Im thinking about buying a 15’ Genesis Sedan 3.8 with 101k? Is there anything I should look out for?

[GeraldGee]

Can anyone please tell me if I should/shouldnt? Im hoping to get a good bit of life out of the car (1-2 years hopefully)… Is there any reliability concerns?

 

[EdP]

Can anyone please tell me if I should/shouldnt? Im hoping to get a good bit of life out of the car (1-2 years hopefully)… Is there any reliability concerns?

I traded in my 2015 a while back, but it was a solid car, good engine.
Any car approaching 10 years and 100k has some wear so check it over line any other. If you have any maintenance records you can determine if the tranny fluid has been changed and that sort of thing.

Overall, it is a nice ride and if well cared for should last you. Plenty of older Genesis still around.

 

[RazzleDazzleP]

Hey GeraldGee!

I may be biased but honestly, I have to agree with EdP honestly, they are great cars. Especially for what you pay for them. I've added the carplay through the online update. If you need the file let me know. It's amazing because at one point we had almost all of the newest Bluelink features like setting the temp of a car and starting it from your phone. Make sure you check the Transmission service records. When I first purchased my used DH at 93K it sounded like it had a common prop shaft issue, but everything was been fine, and I had no problems with it. I have had my 2015 Gen Sedan 3.8 for about a year and a half. I've put about 50K miles on it. I am in need of a Trans Drain / Fill, Solenoid / Trans Inspection, and shift learning reset because I'm getting a hard shift. It's to be expected as I've driven a lot of miles. I am def overdue for a fluid change.

I think it will absolutely last you two years if not more. Just make sure it was well-mainted before you. This forum is an excellent resource for information. Best of luck! Keep us updated, here to help!

 

[srobak]

Check the service records to see if the trans has been replaced. If not - plan for one in the near future, or investigate if doing the solenoid updated replacements will handle the issue. There's a couple threads on here regarding that. You can tell if it has the issue now by taking it for a drive and feeling for harsh shifts under normal/moderate acceleration between 2-3 and 4-5.

Also as mentioned - see if you can identify trans fluid replacement if it is behaving fine from the test above. If it hasn't been done - that fluid change is a must. In addition to that however - the rear diff fluid (if a RWD), or both differential fluid changes front/rear for AWD - and also transfer case fluid.

Check the oil - look for shavings/debris, and also the coolant color & debris.

Check the tires for uneven/abnormal tire wear. If so - you may have an alignment issue.

Check the front bumper cover - mine started showing signs of delamination of the clearcoat starting at about 95k - both around the headlights and up on top near the wing badge.

If it has the panoramic roof - just accept that it will creak and rattle a bit. Not worth replacing on that old of a car.

Look in the engine bay for any oil or fluid drips on the engine block around the seals, and if you can get the car up on a lift and remove the plastic panels - look for the same on the underside.

 

[Alfer]

I personally wouldn't go near a first year (2015) Genesis.

Mine has been a near total dog.

Pano-roof failed at around 38,000 miles, paint on my front/rear bumpers are peeling and turning yellow (white), steering wheel volume knob peeled off, a/c and vents are finicky, windows sometimes have issues raising/lowering, the transmissions propeller shaft noise has been constant since we got car (there is a TSB for issue), driver seat lumbar adjuster broke, rear window interior black trim has dried out and is falling apart more and more.

I say pass on the first year version of the Genesis and get one a few years newer, and inspect it THOROUGHLY !

 

[srobak]

Oops - I forgot about the rear window trim around the 3rd brake light. Thanks Alfer! Check that - poke it with your finger... see if it is brittle. If so - plan to replace the light soon as when it starts opening up it causes massive light pollution into the cabin at night which will impede your vision.

While I agree in spirit in part with Alfer - any car with 100k on it is going to have signs of wear. Even a Benzo or a Rolls. Things are going to fail & break - especially little things & creature comforts (lumbar, panoroof).

If you are getting a good deal on the car and can live with the smaller annoyances - the heart of the car is the engine & transmission. The engine itself (both the 3.8 and the 5.0) are very solid if taken care of. Not at all prone to failure north of 100k. The transmission has issues - but can be mitigated through replacement of either the trans or possibly a few solenoids when it does start to exhibit problems (if not already recently replaced).

Even at 100k+ on my 2015 - if my needs had not changed when they did, I would probably still have the car as it was paid off. I had fixed the small things along the way (driver seat heater, steering wheel clock spring, 3rd brake light window trim), and did have the trans replaced under warranty when it started flaring, along with the panoroof (which started creaking again ~30k later - I just accepted it as part of ownership). The front bumper delam/peel/discolor was only a few hundred to have sanded & re-shot to blend with the hood.

