Owners have filed 1,149 complaints on the Hyundai Genesis, covering 2009–2016. The system named most often is Service Brakes (227 reports). Worst years by volume: 2015, 2012, 2009; cleanest: 2014, 2010, 2016. 62 reports describe a crash, 13 a fire. On average the car was 5.4 years old when the problem happened.
What breaks on Hyundai Genesis
Grouped by the system owners named — percentages are shares of all 1,149 Genesis complaints. Open any row for the full reports in owners' own words.
Service Brakes 227 Read
I was stopped at a red light in the left turn lane. All of a sudden I was rolling forward while my foot was firm on the brake. I was able to press the brake even further, but I kept rolling forward until I crashed into the car in front of me. Thankfully, it was a very sturdy truck with a trailer hitch. I have damage…
This happened to me several times but the last time killed the car. I was tapped on the rear bumper getting on the freeway and was in a full counter lock slide and the ABS did not stop the car. Instead of stopping on the shoulder of the freeway the car shot around and launched me into traffic. I was mashing on the…
I have had no accidents for over 20 years, now I have two fender benders - rear end collisions. The first one, 10/07/11, was at less than or about 5mph and I remember braking as usual but it failed to stop and rear ended the vehicle in front. Only minor damages due to the speed involved. Next, today 11/14/11, I braked…
Electrical System 213 Read
About a month before the incident, the vehicle was fully imspected in official dealership, no issues reported. A few days before the incident, the wipers started working with the engine off; I scheduled an appointment for an inspection. The vehicle was leased with about 10 months left on the lease. On april 13, 2018…
Dear NHTSA, I am filing this complaint to formally report a serious vehicle safety hazard and to express concern over how Hyundai/Genesis has handled it. My 2016 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 AWD experienced a n engine compartment fire originating from the starter motor, which subsequently melted the engine wiring harness and…
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in a nearby parking lot, upon returning, there was heavy black smoke coming from under the front passenger’s side seat. Upon further inspection, the contact burned his right hand while attempting to check for the source of the…
Power Train 92 Read
The contact owns a 2016 hyundai genesis. While driving, the vehicle lost power. The contact was able to maneuver the vehicle off the road onto the shoulder. The vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed on an incline. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a…
Changed lanes at 30 to 40 mph in a residential area, removed foot from gas pedal, heard engine revving high then within one to two seconds I felt and heard a hard bang and heavy push. Thought someone hit me, but no one did. Car startled me and my wife. It felt like the engine disconnected from the transmission, then…
If I do not fill the auto with a premium blend gasoline the car will inconsistently over rev and jerk into gear if I accelerate somewhat suddenly. This response is quite odd and could cause an accident since the car kicks into gear rather hard after accelerating and then letting off the gas. The sensation is the same…
Steering 90 Read
While traveling at 65mph the car was cut off and the ABS did not work, the rear fishtailed and lost control, slamming into a guardrail at 65mph, the right passenger side front and back were severely impacted, and no air bags were deployed at time of crash. Seat belts did not hold and passengers were hurt. Air bag,…
The contact owns a 2011 hyundai genesis. While driving 70 mph, the steering wheel shook and white smoke and a burning odor were noticed from under the hood. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened case number:…
I was driving at 35 mph in the lane, the car on the left lane hit the rear body and tire of driver side, but the car didn't stop even after the impact. After the collision, I pressed very hard on the brake pedal to stop, but it kept moving, even increased its speed up to 60 mph, and turned into the different…
Exterior Lighting 86 Read
This has been a recurring safety issue problem! The front turn signals repeatedly have indicated on etiher side that the bulb is burned out and hence do not light up nor flash when this occurs. Some folks chalk this up to it is normal for bulbs to burn out so I have been replacing them when this happens. But, a new…
Headlights are set in 'auto' mode, but erratically/sporadically with no rhyme or reason, they will shut off, then turn on. One time I was able to record the event on my phone (available is requested). But another time they turned off then on (like I was flashing my lights) while driving. Another car was trying to…
The headlights will go out intermittently while driving. It happens when the turn signal is on. It has happened the vehicle is stopped at a red light/stop sign, and when the vehicle is on the highway or sexondary roads. It is very un nerving because you dont know when it might happen. It has been in the hyundai…
Engine 86 Read
These cars has some serious engine issues they are literally defective I've had 5 different engines installed in my car I keep the maintenance up on my car but its still no luck with the engines I've risked my life from almost having accidents due to engine failure I have proof that these calls have been engines and I…
