Genesis Recall: 94,622 Sedans Pulled Over Seat Fire Risk

Hyundai Motor America is pulling roughly 94,622 Genesis sedans from the road because front power seat motors can overheat and ignite a fire. The agency already knows of two alleged fires in the United States and has told owners to park outdoors, away from buildings and other cars.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall covers 54,644 Hyundai Genesis sedans from model years 2015 and 2016, plus 39,978 Genesis G80s from 2017 through 2020. Those are the same vehicle with a different badge; Genesis split from Hyundai in the U.S. for the 2017 model year. In total, the recall population is 94,622.

The fault lies in front power seats without memory settings. The seat slider and height control switch can become dislodged or damaged, stay engaged, and keep the adjustment motor running after the driver gets out of the car. The motor then runs continuously. That can produce a burning smell or leave the control switch dead, and in at least two U.S. cases it has led to fire, whether the vehicle is moving or sitting parked. There have been no injuries or crashes tied to the fires, according to the report.

The remedy is not ready yet. Hyundai said notification letters will go out on December 7, 2026, and that it is still developing the fix. When it is available, owners must take the car to a Hyundai or Genesis dealer for inspection and repair at no charge. In the meantime, the automaker recommends outdoor parking.

Owners can reach customer service at 1-855-371-9460 and cite recall number 308 for Hyundai or 035G for Genesis. The NHTSA site lets them verify coverage using a vehicle identification number.

This follows a nearly identical fire problem in the Kia Telluride reported a few months earlier, where a seat motor defect drew the same kind of outdoor-parking warning. It also adds to a crowded 2026 recall calendar for Hyundai and Genesis. That year already included a stop sale and recall of more than 61,000 Palisade SUVs over a powered rear seat that a child became trapped in, a fault that ended in a death. April brought two seat-belt actions: nearly 300,000 Hyundai and Genesis vehicles for anchors that could detach in a crash, and about 50,000 Kona crossovers for buckles that could fail to latch.

Hyundai points to a generally strong safety record even as the number of defects mounts. Many models have earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Top Safety Pick+ award.