Hyundai has recalled 94,622 Genesis sedans because a power seat control can overheat and start a fire, according to documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall covers some 2015 to 2016 Hyundai Genesis sedans and some 2017 to 2020 Genesis G80 sedans, and it carries an unusual instruction: park the car outside until the repair is done.
The problem sits in the seat slider and height adjustment lever on non-memory powered front seats. Hyundai's filing says an external hit can dislodge or damage the control, leaving it locked in the engaged position so the motor runs continuously. Left running long enough, the motor can overheat and potentially catch fire. Only about 1 percent of recalled cars are estimated to pose a danger.
How owners will spot the fault
Hyundai's documents describe two warning signs. The first is power seat controls that simply stop working, which can mean the control has been damaged. The second is a burning smell in the cabin, which should prompt owners to act. Either sign points to the same underlying fault in the seat adjustment mechanism.
The 1 percent failure estimate is low in absolute terms, but a fire that starts while the car is parked near a garage or a building is the scenario the park-outside advice is meant to prevent. A stuck motor that keeps running unattended is exactly the kind of fault that can smoulder overnight.
What Genesis owners should do now
The practical steps are straightforward: confirm the car is covered using the NHTSA lookup, then keep it parked clear of garages, carports and neighbouring vehicles until Hyundai's letter arrives with repair details. Owners who have noticed dead seat controls or a burning odour should treat those as early warnings rather than minor irritations.
Because the remedy is still in development, the timeline for the actual repair has not been announced. The December 6 letters are notification only, not a booking confirmation, so owners should expect a second round of contact once the fix is signed off.