The contact owns a 2016 hyundai genesis. While driving approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart and was taken to courtesy hyundai (939 newport ave, pawtucket, ri 02861) for diagnostic testing, but the contact was unaware of the results. The vehicle was repaired, but…
Tip of the dip stick broke off inside of engine
Vehicle Speed Control 44 Read
"takata recall" I was in motion driving less than 30miles/hour in traffic, stopping few times and kept a good distance. All of a sudden, I applied the brakes to stop but the vehicle did not stop and kept moving fast. I applied the brakes soo hard, vehicle did not stop the collision system that was suppose to stop the…
On july 4 2017 at approximately 7:30am et I was waiting to park and had my foot on the brake when suddenly the engine revved and accelerated, moving the car forward and crashing into the passenger rear bumper of a parked ford f-150. I pressed even harder on the brakes and the car continued to move forward as if it was…
The contact owns a 2012 hyundai genesis. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds in reverse, the vehicle accelerated without warning. The contact crashed into a post but did not sustain any injuries. The police were not contacted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the manufacturer was…
Air Bags 41 Read
The contact owns a 2016 Hyundai Genesis. The contact stated that while driving at 50-55 mph, the vehicle hydroplaned and crashed into the median. The contact stated that only the front driver side door air bag deployed. The contact and his wife sustained injuries and the contact's wife was transported by ambulance to…
Entering into a right turn lane the vehicle may have grazed a curb. Immediate explosion & both right side air bags blew causing minor injuries to passengers. The car is new, approx. 985 miles and the tires had been replaced that morning with michelins under a tire exchange program. There is no external body damage to…
The vehicle, a 2015 hyundai genesis 5.0 in relatively slow motion entering a parking lot, was involved in a passenger side impact accident on 10/6/15. The other car sustained frontal damage and was towed but the genesis remained drivable. Four (4) days later, on 10/10/15, while in motion, the passenger side and…
Genesis years to avoid — and the clean ones
Complaints per model year. More reports usually means more cars on the road as well as more trouble, so read the crash and fire columns alongside the count.
| Model year | Complaints | Top system | Crashes | Fires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Air Bags | 2 | 4 | |
| 2015 | Air Bags | 10 | 3 | |
| 2014 | Air Bags | 3 | — | |
| 2013 | Air Bags | 10 | — | |
| 2012 | Air Bags | 7 | 1 | |
| 2011 | Air Bags | 12 | 3 | |
| 2010 | Air Bags | 4 | — | |
| 2009 | Air Bags | 14 | 2 |
The same model year, different builds
Every complaint carries the first 11 characters of the VIN — plant, year, body and engine. That is a production series, and complaints are spread across them very unevenly.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Distinct production series | 210 |
| Average complaints per series | 5.5 |
| Worst single series | 27 complaints |
| Average age at failure | 5.4 years |
A model average of 5.5 hides a worst series at 27. Enter a VIN above to see the numbers for that exact build instead of the model as a whole.
Owners reported these. Find out if yours is one of them.
- Complaints matched to the exact production run, not just the model
- What the car is worth given what tends to fail on it
- The original window sticker and factory options
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How we count
Every figure here comes from complaints owners filed with NHTSA — 1,100,006 of them, covering 1,982 models built between 1981 and 2026.
A complaint is an unverified report: someone wrote down what happened to their car. It is not a confirmed defect and not a recall. What makes the volume useful is the pattern — when thousands of owners of the same build describe the same failure, that is a signal no marketing brochure will give you.
Two things we do that the source does not. First, we compute the age of the car at the moment of failure from the incident date and the model year. Second, we group complaints by the first 11 characters of the VIN — the production series — so a bad plant run does not disappear into a model-wide average.
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Genesis?
By complaint volume, 2015, 2012, 2009 drew the most owner reports. Bear in mind that popular years put more cars on the road, so check the crash and fire columns too.
Which Genesis years are the cleanest?
2014, 2010, 2016 have the fewest complaints on file. For recent years that can simply mean the cars are young.
How many complaints does the Hyundai Genesis have?
1,149 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, covering 2009–2016. Of those, 62 describe a crash and 13 a fire.
Are these complaints verified?
No. They are unverified reports from owners. NHTSA publishes them as filed and investigates only a fraction. The value is in the pattern, not in any single report.
Can I check complaints for one specific car?
Yes — enter its VIN above. We match the first 11 characters, which identify the plant, year, body and engine, so you get complaints on that exact production series rather than the whole model.