Hyundai Sonata Smart Trunk Class Action Settlement

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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:

1. Documentation that includes their vehicle’s VIN number
2. A dated repair order/invoice including a repair description, cause of failure, parts used, labor time and costs, and mileage at time of repair
3. Proof of payment for the repair
4. Documentation showing ownership of the vehicle at the time of repair

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

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

www.SonataSmartTrunkSettlement.com

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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