Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the wheels and tires, electrical, and brakes. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2021 Genesis G80: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2021's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
Worth adding to your 2021 checks
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Genesis G80, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Sidewalls fail suddenly, with no warning before the tire goes flat or blows out. Reports center on the 20-inch staggered setup, 245/40R20 front and 275/35R20 rear, with more than one tire failing on the same car. One account describes three sidewall failures within the first 25,000 miles. Another describes two tires failing within about a mile, one exploding while driving on the spare. Owners stress the danger of a blowout at highway speed. One of the 3 filings actually concerns a GV80 on different tires, not this car.
Power windows stop responding to their switches and work only intermittently, sometimes alongside a memory seat that ignores button presses. A dealer harness replacement under warranty did not end the problem in one report. A more serious failure has every warning light come on while the gauges go dead. The speedometer, turn signals, steering and driving assists, collision avoidance, cameras, infotainment, windows, and trunk release all stop working, with power steering, brake, and ABS warnings displayed. Losing signals and safety systems while driving raises crash risk.
Pressing the brake pedal produces a clicking, ratcheting, or tapping sound, and sometimes a tapping feel through the pedal. It happens with the car stopped in Drive and while moving, and is audible in the cabin. One report places the source under the hood and says the noise is present on every press, beginning around 26,377 miles. Neither filing describes a loss of braking or a crash. The complaints focus on the noise and pedal feel rather than reduced stopping power.
Excerpts from complaints G80 owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
245/40 R20 (FRONT) 275/35 R20 (REAR) The two front and one rear tire experienced sidewall failures within the first 25,000 of use. The tires have been disposed. I thank god that the failures did not occur at highway speed which could have caused serious injury to me and other motorists. There were no warning before the tire failures. After the third failure occurring on 2/12/23, I changed all four tires to Michelin Pilot Sport All-Season.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2023
(front) 245/40R20 (rear) 275/35R20 Rear passenger tire failed, sidewall failure. Instantly went to 0 PSI on dash notification. A cop helped us change it. Less than a mile layer going less than 50 MPH (max rating for spare) the front passenger tire exploded. The same cop caught up with us and could confirm that the front tire was there and was now gone.
Filed with NHTSA, January 2024
Brake pedal concern. When pressing the brake pedal in Drive but while the vehicle is not moving there is a tapping sound and feeling coming from the brake pedal.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2024
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 ranks fourth for owner complaints among 9 G80 years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the first model year of the G80's second generation (2021–2023). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Genesis fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Genesis updated the G80 for 2024, so a 2021 does not have those changes.
What changed for 2024 (not on a 2021)
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recall repairs are free at any Genesis dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
Hyundai Motor America (Genesis) is recalling certain Genesis 2022-2026 GV70, 2023-2025 G90, 2021-2025 G80, and GV80 vehicles. Fuel may leak at the pipe connection between the fuel pipe and fuel rail.
Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten, or replace the fuel pipe as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters explaining the safety risk mailed June 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy becomes available. Owners may contact Genesis customer service at 844-340-9741. Genesis' number for this recall is 033G. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 11, 2026.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Genesis G80, GV80, and 2022 Genesis GV70 vehicles. The fuel pump may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2023. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 016G.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Genesis GV80, 2021-2023 Genesis G80, 2022-2023 Genesis GV70, and 2023 Genesis GV60 vehicles. In the event of a crash, the front driver-side and/or passenger-side seat belt pretensioners may explode upon deployment.
Risk: An exploding seat belt pretensioner can project metal fragments into the vehicle, strike vehicle occupants, and result in injury.
Fix: Dealers will secure the seat belt pretensioners with a cap, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 14, 2023. For GV60 owners, Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 14, 2023. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 012G. This recall supersedes and expands recall number 21V-796. Vehicles previously repaired under recall 21V-796 will need to have the new remedy completed.
Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain 2021 Genesis G80 and GV80 vehicles equipped with 2.5-litre turbo engines. The fuel tube connecting the high pressure fuel pump to the fuel rail may not seal properly, which could allow fuel to leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel tube, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Hyundai customer service at 1-855-371-9460. Hyundai's number for this recall is 008G.
Cars shoppers compare with the Genesis G80, with their own 2021 checklists.
2021 owner complaints, side by side
