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Genesis GV80Model year report

2021 Genesis GV80 Problems

Compared with other Genesis GV80 years

Typical for this model

64/100 1.4× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2022, 2023

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
61filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
17,500miles, 11 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.5L 4-cyl RWD · 21 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2021 Genesis GV80 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2021 GV80 most often write about two areas: moisture getting into the headlamp assemblies and taking out the headlight and turn signal, and sudden loss of engine power or stalling while driving. Reports also cover a fuel filler door that will not release, repeated check engine lights, and infotainment or 12-volt electrical problems. Complaint mileage ranges widely, from a few hundred miles to well over 70,000.

  1. Exterior lighting

    Moisture in headlamp assembly, light stops working

    • 15 complaints (25%)
    • typically at 4.8 yrs old
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2024–2026

    Owners describe condensation or water building up inside one or both headlamp housings, usually followed by the headlight, turn signal or both failing. Some say the dealer confirmed moisture intrusion or a cracked housing and quoted a full assembly replacement running into the thousands of dollars; others report the dealer attributed it to outside factors. Several owners note that the same lamp houses a camera, so warning lights for forward collision, lane departure and high beam assist also appear once it fails. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 77,000 miles, often noticed first on wet or rainy days and frequently after the warranty period.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Inspect both headlamp housings for fogging, droplets or hairline cracks, and confirm the headlight, turn signal and driver-assist warnings all work. Ask whether either lamp assembly has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Notice condensation building up in driver side headlamp, then I received LED lights failure warning ⚠️ as i was driving. Now i driver side signal is not working some times and now i have about 7 warnings on dash from headlamp failure to collision sensor going off. I know since car is a 2021 and i'm the second owner it's out of warranty, but i speculate that this problem probably known now look at other reports and it only had 35K miles when I purchased it.”

    NHTSA complaint #11731358, filed 2026-04

    “I am writing this complaint concerning the headlight assembly issue that applies to my vehicle. The headlight has a well documented record of suddenly failing. To my knowledge there has never been an official recall from Genesis to address this issue. The issue definitely causes a safety issue and the repair of this issue is not a straight forward matter. From the various reports i have read it is a design flaw that was never addressed and it is something that fails repeatedly. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11769474, filed 2026-10
  2. Engine

    Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving

    • 9 complaints (15%)
    • median 17,500 mi at 2.5 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2023–2026

    Complaints describe the accelerator going unresponsive and the vehicle dropping speed or stalling, sometimes with shaking, then returning to normal after a few seconds or after a restart. Some owners link it to the fuel pump recall and note their vehicle was not covered, while dealers often reported that diagnostics showed nothing stored. A related group describes the engine cutting out at speed with no warning light. Appears across a wide mileage range, from around 15,000 miles to over 90,000, and often occurs at highway speed or during acceleration.

    Recall 23V6300003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the dealer whether recall 23V630000 (fuel pump) has been performed on the specific vehicle, and whether any misfire or fuel-system codes have been stored.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving approx 15 MPH i drove through a S turn in a residential area at slow speed . Suddenly my vehicle lost power and I hit a parked car . The right front corner was damaged. The driver side airbags, deployed the passenger side air bags did not deploy automatic break did not work. The safety warning did not go off . …”

    NHTSA complaint #11632806, filed 2024-12

    “I bought my 2021 GV80 used with 15,500 miles. After driving not even 100 miles, we experienced the vehicle stalling and having no power. Giving it gas, the RPM's would not rise and the engine then shut off. The engine light briefly turned on but did not stay on. After the car shut down and turned back on, we kept driving. We took the vehicle immediately to the dealer where they proceeded to tell us there is nothing wrong because the diagnostics came back fine. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11544326, filed 2023-09
  3. Electrical system

    Infotainment and battery drain / electrical glitches

    • 12 complaints (20%)
    • median 40,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2021–2026

    Complaints describe the infotainment screen shutting down or rebooting while driving, sometimes taking navigation and camera views with it, and in one case moving the driver's seat out of position. Others report the battery draining without an obvious cause and repeated alerts from the connected services app; dealers have replaced parts without resolving it in some cases. Reported across a broad mileage range, from low-mileage vehicles to those past 60,000 miles, and can occur while the vehicle is parked or in motion.

    5 related service bulletins

    What to check: Test the infotainment, backup camera and connected services during a test drive, and ask whether the latest navigation and software updates and any battery diagnosis have been completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Safety Issues: • Battery runs out of charge within one day without any rational reason (i.e., no lights, no alarm, no equipment in use) which put me at risk since the car would stop at any time without any warning. • Then, the Genesis Connected Services will sent alert messages every three (3) minutes for minor events (e.g., washer fluid low, window open, door unlocked…). …”

    NHTSA complaint #11577476, filed 2024-03

    “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. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11746299, filed 2026-06
  4. Engine

    Check engine light and engine control warnings

    • 8 complaints (13%)
    • median 939 mi at 0.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
    • filed 2021–2024

    Owners describe the check engine light coming on shortly after purchase, sometimes within the first few hundred miles, with a message about the engine control system. Repairs in some cases involved fuel injector components on back order, and the light returned after earlier fixes; several owners say the dealer could not reproduce the fault. Often reported under 2,000 miles, including within the first month of ownership.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Have the vehicle scanned for stored or pending engine codes before purchase, and ask whether any misfire-related service campaign has been applied.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Under 30 days of purchase and under 1000 miles - check engine light kept coming on-a possible condition with your engine control system. Two trips to service department, part is on back order until june. Service dept has vehicle for longer than I have own the car.”

