G90 Total Electrical Failure

[PatF]

As I drove my 2018 Genesis G90 to the dealer to address a "check engine" light (I think the correct name is the Master Indicator light), the car began to surge regularly. All warnings began to go off (and sound warning bells. The warnings I remember were BSD (Blindside Detection), shift malfunction, and several others I can't recall as I was driving at the time). As I was about 10 miles from a Hyundai dealer, I headed there. As I pulled into the service line, I got a shift failure warning and the car--by itself--shifted into neutral. I could not move the car even though the engine was running. The speedometer was way off as were most other systems (such as A/C and cabin fan). Several men from the service department tried to push the car, but because it is all-wheel drive, the rear wheels were locked. They had to use a floor jack to raise the rear axle off the ground to move the vehicle out of the way.

I found this experience alarming to say the least.

a. I didn't realize how big a problem the electronic shift mechanism is when it decides to fail. Pulling a car out of drive by itself could lead to many dangerous situations when an electronic problem occurs.
b. One of the many failure warnings involved the automatic braking system. Exactly how this failure would affect control is an issue. I had no problem with the brakes today, but since nearly all electronically controlled devices failed, this issue could be serious.
c. The surging engine concerned me, but at least the engine did not quit; it just ran very poorly.
d. I've never been convinced that the electronic parking brake could ever be use as an emergency brake if the main brakes fail. Perhaps the brakes are failure-proof ;-)

As an engineer, I'm very concerned that any vehicle would allow a single failure to affect so many critical systems. A well designed vehicle should identify problems, but I would prefer some mode of operation which would avoid the dangerous transition of critical systems (such as the transmission) to an ineffective state.

 

[Alfer]

My advise, hand them the keys and title and trade the vehicle in.

 

[PatF]

I completely concur. But I need to get the car working enough to trade it in. I'm still waiting...
The diagnosis I got two weeks ago is that the "windshield washer fluid reservoir overflowed allowing fluid to infiltrate the wiring harness and ruined the entire electrical system." I questioned how this could happen, but I got no answers other that it is a "rare occurrence." The cost of replacing the two main wiring harnesses is $7,800.00. They said they called Genesis USA and Genesis agreed to pick up 95% of the cost of repair. I'm grateful for this (as the car is out of normal warranty). I need the car returned to service so I can trade it in on a Toyota or Lexus replacement. The incident I described is now one month old. I called today (Jun 7, 2024) to discover that they now have the parts available (two wiring harnesses) and hope to have it fixed in a week or two. I have left a call with the service manager regarding the delay and am waiting with bated breath for his response.
Update. The service manager at the dealer called me to report that "the car has literally got to be disassembled" to replace the damaged electrical harnesses. The manager expressed his intention to be sure the repair returns the car to prime conditions, without "a creek or rattle" in the end. What are the odds........

 

[PatF]

Here is my final post regarding this issue. I carefully read the invoice I received from the Genesis dealer, it appears that the real issue is that overflow from the windshield washer reservoir corroded the electrical connector on the wire to the main vehicle computer network. However, the connector is a permanent part of the network wire and cannot be changed in the field. The entire electrical network wire had to be replaced. To do this, the engine and transmission had to be removed as well as other key components (such as rear brakes). After 7 weeks in the shop, the car was returned to me with two new problems. One was the brake lines were so full of air that I considered the vehicle unsafe to operate. The second issue was a panel on the bottom of the car was dragging on the ground. Clearly, after completely disassembling the entire car, no one gave it a test drive or both problems would have been noticed. After I returned to have these issues corrected, I drove the repaired vehicle to the dealership of another brand and--as Alfer suggested on Jun 7--I traded the vehicle in. This car was my last Genesis experience. I wish I could say something positive about it.

 

[GenesisGuy5]

how many miles on this thing?

 

[mikemu30]

Here is my final post regarding this issue. I carefully read the invoice I received from the Genesis dealer, it appears that the real issue is that overflow from the windshield washer reservoir corroded the electrical connector on the wire to the main vehicle computer network. However, the connector is a permanent part of the network wire and cannot be changed in the field. The entire electrical network wire had to be replaced. To do this, the engine and transmission had to be removed as well as other key components (such as rear brakes). After 7 weeks in the shop, the car was returned to me with two new problems. One was the brake lines were so full of air that I considered the vehicle unsafe to operate. The second issue was a panel on the bottom of the car was dragging on the ground. Clearly, after completely disassembling the entire car, no one gave it a test drive or both problems would have been noticed. After I returned to have these issues corrected, I drove the repaired vehicle to the dealership of another brand and--as Alfer suggested on Jun 7--I traded the vehicle in. This car was my last Genesis experience. I wish I could say something positive about it.

What did you trade for? Lexus?

 

[steveinarizona]

What did you trade for? Lexus?

Yes...inquiring minds want to know. The most comparable Toyota would be the Crown (it used to be the Avalon but they ceased producing it). If you go Lexus the EX360 is essentially a gussied up Avalon. The better Lexus would have been the GX350 but they ceased making it.

As an aside, I would have thought that the electric harness would be considered part of the power train. Unless it is very specifically excluded. I would have argued that it is an integral part of the power train. But I have not reviewed the actual warranty language.

 

[GenesisGuy5]

ya thats some bullshit, the washer fluid is right by the fuse box though (figured it would be under it)