Hyundai class action claims Palisades contain tow hitch modules that catch fire

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Hyundai tow hitch class action overview: 

• Who: A group of Hyundai Palisade drivers are suing the automaker.
• Why: The plaintiffs say the vehicles were sold with a tow hitch defect that was not adequately repaired.
• Where: The Hyundai tow hitch class action was filed in a California federal court.
• What are my options: CarShield provides vehicle protection plans for Kia and other vehicles.

Hyundai sold vehicles with defective tow hitch wiring harness modules that caused the vehicles to catch fire, then failed to repair them within a reasonable period of time, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiffs Brenda Hageman, Richard Price and Timothy Sage filed the class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America on June 14 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

The lawsuit relates to 2020-2022 Hyundai Palisade vehicles. According to the lawsuit, Hyundai marketed the Palisade as having 5,000 pounds of towing capacity and a trailer sway control. 

To take advantage of this towing capacity, customers each paid an additional amount of approximately $475-750 for an optional tow hitch and tow wiring harness module accessories, they say.

“However, the Class Vehicles’ tow wiring harness modules contain one or more defects causing the modules to suffer from an electrical short circuit and catch fire,” the lawsuit states. 

Fix did not work, lawsuit alleges

Hyundai initially directed owners and lessees to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and to return their vehicles to Hyundai dealerships to implement an interim fix, the lawsuit states. 

“But this merely disables rather than repairs the tow wiring harness modules; without power supplied through the tow hitch wiring harness module, the turn and brake signals do not work,” the plaintiffs say. 

“As a result, tens of thousands of Class Vehicles that were equipped with the optional tow package can no longer use their vehicles to tow, as the tow package has been rendered useless due to the ‘fix.’”

To date, Hyundai has failed to repair or replace the defective tow wiring harness modules within a reasonable time, the lawsuit says.

As a result, the plaintiffs are suing for unjust enrichment and breach of warranty. They are looking to represent anyone who purchased or leased any 2020- 2022 Hyundai Palisade vehicle in the United States.

They seek certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, Hyundai North America has been in the news recently over a pair of class action lawsuits, the approval of a class action settlement and a pair of recalls the automaker initiated in March over safety concerns. Click here to read more. 

What do you think of this Hyundai class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments!

The plaintiffs are represented by Trinette G. Kent of Lemberg Law LLC. 

The Hyundai class action lawsuit is Brenda Hageman, et al. v. Hyundai Motor America, Case No. 8:23-cv-01045 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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