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This settlement is closed!
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Hyundai has agreed to settle class action claims that their Sonata vehicles are equipped with defective “Smart Trunk” features.
The settlement will benefit consumers who own or lease, or who previously owned or leased, a 2015 to 2017 Hyundai Sonata equipped with the Smart Trunk feature.
Plaintiff Joshua Riaubia filed his Hyundai class action lawsuit in September 2016, claiming that the Smart Trunk feature on his vehicle is defective.
The feature is supposed to open the trunk fully after the owner stands 20 to 40 inches behind the car with the key fob for three seconds. Despite Hyundai “aggressively” marketing the feature, Riaubia claims that the Smart Trunks don’t work as advertised.
The trunks allegedly fail to open more than a few inches. Riaubia argues that “[i]nstead of automatically opening as advertised, they simply unlatch, requiring consumers to manually push open the trunk lid, thereby failing to provide the ‘hands-free’ convenience the Smart Trunk is advertised to deliver.”
Hyundai has not admitted that their Smart Trunk features are defective, but agreed to settle the claims against them.
The settlement provides several types of compensation including: a cash payment OR Hyundai dealer credit; free inspection and repair/replacement of Smart Trunk torsion bars; warranty extensions; and reimbursement for past experiences. More information about each of these compensation options is available in the “Potential Award” section below.
Documentation may be required to recover some forms of compensation, including cash payments, dealer credit, and out-of-pocket reimbursement.
In order to make a claim for reimbursement, Class Members need to file a claim by Jan. 3, 2020. The deadline for exclusion and objection is Nov. 4, 2019. The final approval hearing for the Hyundai class action settlement is scheduled for Dec. 4, 2019.
Who’s Eligible
Consumers who own or lease, or who previously owned or leased, a 2015 to 2017 Hyundai Sonata equipped with the Smart Trunk feature.
Potential Award
Several types of compensation are available as part of the Hyundai class action settlement. Class Members may be eligible for the following:
- Cash Payment OR HMA Dealer Credit: up to $50 in cash payments or a $100 HMA dealer credit. In order to qualify for this compensation, Class Members need to show proof of a complaint, repair, or warranty claim pertaining to the Smart Trunk.
- Free Inspection and Repair/Replacement of Affected Smart Trunk Torsion Bars: consumers can choose to get their trunks inspected if their Smart Trunk is opening less than 7.5 inches. Any replacements or repairs made will be covered under Hyundai’s 78 month/78,000 mile extended warranty or the company’s 2 year/unlimited mileage replacement parts warranty.
- Warranty Extension: warranties still active on Smart Trunk torsion bars will receive an extended warranty for 5 years/60,000 miles or 78 months/78,000 miles. If warranties have expired, consumers will receive a specialized warranty on the part for 18 months/18,000 miles.
- Reimbursement for Past Expenses: Hyundai will provide coverage for eligible out-of-pocket expenses incurred at an authorized Hyundai dealer or third party repair shop. In order to recover reimbursement, Class Members must provide the following:
-
- Documentation that includes their vehicle’s VIN number
- A dated repair order/invoice including a repair description, cause of failure, parts used, labor time and costs, and mileage at time of repair
- Proof of payment for the repair
- Documentation showing ownership of the vehicle at the time of repair
Proof of Purchase
In order to qualify for cash payment or HMA dealer credit, Class Members need to show proof of a complaint, repair, or warranty claim pertaining to the Smart Trunk.
In order to recover reimbursement, Class Members must provide the following:
- Documentation that includes their vehicle’s VIN number
- A dated repair order/invoice including a repair description, cause of failure, parts used, labor time and costs, and mileage at time of repair
- Proof of payment for the repair
- Documentation showing ownership of the vehicle at the time of repair
Claim Form
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
1/3/2020
Case Name
Riaubia v. Hyundai Motor America, Case No. 2:16-cv-5150-CDJ, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Final Hearing
12/4/2019
UPDATE: The Hyundai Sonata Smart Trunk Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on December 20, 2019. Please note that claims will not be paid until after the claim deadline passes. Top Class Actions will continue to provide updates as we learn more.
Settlement Website
Claims Administrator
Email: Support@SonataSmartTrunkSettlement.com
Phone: 866-944-7620
Class Counsel
James C. Shah
Natalie Finkelman Bennett
SHEPHERD FINKELMAN MILLER & SHAH LLP
Robert P. Cocco
ROBERT P. COCCO PC
Noah Axler
Marc A. Goldich
AXLER GOLDICH LLC
Defense Counsel
Kenneth L. Racowski
Christopher J. Dalton
Jacqueline M. Weyand
BUCHANAN INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC
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7 thoughts onHyundai Sonata Smart Trunk Class Action Settlement
The trunk on my 2017 Hyundai Sonata Sport just wouldn’t open fob, key, latch, nothing worked. It cost me over $300.00 to get it fixed. Smart trunk never really worked right. Add me please. I’m over their issues and it’s broke me keeping them fixed.
I have 2018 Hyundai sonata my trunk didnt unlatches, doesn’t open. this is unsafe because none of the back up way they made to open trunk does not work I will be filing because they need to do better and fix this.
The trunk latch on my 2017 Sonata failed this week. The fob, dash button and manual release would not unlock the trunk lid. The key opened it but now the trunk lid will not stay shut. Reading these reports was the first I had heard of this issue, and I bought the car new. Was there a recall or some effort to notify owners of the problem?
Wow isn’t this interesting that this was brought to Hyundai’s attention, yet it is still a problem. I have a 2018 Hyundai Sonata and my trunk only unlatches, doesn’t open. And like you said Kelly Hemelt, we should only have to show that we indeed purchased or leased this vehicle. I never complained about it. Kept forgetting about it. So do you realize how many people didn’t think about complaining and now can’t get compensation. That is wrong.
As an owner of a 2015 Sonata, why do I need to submit evidence of a repair order for a trunk lid that has always failed to open fully? In short, if the trunk lid never opened fully, it is a Hyundai mechanical design failure, not a repair issue.
I fully agree, and am in the same boat. The trunk is clearly defective, and we should be reimbursed for their false advertisement claims as to what their “smart trunk” can do. I chose this sonata for many reasons, some being its many features, and many smart features, , this trunk being one of. The car price was based off its many features, this being one of them. I have to pay that car price, and am paying that car price, but a paying this price with a defective feature. I should receive a portion of the class action with proof of my 2015 sonata purchase, like my title, and that alone. we should all be reimbursed for the cost of a smart trunk being included in the price of our sonatas. im happy to submit my title
I. On a 2011 Hyundai sonata
And the trunk latch had never worked like it’s supposed to
I’ll never buy another Hyundai because dealership is not given good service ever time I have a problem with my vehicle they say it’s something their not responsible for or warranty out
The reason I still own it is because I’m 73 years old widow living on social security. Wouldn’t recommend. Any one buying Hyundai sonata.