Genesis recalls thousands of models due to critical digital failure
A software error in the multimedia system forced Genesis to recall 83,877 vehicles in the US after sudden screen shutdowns were detected
Technological sophistication has become one of the pillars of premium brands, but also a new source of vulnerability.
Genesis, the luxury division of the Hyundai Group, now faces one of the most delicate episodes in its history Recently, after ordering the precautionary recall of nearly 84,000 vehicles in the United States due to a defect that directly affects the information the driver receives while driving. You can read: Used trucks for less than $5,000 that are worth it. The problem is not in the engine, suspension, or brakes, but in the digital control unit that governs the dashboard and multimedia system. Under certain conditions, both screens can turn off completely for several seconds while the vehicle is in motion, momentarily leaving the driver without essential data for safe driving. Although no accidents or injuries related to this defect have been reported so far, federal authorities considered the potential risk sufficient to require immediate intervention. Models involved in the recall: According to documents submitted by Hyundai Motor Company and Genesis to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the recall affects a total of 83,877 units from the 2025 and 2026 model years. The vehicles involved are: All of them are currently in circulation in the U.S. market. They are mostly recent models, equipped with the brand's most advanced digital systems, which explains why the problem was not detected in previous generations. A black screen while driving
The technical investigation revealed that the failure does not manifest as a simple freezing or delay of the system. In certain scenarios, both the digital instrument panel and the central audio screen,Video and browsing may restart unexpectedly. When this happens, both are completely turned off for a period of 5 to 10 seconds. During this time, the driver loses access to:
Engine or battery temperature.
This situation represents a considerable distraction and a gap in critical information, constituting a direct violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 101 (FMVSS 101), which regulates the visibility and operation of mandatory instruments.
Technical Origin of the Failure
The problem was identified following a joint investigation between Hyundai Motor Company, Genesis, and its technology provider, using a 2026 Genesis GV70 as the test vehicle.
The origin was located in the AVN (Audio/Video/Navigation) system software, specifically in the module that manages the HD radio data.
According to the technical report submitted to the NHTSA, the error occurs because: “HD Radio and analog data can be written simultaneously to the same memory location. This happens due to overlapping software routines, resulting in an overwrite error. As a result, the system loses the output signal to the instrument panel and center display.”
This data collision causes the system to enter an automatic reset cycle, turning off both displays.
Between September 26, 2024, and January 2, 2026, Hyundai received 237 formal reports from customers in the United States describing this exact behavior, a number that ultimately convinced the company and the authorities to activate the mandatory recall.
What should affected owners do?
While a permanent fix is ??being rolled out, Genesis recommended that drivers manually disable the HD Radio function as a temporary measure to reduce the risk of the system resetting.
The brand confirmed that the repair will be completely free, even for vehicles that are no longer under warranty.
The procedure will consist of an AVN software update, which will be carried out in two ways:
In addition, the company will reimburse any previous expenses that owners have incurred to repair this problem, according to the plan approved by the NHTSA on February 22, 2024.
The corrected software began to be installed in production vehicles between November 26 and December 8, 2025, so units manufactured after those dates do not have the defect.
Genesis will send notifications by certified mail to all registered owners, with detailed instructions on how to proceed.
Additionally, any driver can check if their vehicle is affected by entering the VIN on the official NHTSA website.