2018 Genesis G80: What to check before buying

Most reports here describe a wait, not a breakdown. Owners receive an electrical system recall notice, then dealers tell them the repair parts are not available, in some cases for over a year. Most of these owners say the car has not failed. Among actual failures, the oil pressure light comes on at idle and goes off once the car moves. One driver ended up in a ditch after the light appeared on an icy road. Other reports describe a rear door that will not open from inside or out, air conditioning that quits after about an hour, and a no-start near 80,000 miles.

On long curves and on-ramps, the steering wheel sticks in the turned position. It does not return to center until the driver pulls it back, and if left alone the car drifts toward the shoulder. First reports cluster near 27,300 to 29,000 miles, and one car had the problem return after a warranty repair. Owners cite a service bulletin and an out-of-warranty estimate of about $5k. Both crash reports in this category say the steering-wheel airbag failed to deploy while other airbags did. A few owners also say lane keep assist pulls the car out of its lane.

The factory Continental ProContact TX tires develop sidewall bubbles, gashes, and blowouts, often before 6,000 miles. Some fail at highway speed, some after hitting a single pothole, and some are found flat in a parking lot. Many owners have more than one failure, and one car is on its third flat. Dealers give mixed answers. Some call it a known tire problem, while others blame road hazards. One owner cites $400 per tire. None of these reports describe a damaged wheel. Every one concerns the tires.

Continental ProContact TX tires form sidewall bubbles and blow out, mostly between 6,000 and 14,000 miles. One blowout happens at 60 mph with only a tire pressure warning for notice. Another follows a pothole hit at 40 mph. The bubbles often show up on both front tires at once. One owner also reports rear tread almost worn away early, plus a slow leak. Failures also hit replacement sets of the same tire line, not only the factory tires.

The turbocharger oil feed pipe leaks oil onto the exhaust manifold and white smoke pours from under the hood. Owners treat it as a fire risk. Two owners say the leak returned after an earlier recall repair, and one dealer wanted the owner to pay for the second fix. Others say they waited months for a remedy while parking outside. The oil pressure light also comes on at idle or in cold weather and clears at higher RPM, which owners blame on a faulty sensor. Single reports describe stalling, and another describes a knock with hesitation near 38,500 miles.

A turbocharger oil supply pipe seal fails and drips oil onto the exhaust manifold, which sends white smoke from under the car. One owner reports this at 45,000 miles on a car that had already had earlier campaign service. Another describes an alarm followed by engine overheating while still waiting for recall parts that were not available. The check oil and low oil lights also come on at idle and go off while driving, reported near 72,200 miles.

In a crash, the driver's front airbag fails to deploy even though the passenger and curtain airbags fire. Four of the seven complaints are crash reports, mostly deer strikes that ended in a spin or a rollover. They list five injuries, including chest bruising from hitting the steering wheel. Several of these reports share similar details and may describe the same crash. The non-crash reports describe an airbag warning light, a code for high resistance in the driver airbag, and a passenger airbag light that stays on whether or not anyone is in the seat.

After a shift from reverse to drive, the transmission slips into neutral, and it can take 2 to 3 attempts before it stays in gear. Some owners say it also drops out of drive while moving, after braking for a turn. The one crash report describes slow gear engagement, a car that surged forward and backward on its own, and brakes that did not respond. In one case near 25,000 miles, the dealer could not reproduce the shifting fault. Other reports here cover the oil pressure light and smoke from a leaking turbocharger oil pipe.

The panoramic sunroof glass shatters at highway speed with no clear cause. Three of the four reports describe a sudden bang between 50 and 70 mph. In these reports the glass breaks outward, some pieces fall into the cabin, and the broken panel is left standing up or resting in the shade. No injuries are reported. The fourth report describes a rear door behind the driver that will not open on a car with 52,000 miles, even though the other three doors work.