Hyundai is recalling 94,622 vehicles because powered front-seat motors can overheat and catch fire, with two related fire incidents and no U.S. crashes or injuries reported.

The recall covers older Genesis sedans and G80 models after regulators flagged a defect that can leave a seat-adjustment motor running long after the driver walks away. FOX Business detailed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall report and Hyundai’s own description of the failure.

At issue are non-memory power front seats. A switch that controls slide and height can come loose or get damaged when something hits it. If that switch stays engaged, the motor keeps working. Prolonged running can overheat the motor and raise the chance of a fire while the car is driven or sitting parked.

Hyundai broke down the numbers. The campaign includes 39,978 model year 2017, 2020 Genesis G80 vehicles and 54,644 model year 2015, 2016 Hyundai Genesis sedans. The company estimates only about 1% of the recalled vehicles actually have the defect. That still leaves thousands of owners who need a straight answer and a free fix.

Stuck switches keep the motor running

Hyundai described the failure path in a statement to FOX Business.

"The front seat slide and height adjustment control switch used on non-memory power seats in the subject vehicles may become dislodged or damaged when subjected to external force(s), potentially causing the switch to remain engaged and the seat adjustment motor to operate continuously, even after the occupant exits the vehicle,"

That continuous run is the core problem. A seat motor that never shuts off can heat up. Heat plus a parked or moving vehicle is how a convenience feature becomes a fire risk.

NHTSA listed plain warning signs: a burning odor and seat control switches that no longer work. Owners who notice either should treat it as urgent, not as a minor electrical glitch.

Two fire incidents, no U.S. injuries as of Oct. 1

Hyundai said it knows of two incidents involving a fire tied to the defect. The company also said that, as of Oct. 1, there had been no crashes or injuries related to the issue in the United States. Those figures matter. They show why the recall exists, and they also show the harm so far has not included a body count on U.S. roads.

A remedy is still in development. That is the soft spot in the rollout. Owners will get mail notice. Repairs are to be free at a Hyundai dealer or a Genesis retailer. Until the parts and procedure are ready, the cars remain on the road and in driveways with a known overheating path.

NHTSA says park outside until the repair is done

Federal safety officials did not leave the interim advice vague. NHTSA recommends that owners of the affected cars park outside and away from other vehicles or structures until the repair is finished. That is a direct acknowledgment that a fire in a garage or next to another car can spread fast.

For families with tight urban parking or shared garages, the guidance is inconvenient. It is also common sense. A motor that can overheat after the driver leaves does not wait for a convenient service appointment.

Hyundai’s estimate that only 1% of the recalled fleet carries the defect will not comfort the owner who smells burning plastic or finds a dead seat switch. Low percentage rates still produce real fires when the pool of vehicles tops 94,000.

The models in question are not obscure. Genesis built its name as Hyundai’s upscale line. Buyers paid for quiet cabins and power seats. They did not pay for a switch that can stick and cook a motor in the dark.

Automakers issue recalls because the law and the market demand it when a safety defect is documented. The sequence here is familiar: identify the failure, count the vehicles, tell NHTSA, warn owners, and promise a free repair. The gap is the open-ended “remedy in development” line. Mail notices and dealer visits only help after the fix exists.

Drivers who own a 2015, 2016 Hyundai Genesis sedan or a 2017, 2020 Genesis G80 should check for NHTSA recall mail, watch for burning smells, and test whether the seat controls still respond. If the switch feels loose or the motor seems to run on its own, the car needs to sit outside and get scheduled for service as soon as Hyundai’s fix is available.

Fire risk in a parked car is not a paperwork exercise. Owners deserve a finished repair order, not an indefinite wait while a seat motor can still overheat beside the house.