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In a class action lawsuit, Kia and Hyundai drivers say that their vehicles burst into flames because of an engine defect.
Plaintiffs Susie Rexroad, Deonte Witcher, Eduardo Silvera, Claudia Galindo, Guan Perry, Melissa Gurtler, and Julie Esqueda claim that they are owners of Kia and Hyundai vehicles that possess an engine defect that causes the vehicles to burst into flames while being driven, posing a risk of injury to drivers and passengers.
The plaintiffs aim to hold the makers of the vehicles, Hyundai Motors Corporation, Hyundai Motors America, Kia Motors Corporation, and Kia Motors America Inc., liable for damages.
According to the drivers, certain vehicles possess an engine defect that restricts oil flow to the engines’ parts, like the rod bearings.
Allegedly, this restriction of oil flow causes those parts to wear out prematurely and seize.
The drivers say that this occurrence can cause engine failure and can cause engine parts to “break off and knock holes into the engine, leaking fluids and igniting a fire.”
Rexroad and other consumers say that Kia and Hyundai claim on their websites that they conduct extensive testing on their vehicles, so the companies should have known of the defect, and should have not sold the vehicles to consumers if they know about it.
The Hyundai, Kia class action lawsuit also claims that the companies knew or should have know of the defect because between 2010 and the middle of 2018, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received more than 100 complaints of non collision-related fires in the vehicles with the allegedly defective engines.
Additionally, the NHTSA reportedly received more than 200 complaints “describing potential fire indicators, such as melted wires and smoke, in Class Vehicles.”
The Kia, Hyundai class action states that the Center for Auto Safety petitioned the NHTSA in June 2018 to investigate these complaints, which then prompted a recall of millions of vehicles with the defect in October 2018.
These vehicles reportedly included all 2011-2014 Kia Sorentos, Kia Optimas, Hyundai Sonatas, Hyundai Santa Fes, and 2010-2015 Kia Souls.
The Kia Hyundai vehicle fires class action lawsuit says that despite their knowledge of the engine defect, the car makers only implemented limited recalls that did not fully address the injury that consumers suffered as a result of the defect.
Allegedly, the companies only released technical service bulletins to technicians and not to the public at large.
The Kia Hyundai class action lawsuit claims that “none of these affirmative steps reveal the existence of the Engine Defect that renders their engines prone to failure and non-collision fires.”
The drivers say they were injured by Kia and Hyundai’s actions because had they known that the vehicles possessed an engine defect and would burst into flames, they would not have purchased the vehicles at all or would not have paid as much for them.
The drivers are represented by Hassan A. Zavareei, Annick A. Persinger, and Tanya S. Koshy of Tycko & Zavareei LLP; by Jonathan Streisfeld and Daniel Tropin of Kopelowitz Ostrow Ferguson Weiselberg Gilbert; by Jeffrey Kaliel and Sophia Gold of Kaliel PLLC; and by E. Powell Miller and Sharon Almonrode of The Miller Law Firm PC.
The Kia Hyundai Engine Fire Class Action Lawsuit is Susie Rexroad, et al. v. Hyundai Motors Corporation, et al., Case No. 4:19-cv-01461, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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74 thoughts onKia, Hyundai Class Action Alleges Vehicles Burst Into Flames
My car has been at the dealership for 3 years now all I need to know is the information on the lawyers that took this case so I can contact them plz and thank you my life has been messed up because of this company lost my job house and all kinds of other stuff due to this issue but any way any info would be grateful thanks
I need information on this matter about the lawyers involved and how to get ahold of them my car caught fire 3 years ago lost my job house and everything due to this crap and they never even gave me a loaner car to replace it like they said they were going to I just now got papers about it after fighting this company for 3 years now and my car is still in the parking lot and I dont owe anything on my car bought and paid for anyways if anyone has information about the lawyer to contact plz message me its been three years since this matter has taken place
You have to file a claim yourself but you can right on this website
My 2014 soul caught fire a few weeks ago going to work.
Please add me
to the class action suit my cars engine burst into flames with my 2 young children in the car. It was 2014 Kia soul
Please add me
We have a 2015 Hyundai sonata eco. The engine is losing it burning oil somewhere. The engine gets overly hot but does NOT signal the dash light. The engine and transmission both have been cause for our towing needs to the dealership. Transmission was already replaced at our expense. We have to add 1 to 2 quarts of oil every fill up. We have Always serviced it at the Hyundai dealership including all oil changes so there is a complete record of everything done. After extensive repairs and investigations at the Hyundai dealer they have “concluded” that it is just normal and we are to just keep adding oil. Please add me to the list.
My husband and I had a 2014 Kia Sorento with the GDI engine and we experienced a total loss of our car due to the engine catching fire..
On September 8 this year my 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe caught fire while we were driving down 475 in Georgia by Macon we lost scaring the windows locked everything locked no breaks no nothing the car breaks down to the ground in less than eight
Minutes My daughter-in-law my husband my three month old granddaughter and myself for in the car we almost lost our lives my daughter-in-law did get her leg burned we’ve been looking for legal help with nowhere else to go can you help us
In May of 2009 I came to the and purchased a brand new 2009 Black Hyundai Elantra from a local dealer Coconut Creek AutoMall. Vehicle ran throughout the past years with no issues. I am one to always be up to date in care and maintain for any vehicle that I own.
On Friday September 13th, 2019 I arrive to work at 7:00am park the car in my assigned parking lot and get into work. At around 1:15pm I receive a call that my car is on fire. I run downstairs to see my vehicle in flames. My car had been sitting in the off position for almost over 6 hours. Six hours of not being touched, moved, or even to retrieve anything for the car. The car literally just ignites in flames causing other vehicles to be damaged as well. I could have been in that car, my children, my husband could have been in the car with me. There’s absolutely no reason as to why or how this could happened to my car a car with no apparent issues.
On Monday September 16th, 2019 local new reporters are showing to have found another vehicle same make and model of mine randomly igniting into flames after being off for over 8 hours. No reasoning to how or why the fire even occurred.
I am contacting you today in regard to what seems to be an ongoing issue with Hyundai Elantra’s and Hyundai in general. I am wanting answers and information on how I can go about this.