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 the federal safety agency 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)
The worst 2018 Genesis G80 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical23
- Engine16
- Steering16
- Airbags9
- Wheels9
- Brakes7
- Transmission5
- Body4
- Tires4
- Driver assistance3
- Lights2
- Seats2
- Visibility2
- Locks1
- Suspension1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2018 Genesis G80
Trouble codes owners of the 2018 Genesis G80 mention
B1378 2
Recalls 7
Seats: front assembly: power adjust
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Genesis) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Hyundai Genesis, and 2017-2020 Genesis G80 vehicles. The front power seat motors may overheat due to a stuck power seat control switch, which can result in a fire while parked or driving.
- Risk
- A fire increases the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park their vehicles outdoors and away from other vehicles or structures until the repair has been performed. The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 7, 2026. Owners of Hyundai vehicles may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Genesis owners may contact Genesis customer service at 844‑340‑9741. Hyundai recall number for this recall is 308 and Genesis' recall number is 035G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on beginning October 13, 2026.
Recall number 26V664000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Genesis G80, 2017-2022 G90, and 2019-2022 G70 vehicles equipped with a 3.3-liter V6 turbocharged engine. The left turbocharger oil feed pipe may deteriorate and leak oil.
- Risk
- An oil leak in the presence of hot engine components can increase the risk of an engine compartment fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the left turbocharger oil feed pipe, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 3, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 019G. This recall expands and replaces recall number 19V‑538. Vehicles previously repaired under 19V‑538 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Recall number 24V191000 · Recall details
Electrical system: starter assembly: solenoid
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Genesis, 2017-2019 Genesis G80, Genesis G90, and 2019 Genesis G70 vehicles. Water may enter the starter solenoid and cause an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
- Risk
- An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will install a remedy relay kit in the engine junction box, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 15, 2024. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 254(H) and 018G(G).
Recall number 24V107000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: control unit/module
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Genesis and 2017-2020 Genesis G80 vehicles. The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) module could malfunction and short circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short circuit inside the ABS module could cause an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
- Remedy
- Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the remedy is complete. Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ABS module fuse, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2021. Owners can contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's numbers for this recall are 201 and 006G.
Recall number 21V160000 · Recall details
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Genesis G80 and 2017-2018 Genesis G90 vehicles equipped with 3.3 liter turbocharged engines. The turbocharger oil supply pipe may have a loose seal, causing oil to leak onto the exhaust manifold.
- Risk
- Oil leaking onto the exhaust manifold increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply pipe, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2019. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 003G.
Recall number 19V538000 · Recall details
Air bags: sensor: occupant classification
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Genesis G80 vehicles. The Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly detect that an adult is in the passenger seat, even if the seat is unoccupied. In the event of a crash, if a child or infant is in the seat, the front passenger air bag may deploy instead of being deactivated.
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, if the front passenger air bag deploys instead of being deactivated when a child or infant are in the front passenger seat, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the OCS, free of charge. The recall began August 24, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 002G.
Recall number 18V496000 · Recall details
Visibility: glass, side/rear
- What is wrong
- Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2018 Hyundai Genesis G80 and Genesis G90 vehicles. The windshield and rear window on these vehicles may have been installed with incorrect primer, potentially reducing the glass bonding strength.
- Risk
- If the glass bonding strength is reduced over time, the windshield and rear window may detach while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front and rear glass, free of charge. The recall began on July 6, 2018. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1‑855‑371‑9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 001G.
Recall number 18V305000 · Recall details
See all 7 recalls for the 2018 Genesis G80
Defect investigations
Hyundai and Kia ABS Module Fires
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.
AQ23002
Technical service bulletins for the 2018 Genesis G80 98
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the...
- The federal safety agency has issued an urgent safety advisory regarding dangerous, counterfeit...
- The federal safety agency has identified the presence of substandard and dangerous driver’s-side airbag...
- This bulletin provides information regarding condensation related to the accumulated moisture in the...
- This bulletin provides repair information for the dark chrome trim when stains are present
- Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Connected Car...
- Certain Genesis vehicles may experience an inoperable horn from moisture or carbonization at the contact point
- Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service...
- Some vehicles may exhibit a loss of connectivity or interruptions in the middle of using Bluelink Service...
