Hyundai Recalls 94,622 Genesis Sedans Over a Seat Switch That Can Catch Fire

Hyundai Recalls 94,622 Genesis Sedans Over a Seat Switch That Can Catch Fire

Hyundai Motor America is recalling 94,622 Genesis sedans in the United States because a power seat control switch can jam in the "on" position, leaving the seat motor running after the driver walks away — and hot enough, in some cases, to start a fire whether the car is moving or parked with the engine off.

A switch that jams in the "on" position

The part at fault is the slider and height-adjustment switch used on front power seats without memory presets. According to documents Hyundai filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, that switch can be dislodged or damaged when it takes a hard enough external impact, shifting internal components out of alignment. Once that happens, the switch may stay engaged instead of springing back to neutral.

The motor keeps running after you leave

Because the switch remains engaged, the seat adjustment motor keeps operating continuously — even after the occupant has left the vehicle and the ignition is off. NHTSA's filing states that "prolonged motor operation over time may result in overheating, thereby increasing the risk of a vehicle fire while driving or parked." That last clause is why the recall comes with an unusual instruction: park the car outside.

94,622 cars, two badges, one generation

The campaign covers 54,644 Hyundai Genesis sedans from model years 2015 and 2016, sold before Genesis was spun off as a separate luxury brand, and 39,978 Genesis G80 sedans from model years 2017 through 2020. Both are the same DH-generation car with different badges. Autoevolution, citing the filing, reports that the Genesis cars were built in South Korea between February 2014 and February 2016, and the G80s between March 2016 and November 2019. Neither model is still in production.

NHTSA campaign 26V664, filed October 8

Hyundai submitted the recall paperwork to NHTSA on October 8; the agency announced it on Thursday, October 15. The defect report number is 26V664, and owners can search it by VIN.

Two alleged fires in the U.S., no injuries

Hyundai told regulators it is aware of two incidents in the U.S. market described in the filing as "alleged fires" tied to the defect. As of October 1, 2026, the company said it had no reports of crashes or injuries connected to the condition. Hyundai estimates that roughly 1 percent of the recalled vehicles actually carry the defect.

Hyundai knew about a case in 2021

The chronology is long. According to records summarized by the Associated Press, Hyundai first learned of the problem in December 2021 through an internal "Speak Up For Safety" report involving a 2018 Genesis G80. A second case surfaced in August 2022; Hyundai recovered the seat parts the following year, concluded that an external impact had damaged the switch, and took no further action. Field reports stayed at low levels through July 2024. The calculation changed in July 2026, when Hyundai received additional reports from the South Korean market of power seat switch overheating. That review led to the U.S. recall three months later.

Owners are told to park outside

Until a repair exists, Hyundai is telling owners to park affected cars outdoors and away from buildings, other vehicles and structures. The advice matters most for households that normally garage the car or park it tight against a house. NHTSA's notice points to two warning signs: a burning odor coming from the seat, or a seat control switch that no longer responds. Either one should prompt the driver to stop, shut off the car, get out and contact a dealer. The second symptom is easy to write off as a nuisance; here it may mean the switch has already stuck.

No fix yet; letters go out in December

The remedy is still under development. Under the plan filed with NHTSA, dealers receive repair instructions on December 6, and owner notification letters are expected to be mailed around December 7. VINs became searchable on October 13. Hyundai says the repair will be free regardless of whether the vehicle is still under warranty, and owners who paid out of pocket for related work can seek reimbursement under the plan filed with the agency.

Who to call

Hyundai owners can reach the company at 1-855-371-9460; Genesis owners at 844-340-1200. Until the letters arrive and the fix is performed, the parking guidance stands.