    NHTSA complaint #11413245, filed 2021-04, 879 miles

    “Genesis 2021 GV 80 2.5 4 cylinder. Engine light on for the 3rd time. previous fixes did not fix the problem. Reported it to the corporate office. Still waiting after one week to have some one contact. No resolution to the problem yet.”

    NHTSA complaint #11453420, filed 2022-02
  5. Fuel system

    Fuel filler door will not release

    Mentioned in 4 of 57 sampled complaints

    Owners report the fuel door stays locked when they try to refuel, requiring repeated lock and unlock cycles of the driver's door before it releases. In some accounts the vehicle was stranded on a road trip and the door had to be forced open; dealers either could not duplicate the problem or described it as a known recurring issue. Mostly reported between roughly 19,000 and 21,000 miles, and can happen at any time including during travel.

    What to check: Try opening and closing the fuel door several times with the doors locked and unlocked, and ask whether the door actuator has been replaced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The fuel cap never opens up right away. It is not an emergency, but it is very time consuming, trying to repeatedly lock and unlock my door several times before the fuel door is released. I am unsure of what to do. It states that the driver's side door must be unlocked before the fuel door is released, I have to lock/unlock my door multiple times before the cap is released.”

    NHTSA complaint #11516913, filed 2023-04

    “Subject: Safety Complaint – Fuel Door Malfunction on Genesis Vehicle Dear NHTSA, I am writing to formally file a safety-related complaint regarding a fuel door malfunction on my Genesis vehicle. This defect has left me unable to access the fuel tank, presenting a serious safety risk—particularly the possibility of being stranded without fuel, which poses a threat to both driver and passenger safety. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11655243, filed 2025-04

Buying note. Check both headlamp assemblies for moisture and confirm all driver-assist features work, and verify that the open fuel pump and fuel pipe recalls have been completed on the specific vehicle. Getting a pre-purchase scan for stored engine codes and a service history from a Genesis dealer is worthwhile given the reports of intermittent power loss.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 57 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 61 consumer complaints for the 2021 Genesis GV80. 11 of the complaints include a mileage, and 82% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 17,500 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 62 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 2 Genesis GV80 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 64 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Back-over prevention (rear camera) (2), Seat belts (2), Steering (2), Wheels (2), Air bags (1), Seats (1), Suspension (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11757976, filed 2026-08

Fuel system: “On two occasions in the last month the car has suffered a loss of power with the accelerator unresponsive to input. After 5-10 seconds of this still actively occurring the car began to shake violently while I was trying to find a safe place to stop the car out of the traffic lanes. Within a minute or so things would go back to normal. The first time I was in a 35mph zone so the car was relatively controllable but unable to keep at speed. The second time was on the interstate at 70mph in heavy traffic. The car reacted much more dangerously at this speed. …”

NHTSA complaint #11577131, filed 2024-03

Exterior lighting: “I'm reporting moisture in the driver headlight. I noticed a little moisture when I purchased it in October 25(used). Of course the warranty is up and the extended warranty doesn't cover replacement of assembly. Which is very pricey over $2000. I took it to the dealership to get it looked at but at the time it was still working but flickering alot, now it's completely out. I asked was it cracked and the service guy said no, this is something that we see sometimes. I didn't have any warning lights on prior to it going completely out. …”

NHTSA complaint #11729582, filed 2026-04

Forward collision avoidance: “The brakes failed at about 25mph. My car collided into the car in front of me. After several attempts to pump the brakes they never re-engaged to stop the vehicle.”

NHTSA complaint #11531223, filed 2023-07

Mileage when problems were reported

82% of the 11 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 879 and 40,000 miles.

45%0–1027%10–259%25–509%50–759%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (11 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 17,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20212022202320242025202616
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2021 Genesis GV80. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
GV80 · SUV AWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 15.5% risk
GV80 · SUV RWD★★★★★4 / 4554 · 16.9% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2021 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking standard.

Neighbouring years: 2022: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2021 Genesis GV80 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
GV80 AWD2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic212522$3,750
GV80 AWD3.5L 6-cyl8-speed automatic182320$4,100
GV80 RWD2.5L 4-cyl8-speed automatic212523$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2021 Genesis GV80 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 62 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 62 bulletins →

Other model years of the Genesis GV80

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20269—1522—Too new
2025183,0003521—Too new
20241717,0002—22—Too new
20234313,000452250 · TypicalToo new
20224524,000452345 · TypicalRising
20216117,500552364 · TypicalRising

All Genesis GV80 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2021 Genesis GV80?

Owners of the 2021 GV80 most often write about two areas: moisture getting into the headlamp assemblies and taking out the headlight and turn signal, and sudden loss of engine power or stalling while driving. The issues reported most often: Moisture in headlamp assembly, light stops working; Sudden loss of power or stalling while driving; Infotainment and battery drain / electrical glitches.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2021 Genesis GV80 have?

NHTSA recorded 61 consumer complaints for the 2021 Genesis GV80 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Genesis GV80 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 15 complaints (25% of the total), followed by fuel system with 15.

Has the 2021 Genesis GV80 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Genesis GV80 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 Genesis GV80 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2021 Genesis GV80 get?

The EPA rates the 2021 Genesis GV80 (GV80 RWD, 2.5L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 21 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2021 Genesis GV80 reported?

Among the 11 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 17,500 miles and the middle half falls between 879 and 40,000 miles; 82% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.