Aside from the trans at ~65k it was a very solid car, and every mile in it was enjoyable to drive. Other than the pano roof - not a squeak or rattle or deterioration in ride, handling or performance - nor functionality of anything in the car. I cannot say the same for the 7 series I had, the Lincoln I had or even an Accord that I owned. Interestingly - I can say the same thing for the Azera that I had.... it too was a solid & great car - and kind of a predecessor to the DH series Genesis.

 

[Alfer]

Forgot to add that all 4 of the exterior black shiny door pillars have all faded to some degree or another and look real tacky now.

 

[srobak]

Known issue & easy fix.

Amazon.com

 

[nwhit]

My 2015 with over 100k was pretty much flawless. I did have the bumper covers clear coat peel, but that was a simple and inexpensive fix, as were the gloss black B-pillar covers. Easy polishing brought them back. I had a loaded Ultimate with sunroof, etc., and most people driving or riding in it thought it was pretty much new.

Same experience with my first Genesis, a 2013 model. Other than the peeling bumpers, no issues.

 

[mgregory61]

I've had one for about eighteen months and it has been great. Love the car.

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[EdP]

I personally wouldn't go near a first year (2015) Genesis.

Mine has been a near total dog.

Pano-roof failed at around 38,000 miles, paint on my front/rear bumpers are peeling and turning yellow (white), steering wheel volume knob peeled off, a/c and vents are finicky, windows sometimes have issues raising/lowering, the transmissions propeller shaft noise has been constant since we got car (there is a TSB for issue), driver seat lumbar adjuster broke, rear window interior black trim has dried out and is falling apart more and more.

I say pass on the first year version of the Genesis and get one a few years newer, and inspect it THOROUGHLY !

I've heard the "don't buy the first year" for ages. Wish my 2018 was not plagued with problems and was more line my trouble free 2015 first year model. You'd think the steering rack that worked for years would still be used but no. . . .

 

[umakegoodcookies]

Oops - I forgot about the rear window trim around the 3rd brake light. Thanks Alfer! Check that - poke it with your finger... see if it is brittle. If so - plan to replace the light soon as when it starts opening up it causes massive light pollution into the cabin at night which will impede your vision.

While I agree in spirit in part with Alfer - any car with 100k on it is going to have signs of wear. Even a Benzo or a Rolls. Things are going to fail & break - especially little things & creature comforts (lumbar, panoroof).

If you are getting a good deal on the car and can live with the smaller annoyances - the heart of the car is the engine & transmission. The engine itself (both the 3.8 and the 5.0) are very solid if taken care of. Not at all prone to failure north of 100k. The transmission has issues - but can be mitigated through replacement of either the trans or possibly a few solenoids when it does start to exhibit problems (if not already recently replaced).

Even at 100k+ on my 2015 - if my needs had not changed when they did, I would probably still have the car as it was paid off. I had fixed the small things along the way (driver seat heater, steering wheel clock spring, 3rd brake light window trim), and did have the trans replaced under warranty when it started flaring, along with the panoroof (which started creaking again ~30k later - I just accepted it as part of ownership). The front bumper delam/peel/discolor was only a few hundred to have sanded & re-shot to blend with the hood.

Aside from the trans at ~65k it was a very solid car, and every mile in it was enjoyable to drive. Other than the pano roof - not a squeak or rattle or deterioration in ride, handling or performance - nor functionality of anything in the car. I cannot say the same for the 7 series I had, the Lincoln I had or even an Accord that I owned. Interestingly - I can say the same thing for the Azera that I had.... it too was a solid & great car - and kind of a predecessor to the DH series Genesis.

I looked on here for anyone discussing the driver's seat heater but haven't found much useful. Did you make a post on fixing that? Was your symptom that both the heater and cooler lights won't come on? That sounds like a fuse thing to me but the fuse checks good.

 

[umakegoodcookies]

One common issue not mentioned by others, more common than some mentioned, is the glove box. If the latch does not work perfectly factor in 500 for that. I did post a fix but it will never look new again as it's easily marked by clamps and such.

 

[srobak]

I looked on here for anyone discussing the driver's seat heater but haven't found much useful. Did you make a post on fixing that? Was your symptom that both the heater and cooler lights won't come on? That sounds like a fuse thing to me but the fuse checks good.

No I didn't, because it was a heating element replacement under warranty. A wire or connection had become severed or damaged. The lights worked fine, as did the switch, and the back heated, but not the butt. Not a big deal.

No issues with my glove box - opened it 2-4 times a day for over 100k miles.