Engine and fuel-related issues are the main cause of complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Hyundai’s luxury SUV, the Genesis GV80 is, according to the automaker, based on “core principles of quality, reliability, and durability.” They say that it offers “the lap of performance luxury.” But when the engine stalls and/or shuts down, and the fuel pump fails, owners are less than impressed. These issues make the recall of 65,517 Genesis vehicles due to exploding seat belt pretensioners, pale by comparison. Nevertheless, there are a few complaints that relate to seat belts that warrant a mention.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2021 2023
Most of the complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2022 Genesis GV80 relate to the engine and fuel system. Often these are reported as combined issues. Other components highlighted in complaints are the powertrain and seat belts.
There is one recall for 65,517 Genesis vehicles, including certain 2020-2023 GV80s. Dated February 16, 2023, it states that notification letters were mailed to owners on April 14, 2023.
A widespread problem with Hyundai vehicles, the recall warns that seat belt pretensioners may explode. If this happens, metal fragments may be projected into the vehicle, striking occupants and injuring them. While dealers will “secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge,” the recall indicates that the “final remedy” is not yet available. There was a previous recall affecting Genesis vehicles. But anyone who had the problem fixed then “will need to have the new remedy completed” when it is available!
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Electrical System | |
| Seat Belts | |
| Air Bags | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| Power Train | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:engine Control Module (ecu/ecm) | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings |
Most of the engine problems reported to the NHTSA in the form of complaints are also regarded as gasoline fuel system or fuel/propulsion system problems. However, even those combined under duplicate headings are all very similar. Most involve rattling or shaking of vehicles and/or stalling.
One complaint that doesn’t mention these problems is filed under the Fuel System, Gasoline category. Initiated by an owner in New York, it draws attention to a fuel smell in the cabin. The owner discovered that fuel was leaking from under the engine cover. The SUV was taken to a dealer who provided a loaner of the same year make and model. But within a few days, the same failure occurred with the loaner GV80. Interestingly, “the dealer diagnosed that the low-pressure fuel line had been chewed and damaged by rodents. The low-pressure fuel line was replaced and the vehicle was retrieved.” But a few days later, the failure reoccurred. There is no record of what happened after this, or what happened with the loaner vehicle.
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An owner in Georgia states that the engine of the GV80 makes a lot of noise and the car shakes. A light showing an engine malfunction was also illuminated. Hyundai said it was a software issue and the SUV needed an update. But the next day, the problem recur. The owner states that it feels unsafe to drive this vehicle. “What if the engine fully breaks down mid-drive leaving me stranded?”
Another owner reports a check engine light had the GV80 towed to a dealer. They said it was a dirty coil and fixed the problem. Only they didn’t, because 2 days later it happened again, with the engine rattling and stalling. The dealer said it was “bad fuel”. Then they decided it was a malfunctioning fuel injector that they replaced. A week later the engine stalled again and the GV80 was towed back to the dealer. The complaint was lodged more than 2 months later. “They have replicated the problem and still can’t fix the problem. Have been without a vehicle for 3 months now. No loaner or rental car provided.”
An owner from Arizona also reports a stalling issue. “The vehicle is not safe, especially when the vehicle stalls while operating in traffic.” After this had happened many times in different situations, the dealership was also able to replicate the problem 3 times. But, states the complaint, they couldn’t get an error code to fix the issue. The dealership “refused to keep the vehicle and to provide a loaner vehicle, despite validating that an issue existed with this vehicle and at least four other Genesis GV80 vehicles in Arizona.” Then they said “they would replace the high-pressure fuel pump, which was an issue in the 2021 GV80 that resulted in a recall.”
An owner from North Carolina also experienced a stalling issue that seemed as if the GV80 wasn’t getting fuel. “It has stalled on the open highway and when pulling off from a stop. The vehicle has completely shut off several times in the middle of traffic at the stop light or entering the highway.”
An owner from Tennessee says in an NHTSA complaint that the SUV randomly shuts down at low RPMs while driving. A Genesis service manager confirmed that this was “happening to other GV80 owners.” The issue was confirmed to be a faulty fuel pump, “but they are on backorder so I am left to drive a very unsafe vehicle until they get this part in.”
Compounding the problem, the issue doesn’t show up with any of the diagnostic tools, and check engine lights never come on. Also, according to the complaint, “my connected car health always shows healthy, but my car has literally shut down on the interstate and in the middle of many roads it is horrifying.” The service manager told this owner that one of his customers “told him he only drives in the right lane now so he can pull off quickly when his GV80 dies. This is a much bigger and more dangerous issue, please look into it!”
Apart from the seat belt recall, there are complaints from owners, including the fact that the parts needed for the repair are not available. Owners aren’t happy to drive a vehicle that needs this type of recall.
“I am really concerned about driving my vehicle due to the recall. Can the repair be expedited? I have called the dealership multiple times and cannot repair (it) due to the solution not (being) presented by Genesis. Is there any way that this can be resolved so I can get back to driving my vehicle?”
Another seat belt complaint states that it doesn’t retract properly. Often it has slack so has to be “tugged multiple times or pulled all the way out and then tugged with harder pressure to fully retract properly. This is not safe to drive around as the additional slack does not protect me in the event of a crash or accident.”
When the owner took the car to the dealership to be repaired, “I was told I needed to book an appointment. The service manager simply tugged on the seat belt until it retracted and told me I was good to go for the time being, which did not satisfy my safety concern.”
One wonders, with the serious seat belt pretensioner recall still pending, how seriously some representatives of the 2022 Genesis GV80 take this kind of issue!
The 2022 Genesis GV80 is Hyundai’s luxury SUV, but it still has problems. And some of these problems, including the dangerous exploding seat belt issue, are the same as those owners of other Hyundai vehicles are facing. If your 2022 has problems, do you think it might be a lemon? If so, Lemberg Law will assess your problems free of charge.
We have been helping vehicle owners negotiate settlements with automakers for many years. Every year automakers are forced to buy back, replace, or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners. The law says that Genesis must pay the legal fees for lemon law cases, which is why it won’t cost you anything.
Contact us by calling our Helpline or filling out a contact form.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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