Hyundai, Genesis Recall 94K Sedans Over Seat Motor Fire Risk

Federal safety regulators are urging owners of nearly 95,000 Hyundai and Genesis luxury sedans to immediately stop parking their vehicles inside garages or near structures due to a defect that can cause the front seat motors to overheat and ignite.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the recall covering 94,622 vehicles after identifying a flaw in the power seat adjustment switches. The campaign targets 39,978 model year 2017 through 2020 Genesis G80 sedans alongside 54,644 model year 2015 and 2016 Hyundai Genesis models.

The mechanical failure centers on non-memory power seats equipped with slider and height adjustment control switches. According to NHTSA documentation, external force applied to these switches can dislodge or damage them. Once compromised, the switch may become stuck in the engaged position, forcing the seat adjustment motor to run continuously even after the driver or passenger has exited the vehicle and locked the doors.

Prolonged operation of the motor generates excessive heat. Hyundai estimates approximately 1% of the recalled fleet contains the specific defect, though the automaker confirmed awareness of two separate incidents involving alleged fires linked to the malfunctioning components. No crashes or injuries have been reported in the United States as of Oct. 1.

Owners should monitor for early warning signs before a fire starts. A persistent burning odor emanating from the cabin or front seat area, combined with power seat control switches that no longer respond to input, indicates the motor may be running uncontrollably. Because the hazard persists while the ignition is off, the risk remains elevated when the car is unattended overnight.

NHTSA recommends parking affected vehicles outdoors, well away from homes, other cars, or combustible structures, until a repair is completed. Hyundai is currently developing a permanent remedy for the defect. Once finalized, owners will receive notification by mail directing them to bring their vehicles to an authorized Hyundai dealer or Genesis retailer for a free repair.

The urgency of the parking directive reflects a broader pattern in automotive safety enforcement regarding electrical fire risks. Unlike mechanical failures that typically require the engine to be running, electrical shorts and stuck relays in comfort systems can trigger thermal events hours after a vehicle is parked. Recent months have seen multiple large-scale recalls across the industry addressing similar dormant-fire hazards, including campaigns involving high-voltage battery systems in plug-in hybrids and steering column electronics in heavy-duty trucks.

For consumers attempting to verify whether their specific sedan falls under this campaign, the vehicle identification number can be checked directly through the NHTSA recall lookup portal or by contacting Hyundai and Genesis customer service channels.

Hyundai Motor Co. trades over-the-counter in U.S. markets under the ticker HYMLF.