19/26 but REFUSED to provide report claiming "attorney-client privilege." Genesis denied buyback 2/13/26. CURRENT CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE: Vehicle returned 4/1/26. Passenger side view mirror now non-functional (safety hazard for lane changes/merging). WATER LEAK HAS RETURNED - same leak, same dampness odor. The "permanent repair" FAILED after only 2 weeks. Dealership REFUSING all repairs. 12/18/25 INCIDENT: While driving in rain, multiple safety system warnings illuminated simultaneously (forward collision warning, stability alerts) - suspected water damage to electrical systems. SYSTEMIC DEFECT CONCERN: Online research shows MULTIPLE 2021-2024 Genesis GV80 owners reporting identical water intrusion from sunroof drainage system failures. This appears to be manufacturing/design defect affecting many vehicles. REQUESTING: 1. Safety investigation of 2021-2024 Genesis GV80 sunroof drainage systems 2. Potential recall for water intrusion defect 3. Investigation of health hazards from mold/contamination 4. Investigation of manufacturer concealing defect inspection findings DANGER: Water intrusion causing electrical failures creates fire risk, safety system failures, and biological contamination health hazards. Children at highest risk for mold exposure injuries.

NHTSA ID

11732830

Incident

Apr 25, 2024

Notice condensation building up in driver side headlamp, then I received LED lights failure warning ⚠️ as i was driving. Now i driver side signal is not working some times and now i have about 7 warnings on dash from headlamp failure to collision sensor going off. I know since car is a 2021 and i'm the second owner it's out of warranty, but i speculate that this problem probably known now look at other reports and it only had 35K miles when I purchased it.

NHTSA ID

11731358

Incident

Apr 7, 2026

I'm reporting moisture in the driver headlight. I noticed a little moisture when I purchased it in October 25(used). Of course the warranty is up and the extended warranty doesn't cover replacement of assembly. Which is very pricey over $2000. I took it to the dealership to get it looked at but at the time it was still working but flickering alot, now it's completely out. I asked was it cracked and the service guy said no, this is something that we see sometimes. I didn't have any warning lights on prior to it going completely out. Now I can't get an expectation tag because of the headlight assembly needing to be changed. This is something Genesis must look into or offer warranties that cover expensive parts like that. It's definitely a hazard when both lights aren't working properly. I'm torn between trying to get it fixed or just letting the vehicle be repossessed and start over with something with a better warranty. I current have 6 alerts on dashboard since the light is completely out.

NHTSA ID

11729582

Incident

Dec 29, 2025

Component: Exterior Lighting / Headlamps Vehicle: 2021 Genesis GV80 VIN: [XXX] Mileage at Failure: 77,000 Complaint: The front left headlamp on my 2021 Genesis GV80 failed completely after visible moisture and condensation accumulated inside the lamp housing for approximately one week. There was no impact, damage, or tampering. The Genesis service center inspected the vehicle and confirmed the failure was caused by moisture intrusion consistent with Genesis Technical Service Bulletin 23‑BD‑002G (“Information for Lamp Condensation”). This condition is also documented with NHTSA under XXX The failure resulted in a complete loss of headlamp function, creating a significant safety hazard while driving at night. Genesis Customer Care initially informed me that if the dealer confirmed the failure was consistent with the TSB, the repair would be covered under goodwill. After the dealer confirmed the defect, Genesis corporate declined to cover the repair due to the vehicle being out of warranty, despite the failure being caused by a known manufacturer defect affecting visibility and safety. I am filing this complaint because the defect is safety‑related, documented by the manufacturer, and resulted in the loss of primary forward lighting. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11727543

Incident

Feb 22, 2026

The contact owned a 2021 Genesis GV80. The contact stated that the instrument cluster was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the instrument cluster had failed and needed to be replaced at the owner's expense. The contact declined to pay for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving 70 MPH at night, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The contact stated that upon opening the front driver's side door, the contact noticed that there was smoke coming from under the vehicle. The contact walked to the front of the vehicle and noticed flames coming from under the hood, by the windshield connecting point. The fire was extinguished by the fire department, but there was no report filed. The police arrived at the scene but failed to file or to provide a police report to the contact. There was no reported injury. The contact stated that the vehicle burned to the ground. The dealer was contacted but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it was deemed a total loss by the manufacturer. The contact stated that the manufacturer had previously advised that the vehicle would be towed to a third laboratory for analysis; however, the manufacturer had failed to do so and had sent field technicians, who took pictures of the burned vehicle instead. The manufacturer then informed the contact that no assistance would be provided because the manufacturer was not liable for the failure, per the technician's report. The contact inquired a copy of the report and was informed that the copy could not be provided because it was private data. Additionally, the manufacturer advised the contact that he would need to retain the vehicle to pursue the matter. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V630000(Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

NHTSA ID

11724760

Incident

Dec 29, 2025

Mileage

95,000 mi

Vehicle is experiencing sudden loss of drive power without warning. There is no error code, nor dashboard indicator (check Eng, etc.). It suddenly just loses power - engine still running. This loss of motive-power safety condition is identical to the fuel pump cavitation issue, consistent with the NHTSA recall 23V630000. My VIN is currently not on the recall, but was manufactured exactly in the mid- range of the June - Dec 2021 production, that has had the recall. Built in the August-Sept 2021 timeframe. Currently in the shop for troubleshooting. Can provide repair invoice at a later date. I think this issue is larger than the recall suggests.

