Hyundai class action lawsuit over excessive oil consumption dismissed

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To update:

• A judge in federal court in California has dismissed a class action lawsuit filed by a group of vehicle owners against Hyundai Motor Co.
• The class action lawsuit alleged that several Hyundai and Kia vehicles had an engine defect that resulted in excessive oil consumption.
• Vehicle owners argued that the alleged defect not only resulted in the cost of excess oil, but also caused the vehicles to break down and eventually fail.
• Court approval of the dismissal was not required because, according to court documents, the group was neither admitted nor proposed to be admitted for the purpose of a settlement.

Overview of Hyundai’s Excessive Oil Consumption Class Action Lawsuit:

• WHO: A group of Hyundai and Kia vehicle owners is suing Hyundai Motor Co.
• Why: Drivers claim that many Hyundai and Kia models are equipped with defective engines that consume too much oil, leak and eventually give up the ghost.
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in federal court in California.

(April 20, 2022)

According to a new class action lawsuit, Hyundai produces numerous Hyundai and Kia models with defective engines that consume too much oil, costing their owners enormous amounts of money.

On April 12, eight owners of Hyundai and Kia vehicles filed a class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Co. in federal court in California, alleging violations of federal warranty laws.

The lawsuit against Hyundai for excessive oil consumption alleges that numerous models of the automaker’s vehicles are equipped with defective Nu, Gamma, Theta, Lambda and Kappa engines.

The defective engines allegedly consume too much oil, choke and eventually fail. Drivers say Hyundai should have recalled the vehicles long ago but failed to do so.

As a result, thousands of Hyundai and Kia owners and lessees are reportedly forced to constantly check oil levels and engines need to be filled with oil more often than even owner’s manuals recommend, Car Complaints Reports.

The engine problem has knock-on effects such as reduced engine lubrication due to crankshaft sinking and damage to seals and gaskets, leading to oil leaks.

The plaintiffs also claim that oil gets into places in their vehicles where it shouldn’t, damaging the combustion and exhaust systems.

This allegedly leads to “abnormal wear of engine parts, carbon oversaturation and oil sludge deposits, ultimately requiring costly overhaul or replacement of the engine.”

Car manufacturers should also recognize warranty claims outside of the warranty terms, says Hyundai’s class action lawsuit

The plaintiffs claim that Hyundai must recognize warranty claims from customers even if the warranty has expired.

According to the lawsuit, Hyundai cannot adequately fix the oil consumption problems and does not offer reimbursement for expenses caused by the problem.

The class action lawsuit states that customers have to accept long wait times for replacement parts “and in most cases do not receive the necessary engine replacement.”

The cars with the allegedly defective engines include the Hyundai Elantra (model years 2012-2020), the Hyundai Genesis Coupe (model years 2009-2018), the Hyundai Kona (model years 2019-2021), the Hyundai Palisade (model years 2020-2021), the Hyundai Santa Fe (model years 2010-2012 and 2015-2021), the Hyundai Sonata (model years 2009-2010 and 2015-2021), the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (model years 2011-2021), the Hyundai Tucson (model years 2010-2013 and 2015-2021), the Hyundai Veloster (model years 2011-2021), the Hyundai Venue (model years 2020-2021), the Kia Forte (model years 2010-2021), the Kia Niro (model years 2017-2020), the Kia Optima and Optima Hybrid (model years 2011-2020), 2012-2021 Kia Rio, 2011-2020 Kia Sorento, 2012-2021 Kia Soul, 2011-2020 Kia Sportage, 2018-2021 Kia Stinger and 2022 Kia K5.

Hyundai has now extended its recall Vehicles with an exploding seat belt part problem that has caused numerous injuries include 6,240 of the 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles.

The plaintiffs are represented by Nye, Stirling, Hale & Miller LLP, Sauder Schelkopf LLC and Walsh, PLLC.

The Lawsuit over oil consumption at Hyundai Is Cho et al. v. Hyundai Motor Company, LTD. et al. before the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Are you one of the drivers affected by an allegedly defective Hyundai engine? Let us know in the comments!

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