Hyundai Piston Engine Settlement Provides Extended Warranties, Reimbursement for Consumers

UPDATE 2:

• Top Class Actions viewers reported this settlement paying out $500 as of Oct 16, 2021.
• Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got paid!

UPDATE:

• The Hyundai piston class action settlement was granted final approval April 20, 2021.
• Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our Facebook page.

Consumers who owned or leased certain models of Hyundai may be eligible for a reimbursement or warranty extension thanks to a class action settlement.

Anyone who owned or leased a Class Vehicle that was purchased or leased in the United States — including the District of Columbia, but excluding other U.S. territories — or those who purchased or leased a Class Vehicle while abroad on active military duty may be eligible to benefit from the Honda piston engine settlement.

Plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit had alleged certain models of the defendants’ vehicles had a defect that could cause engine seizure and stalling. 

The defendants deny these allegations and have not been found guilty in court, but have agreed to a settlement.

The following vehicles equipped with a 1.8L Nu engine are considered Class Vehicles:

• Hyundai Elantra (model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
• Hyundai Elantra GT (model year 2013)
• Hyundai Elantra Coupe (model year 2013)

The Hyundai piston engine settlement provides relief in the form of warranty extensions, reimbursement for past repairs, and reimbursement for expenses such as towing and car rentals.

Warranty Extensions

To qualify for an automatic warranty extension, a Class Member’s Class Vehicle must be registered in a “cold weather state” for at least six months.

“Cold Weather States,” a defined by the settlement agreement, are: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

According to the settlement website, Class Members who live in a state not considered a cold weather state as defined by the settlement must submit a claim form in order to receive a warranty extension. They also must meet one of the following conditions:

• After the notice date, you register your Class Vehicle in a Cold Weather State for at least six months
• The Class Vehicle was previously registered in a  Cold Weather State
• You demonstrate substantial prior cold-weather usage of the vehicle for at least 90 consecutive days from November to March during which the Class Vehicle was in a place where it was exposed to at least 50 cumulative days of temperatures at or below 32 degrees in that location during that period
• You demonstrate, with a heightened proof submission (such as actual parts, photo, or other evidence) that the engine problem is directly related to the “piston-scuffing-type defect” alleged in the class action lawsuit.

Class Members whose vehicles were already beyond the time and mileage limits for extended warranties as of the notice date will have their powertrain warranty time and mileage limits extended for the 90 days following the Court’s final approval of the settlement in Cold Weather or Warm Weather states, (subject to the conditions previously mentioned). The mileage limit will be extended to 140,000 miles for original retail purchasers and lessees, as well as purchasers of Hyundai Certified Pre-Owned vehicles. The limit will be extended to 100,000 for all other owners.

The warranty extension may be denied for “Exceptional Neglect,” meaning failure to change the Class Vehicle’s engine oil for at least 365 consecutive days or 15,000 miles.

Reimbursement

In order to file a claim for reimbursement, Class Members with vehicles registered in Cold Weather States must submit a claim form that includes a proof of repair expense or repair-related expense. Hyundai must not substantiate Exceptional Neglect with respect to the repair.

Class Members whose vehicle is not registered in a Cold Weather State as of the notice date may also submit a claim form including proof or repair. These Class Members’ claim forms also must document that the vehicle was previously registered in a Cold Weather State, was previously subjected to previous cold-weather usage for at least 90 consecutive days between November and March in a location in which it was exposed to at least 50 cumulative days of below-freezing temperatures. 

The claim must also demonstrate through heightened proof submission that the repair was directly related to the alleged “piston-scuffing-type defect.” 

More information on the claim submission process and required proof is available on the settlement website’s FAQ page or the settlement notice.

The deadline to object to or opt out of the settlement is April 2, 2021.

The deadline to file a claim is 70 days after the Court grants final approval. The final approval hearing currently is scheduled for April 19, 2021, which would make the claim deadline June 28, 2021.

To Class Actions is following this settlement and will update you if the claim deadline changes.

Who’s Eligible

Anyone who owned or leased a Class Vehicle that was purchased or leased in the United States — including the District of Columbia, but excluding other U.S. territories — or those who purchased or leased a Class Vehicle while abroad on active military duty may be eligible to benefit from the Honda piston engine settlement.

The following vehicles equipped with a 1.8L Nu engine are considered Class Vehicles:

• Hyundai Elantra (model years 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016)
• Hyundai Elantra GT (model year 2013)
• Hyundai Elantra Coupe (model year 2013)

Potential Award

Varies.

• Warranty extensions
• Reimbursement for past repairs
• Reimbursement for expenses, such as towing and car rentals

Proof of Purchase

Emails, customer service chat logs, repair records, insurance claims, Return Merchandise Authorization confirmations, or other credible evidence of microphone or speaker failure.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

06/28/2021

Case Name

Elizabeth Brown, et al. v. Hyundai Motor America, et al., Case No. 2:18-cv-11249, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark Division

Final Hearing

04/19/2021

Settlement Website

HMAPistonSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

888-462-8721
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific, Monday through Friday

support@hmapistonsettlement.com

Class Counsel

Matthew D. Schelkopf
SAUDER SCHELKOPF LLC

Nicholas A. Migliaccio
MIGLIACCIO & RATHOD LLP

Daniel C. Levin
LEVIN SEDRAN & BERMAN

Defense Counsel

Peter C. Harvey
Michelle M. Bufano
PATTERSON BELKNAP WEBB & TYLER LLP

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