NHTSA ID

11722543

Incident

Mar 4, 2026

The passage side headlight has moistures in it. They said run the engine for 30 minutes so it will dissolve and it didn't. And now the headlights not working and its $2,000 to get it replace.

NHTSA ID

11708009

Incident

Nov 17, 2025

Condensation has appeared in the driver side headlight. It has caused the headlight and blinker to stop working. In addition, several warning lights have appeared on the dash indicating the following operations are no longer working.... Driver Attention Warning System, Forward Safety System, Lane Change Assist system, Lane Departure Warning System and High Beam Assist. While the driving assist systems may be optional functions, the lack of headlight and blinker are, in my opinion, safety issues. Certainly, the car would not pass a safety inspection in the state of Virginia and, as a result, I would not be able to register the vehicle. Genesis has known of the headlight condensation problem for years and has issued several TSB's, yet they continue to build cars with a known safety issue. In my opinion, a safety recall should be implemented and Genesis should be required to repair the problem at their expense.

NHTSA ID

11693268

Incident

Oct 1, 2025

2021 gv80. Drivers side headlight failed while on vacation. Had newly formed condensation in headlight and must have shorted it had to drive back home with no turning signal and no headlight. Had the shop look at it when I got home and confirmed the unit was bad. Dealer is charging around 2,500-3,000.00 for headlight replacement

NHTSA ID

11685469

Incident

Aug 30, 2025

MY HEADLIGHT WENT OUT. IT HAS WATER CONDENSATION IN IT DECEMBER 2023 NEEDS TO BE RECALLED

NHTSA ID

11684227

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

my cluster went black. No dash lights. No speedometer. no odometer. no cruiz control nothing works. the 2022-23-124 47,000 have been recalled .. Why not the 2021? Its the same part.. tHIS IS A DISASTER. TOTALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE .

NHTSA ID

11684226

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Genesis GV80. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the horn independently activated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred several times. In addition, the driver's side door had to be unlocked, and additional tasks were performed to disable the horn. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact believed that the failure was due to the rear seat sensor. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11681990

Incident

Sep 20, 2024

Mileage

40,000 mi

I have had my GV80 prestige since 2021. Recently the headlights started developing moisture in them. I found out this is an issue with a lot of the genesis. The lights are poorly designed causing water to flow down through the headlights into the light module which makes all the lights on that side of the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle will not pass safety inspection. Currently Genesis advertise that they are out of stock on the drivers side light. So you will be without a vehicle until they make more. My car is currently sitting at the Genesis dealership waiting on parts. This has happened to a lot of genesis owners. Should be a recall item, but it’s not. I

NHTSA ID

11681968

Incident

Jul 4, 2025

Seal on headlight and turn signal failed during a rainy day letting Condensation into assembly and burned out unit. Dealer verified the issue and wants $4200 for the part plus labour and taxes. Many complaints online about same problem. 0

NHTSA ID

11681313

Incident

Jul 18, 2025

The component that failed is the driver side headlamp and blinker. It collected condensation from a manufacturer defect that Genesis will not take accountability for. They over tightened the screws which caused hairline cracks in the assembly, which then causes condensation in the housing. The condensation cause the headlight and blinker to stop working altogether. This is a major safety issue and put me at risk of danger from cars not knowing where I am turning, or not being able to see me at all without a headlight. No, it doesn't need confirmed. It is not hard to tell when a headlight is out. There is literally no light.

NHTSA ID

11655976

Incident

Apr 19, 2025

Subject: Safety Complaint – Fuel Door Malfunction on Genesis Vehicle Dear NHTSA, I am writing to formally file a safety-related complaint regarding a fuel door malfunction on my Genesis vehicle. This defect has left me unable to access the fuel tank, presenting a serious safety risk—particularly the possibility of being stranded without fuel, which poses a threat to both driver and passenger safety. I have been informed by both Genesis Customer Care and the Genesis dealership in Huntsville, Alabama that this issue is common and recurring across multiple Genesis models. It is not the result of wear and tear, and is unrelated to mileage. This is a design or mechanical flaw that directly compromises vehicle operability. Despite acknowledgment that this is a known defect, Genesis has refused to resolve the issue under warranty, even though it is clearly a safety-related failure. I have attempted to escalate the matter internally, but have encountered delay, avoidance, and a refusal to take accountability. If this defect were to leave me or my family stranded without access to fuel—especially in extreme weather or on a busy highway—it could result in severe consequences. I believe this issue merits formal investigation and potential recall consideration. I respectfully request that the NHTSA review this issue and consider initiating an investigation to determine whether a recall or safety bulletin is warranted. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

NHTSA ID

11655243

Incident

Apr 3, 2025

I have genesis GV 80 3.5 AWD. They gave 3 year connected service feature then after we have to pay every year. I not took this service, I realize it not showing any maintenance or oil change notification. When I contacted genesis on 844-340-9741 then they even don't pull when last oil change done. They said you must pay for connected service then maintenance service will show. This is basic feature it must show without additional charge. When contacted them on toll free number they told me you have manual so calculate by your self every 7500 miles need to change oil. It's written in manual. Otherwise it will not show until you not pay money. Who going to check manual? This is basic feature "MAINTENANCE REQUIRED" even coming in my Toyota corolla.

NHTSA ID

11652864

Incident

Apr 4, 2025