The 2017 Genesis G90 3.3T is a luxury sedan with Hyundai's Lambda II twin-turbo V6. While feature-rich and comfortable, it suffers from catastrophic engine failures tied to machining debris and inadequate bearing tolerances—problems that earned recalls but still plague early production units.
Catastrophic Engine Bearing Failure (Theta/Lambda Recall-Adjacent)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Metallic knocking or ticking from engine bay, especially cold starts, Check engine light with rod bearing or crank position sensor codes, Loss of oil pressure warning, sudden engine seizure, Metal shavings visible in oil during changes
Fix: Complete engine replacement or rebuild required. Connecting rod and main bearings fail due to machining debris left in block during manufacturing. Short block replacement takes 18-24 labor hours including removal, R&R, and fluid services. Some covered under extended warranty (10yr/100k powertrain), but many owners hit this just outside coverage.
Estimated cost: $8,500-15,000
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle and Failure
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Rattling noise on cold start or light throttle (wastegate actuator), Loss of boost, sluggish acceleration, P0234 or P0299 codes (overboost/underboost), Visible oil leaks around turbo oil return lines
Fix: Wastegate actuator rods seize or break; entire turbo assembly typically replaced rather than rebuilt. 6-8 hours per turbo including intercooler pipe removal and coolant system refill. Recall 20V-073 addressed some units, but many need out-of-pocket replacement.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid puddles under vehicle, often pink/red, Delayed or harsh shifts when hot, Burning smell after highway driving, Low transmission fluid warning on dash
Fix: Rubber cooler lines crack at crimp points or corrode at fittings. Replacement involves dropping undertray and replacing both feed/return lines. 3-4 hours including trans fluid flush and refill (requires 12+ quarts of SP-IV or equivalent).
Estimated cost: $650-1,200
Starter Solenoid Clicking (No-Crank Condition)
Occasional · high severitySymptoms: Rapid clicking from starter area, engine won't crank, Intermittent no-start, works after sitting or jump-start attempt, Dash lights illuminate but no starter engagement, May occur in cold or hot weather indiscriminately
Fix: Solenoid contacts fail inside starter assembly; entire starter must be replaced. Recall 21V-484 covered some VINs but many owners experience this outside recall scope. 2-3 hours labor due to tight access under intake manifold on passenger side.
Estimated cost: $450-850
Exhaust Manifold/Downpipe Cracks and Leaks
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Ticking or hissing exhaust leak sound, loudest at cold idle, Smell of exhaust fumes in cabin with HVAC on recirculate, P0420 or P0430 catalyst efficiency codes, Visible soot staining around turbo/manifold joints
Fix: Manifold-to-turbo joints and downpipe flex sections crack from heat cycling. Recall 22V-357 addressed some units for fire risk. Repair requires turbo removal and manifold/gasket replacement. 8-10 hours per side if both banks affected.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200
Active Suspension Compressor and Strut Failures
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Vehicle sits low on one corner or all corners after sitting overnight, Suspension warning light with 'check suspension' message, Compressor runs continuously or makes groaning noise, Harsh ride quality, loss of adaptive damping response
Fix: Electronic air suspension struts leak at seals; compressor overworks and burns out. Strut replacement is 4-5 hours per corner including coding/calibration. Compressor is 3-4 hours. Many owners convert to conventional struts to avoid repeat failures ($2,500-3,500 for full conversion).
Estimated cost: $1,400-2,200
Luxurious and powerful when running, but engine failure risk and turbo issues make this a gamble unless you can verify clean engine history or get extended warranty coverage—buy only with comprehensive records or walk away.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.