- This procedure provides repair information for the dark chrome trim when stains are present
2018 Genesis G80 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | RWD | 19 | 27 | 22 |
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | AWD | 18 | 25 | 20 |
| 3.3L 6‑cyl | AWD | 17 | 24 | 20 |
| 3.3L 6‑cyl | RWD | 17 | 25 | 20 |
| 5.0L 8‑cyl | RWD | 16 | 24 | 19 |
| 5.0L 8‑cyl | AWD | 15 | 23 | 18 |
What 2018 Genesis G80 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
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.
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.
The contact owns a 2018 Genesis G80. The contact received a recall notification for the federal safety agency 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.
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)
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 the federal safety agency open a defect investigation into this issue to determine whether a safety recall is warranted. Thank you for your time and consideration.
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
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.
⭐ 1. The Airbag Control Unit (ACU) and associated restraint‑system components appear to have malfunctioned. The Event Data Recorder shows inconsistent airbag deployment staging, a pretensioner firing while the belt was recorded as unbuckled, a seat‑track sensor fault, unsupported occupant‑classification data, incomplete curtain‑airbag deployment during rollover, and missing crash‑event data. Yes, the vehicle and the full 29‑page EDR report are available for inspection upon request. ⭐ 2. The restraint system did not protect the occupants as expected. I suffered chest injuries from hitting the steering wheel, and my passenger sustained injuries to their hand and arm. These injuries occurred because the driver airbag did not deploy correctly, the pretensioner logic was inconsistent, and the curtain airbags did not deploy on the driver side despite multiple full vehicle rotations. The system’s irregular behavior increased the risk of serious injury or death. ⭐ 3. No. The issue occurred during a crash event and cannot be safely reproduced. However, the malfunction is confirmed by the vehicle’s own Event Data Recorder, which documents the deployment irregularities, sensor faults, and data‑integrity issues. ⭐ 4. The vehicle was inspected by insurance representatives after the crash. The manufacturer has not performed an engineering‑level inspection of the Airbag Control Unit or restraint‑system logic. The EDR report was obtained through the insurance process and serves as the primary source documenting the malfunction. ⭐ 5. No warning lamps or messages appeared prior to the crash. There were no symptoms indicating that the airbag or restraint system would malfunction. The failures were only discovered after reviewing the Event Data Recorder.
The contact owns a 2018 Genesis G80. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact's vehicle was involved in a crash. The contact stated that the vehicle crashed into a deer, and then crashed into a hill. The vehicle spun around three times and rolled over after crashing into the hill. The front driver's air bag did not deploy. The contact stated that no warning lights were illuminated. A Police report was filed. The contact sustained bruises to the chest and back pain. The passenger who was seated in the front passenger's seat sustained bruises. No medical treatment was provided at the scene of the crash, however the contact later visited her primary physician. The vehicle was towed to the contact's family members' residence and later towed to the contact's residence. The insurance inspection confirmed that, according to the EDR, the front diver's air bag skipped stage one. In addition, the contact was informed that an unknown recall had been initiated for the front passenger's air bag for the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that the aftermarket seat covers were the cause of the steering wheel's functionality not functioning as intended. The contact was informed that the aftermarket seat cover was the cause of the driver's side air bag not deploying. The contact stated that the seat covers were purchased after the crash to cover the damaged seats as a result of the crash. The failure mileage was approximately 126,000.
Compare the 2018 Genesis G80
Other model years
Questions about the 2018 Genesis G80
Is the 2018 Genesis G80 reliable?
Owners have filed 99 complaints about the 2018 Genesis G80, 9.0 times a typical G80 model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2018 Genesis G80 year score?
The 2018 Genesis G80 scores 5 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Genesis G80: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Genesis G80?
Electrical system, with 23 complaints. Next is engine (16).
How many recalls does the 2018 Genesis G80 have?
7 recalls, covering seats, engine and engine cooling and electrical system.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Genesis G80 electrical?
Yes, 1 recall: 24V107000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Genesis G80 have the most electrical problems?
The Genesis G80 model years with the most electrical complaints are 2018 (23 complaints) and 2017 (22 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2018 Genesis G80 get?
Official estimates for the 2018 Genesis G80 range from 18 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 19 city and 27 highway.
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