Component Affected: Electrical / Interior Cabin Comfort / HVAC SystemsDescription of Defect:I am reporting an active thermal defect in the dashboard footprint of my 2021 Genesis GV80 AWD 3.5T. Following a 35-to-40-minute dynamic road test under engine load, severe heat migrates directly from the engine compartment into the passenger cabin. The instrument cluster panel and surrounding dashboard structures reach an extreme, verified temperature of 110°F, while the adjacent passenger vents measure standard cooling at 80°F.This severe cabin heat soak began immediately following an authorized dealership replacement of the air conditioning evaporator coil, requiring complete dashboard disassembly. The thermal failure strongly indicates a compromised bulkhead/firewall seal, displaced steering column boot, or an uninstalled engine-bay thermal insulation blanket, which allows high-temperature engine bay heat and air pressure to blow directly into the vehicle's internal electronic housing components.Safety Hazard:An instrument cluster panel reaching 110°F poses an immediate safety hazard. It creates a severe cabin driver distraction, generates a risk of physical burns upon contact with vehicle instrumentation, and risks causing a thermal breakdown or electrical fire within the vehicle's primary digital dashboard wiring harness.Dealer/Manufacturer Actions:Two separate authorized Genesis retailers have refused to conduct a 40-minute dynamic road test to recreate the thermal failure. Technicians performed only a brief, 3-minute static idle test inside a shop bay and declared the vehicle "operating as designed." Genesis Motor America corporate customer care has used these insufficient 3-minute static shop tests to prematurely close my consumer safety case. The manufacturer refuses to diagnose this vehicle under dynamic driving loads or inspect the firewall seals under the 12-month dealer repair workmanship warranty. No crash or injury has occurred yet, but the thermal risk remain
No injuries · No fire · No crash
I am filing an official complaint against Genesis Motor America for failing to provide a free and accessible remedy for an active, mandatory safety recall on my 2021 Genesis GV80 Genesis has closed and removed all physical dealerships from my entire state, creating an absolute geographic barrier to service. Corporate representatives have acknowledged the safety risk and offered to tow the vehicle 400 miles to the nearest out-of-state dealership. However, they are refusing to provide a round-trip transport return ticket, demanding instead that I personally travel 400 miles out of state to retrieve the vehicle upon completion of the safety repair. Furthermore, they refuse to provide a direct-billed loaner vehicle or alternative mobility, instead instructing me to pay out-of-pocket for an open-ended rental and apply for a "case-by-case" reimbursement later. Under federal law, safety recalls must be executed entirely free of charge and without placing undue logistical or financial burdens on the consumer. By forcing a 400-mile retrieval trip and open-ended financial exposure for alternative transit, Genesis is violating the "free remedy" provision of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. I request that the NHTSA review Genesis Motor America's handling of recall compliance for owners stranded by their recent dealer network restructuring.
No injuries · No fire · No crash
On June 23, 2026, while operating my 2021 Genesis GV80, the vehicle's entire infotainment and system software rebooted without warning as I was leaving a parking lot. As a direct result of this reboot, the driver seat automatically moved out of my saved position. I was no longer able to reach the pedals and could not properly control the vehicle. This incident occurred while the vehicle was in motion. It took me several minutes to safely bring the vehicle to a stop, at which point I turned the car off and restarted it. Upon restart, all of my saved settings had been wiped. This is a safety defect, not a minor software issue. A seat repositioning without driver input while a vehicle is in motion constitutes a loss of vehicle control. Had this occurred at highway speed the consequences could have been fatal. I am aware that Genesis issued Safety Recall 031G for mid-drive infotainment reboots on other GV80 model years. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether this defect extends to 2021 model year vehicles and whether a recall expansion is warranted.
No injuries · No fire · No crash
Vehicle was parked in a residential garage with the engine off. A [XXX] child was secured in a rear driver-side car seat. The key fob was inside the vehicle on the passenger side. After the final door was closed, an adult immediately attempted to reopen the driver's door and found it locked. All vehicle doors were locked despite the key fob remaining inside the vehicle. No warning beeps, alerts, or messages were observed before or during the lockout. The cause is UNKNOWN. The vehicle appeared to lock with the key fob and child occupant inside. The outside temperature was approximately 90°F, and the garage was significantly hotter. The child was trapped inside for approximately 5–7 minutes, crying and visibly sweating. Because access could not be gained through any door, the passenger-side window had to be broken to rescue the child. This incident created a serious safety risk due to heat exposure and the inability to access a child occupant. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer or dealer at the time of this report. The suspected malfunction involves the electronic door locking and/or key detection system, but the exact cause is UNKNOWN. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
No injuries · No fire · No crash
Vehicle was brought in for a recall repair related to a water leak through the sunroof. The repair took over 30 days. The manufacturer directed me to rent a vehicle from a specific rental company and promised reimbursement at $80 per day. The manufacturer is now refusing to reimburse the full rental duration and has capped reimbursement at 60 dollars per day, leaving me out of pocket. The recall repair was confirmed by the dealer and completed by the dealership.
No injuries · No fire · No crash