Update:
- A California federal judge approved a class action settlement to resolve claims that a defect inside certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles can expose owners to the risk of sudden failure and vehicle fires.
- On Feb. 8, U.S. District Judge Josephine L. Staton granted a motion for preliminary approval to the deal, which includes reimbursements for repairs and extended warranties for about 2.1 million vehicles.
- The settlement specifically calls for an extended warranty for free inspections and necessary repairs for 15 years or 150,000 miles, recalls and product improvements for certain models, reimbursement for qualifying repairs at authorized shops, goodwill payments for inconvenience due to repair delays and reimbursement for expenses related to transportation, lodging and meals for class members stranded by a qualifying failure or fire.
- The Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit settlement applies to owners of Hyundai cars 2013-2019 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport and the 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata. Affected Kia models are the 2012-2019 Kia Sorento, the 2011-2019 Kia Optima, the 2012-2019 Kia Soul and the 2011-2019 Kia Sportage.
(Dec. 18, 2018)
A new class action lawsuit argues a defect in certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles can expose owners to the risk of sudden failure and vehicle fires.
The Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit alleges more than 350 complaints were already filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) over this engine failure, but the manufacturers have failed to correct the problem.
The plaintiffs in the class action against Hyundai and Kia argue owners are put at risk of being seriously hurt in an accident if the vehicle suddenly catches fire. Further, the plaintiffs say the makers of the car either knew or should have known about the alleged defect, but failed to disclose it to the public.
The alleged defect named in the Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit has to do with the gasoline direct injection engines in certain Kia and Hyundai models. The alleged defect causes problems with the flow of oil to the moving parts in the engine, presenting a fire risk.
The parts can break apart and puncture a hole in the vehicle engine, according tot he class action lawsuit, which can ignite a major fire. The oil is supposed to flow to bearings and connecting rods without an issue, but engine seizure represents an immediate risk of vehicle breakdown and a blaze.
Attorneys representing the plaintiffs in this Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit say, “Hyundai and Kia are putting their own consumers in grave danger of spontaneous fires, loss of property, and personal injury, and alarmingly they have also chosen to actively conceal the defect.”
Models impacted in this Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit include Hyundai cars 2013-2019 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport and the 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata. Affected Kia models are the 2012-2019 Kia Sorento, the 2011-2019 Kia Optima, the 2012-2019 Kia Soul, and the 2011-2019 Kia Sportage.
If these vehicles catch fire, total loss of the car, property damage, or even personal injury for those involved in a crash can result, say the plaintiffs.
The Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit seeks to recover losses vehicle owners have already experienced due to this problem, such as car rental, expensive repairs, towing charges, car payments and time off work.
Further, the plaintiffs in the Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit allege that they did not get the benefit the bargained for by purchasing these vehicles since the maker of the cars never warned them about the risks and dangers.
Congress has asked that representatives from these companies answer questions about the issue, but as of yet, car manufacturer representatives have failed to do so.
The plaintiffs who filed the Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit also seek injunctive relief options that could lead to an order to the automakers to recall, repair, or replace the impacted vehicles so that drivers do not face the risks of complete engine failure and a resulting fire.
The plaintiffs in the Hyundai class action lawsuit are represented by Christopher R. Pitoun and Steve W. Berman of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP.
The Hyundai Class Action Lawsuit is Leslie Flaherty et al., v. Hyundai Motor Company et al., Case No. 8:18-cv-02223, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
UPDATE: On Oct. 11, 2019, Hyundai and Kia reached a $758 million settlement with car owners who claim that their vehicles suffer from premature engine failure which may cause the cars to burst into flames.
Don’t Miss Out!
Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!
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377 thoughts onHyundai, Kia settlement involving 2.1M vehicles with defective engines gets initial approval
Please add me to this settlement my fiance car is a 2017 Kia shortage my engines locked up and now our car is in the shop in NC and they dont want to fix it
How can I be added to this lawsuit. I was never told when buying my 2016 Kia optima in 2022 that these models were recalled/ class action lawsuit was in motion for my car, fast forward to today and guess exactly what happened to my car it blew up while in motion no warning just bam. Now I have a financial cluster cause I still owe and now have no car. If the dealership I purchased it from would have told me that this was going on I would of never bought it 😔
Let the photos do the talking if i can add them. I rescently brought a 2013 Veloster 1.6 turbo , love the car, had it for two weeks one week spent on the house doing plugs and crank angle sensor. Special order, her in Tasmanian. I was back in the driver’s seat less than ten minutes when what sounded like rocks hitting under car, smoke coming out of bonnet car didnt immediately shut down i turned it off as soon as I was in a safe place. It blew rods out of the engine block, fragments of sharp metal sections flying everywhere. I have photos oil everywhere through car, I now have learnt about the class action suit and that this problem and danger is due to the manufacturing, im so bloody angry, not that I missed a deadline, personally I think amounts awarded are way under what owners deserve. Im so angry that Manufacturers are that evil. Unexceptable. It brings with it so many other issues for the owners. Jail the arseholes that are responsible for knowingly put these cars out with the faults . Im discusted, angry, unbelievably shocked but not surprised. See.s to me they got away with it, just a slap on the hand
Defective Engines: Include us, this is dangerous, being out there day or night & vehicle won’t start! Our 2011 Hyundia Sonata does not start like a vehicle should, in order to start the vehicle, you have put your feet on the brakes/gas peddle! Sounds disconnected! What in the world is going on! Plus this same vehicle was almost stolen, was vandalized!
This 2017 Hyundai Tucson uses so much oil because the cylinder was bored right and I read that the 2017 Hyundai was burning oil because of the size of the factory not fixing the engine cylinder size right and even the oil light doesn’t light up telling me it low of oil I’m checking it every other day lemon law should be forced on this engine
Please add me to the class action lawsuit. I have a 2015 Sante Fe Sport and just started the first 1000 miles consumption test. I was in the dealer shuttle this morning and the other 2 riders had the same issue previously both had their engines replaced after going back and forth for months with all the testing. Why make everyone jump through hoops if it is a known issue just fix it. This is very stressful .. I am scared to drive the car!
I have a 2016 Hyundai Tucson which is leaking oil somewhere I’ve done had to put over $2000 in the Cadillac converter system my car is still acting up it smells like it’s on fire sometimes somethings majorly wrong with these cars I have told the dealership numerous times but they just think that it funny cause that’s what they do they laugh back at us There’s never a recall on anything when you call them or ask them this is just really bad I I am a double amputee patient who has her grandbabies with her a lot this is dangerous if the car catches on fire because of this I don’t know if I can get out quick enough to get me and my grandbabies out of the car safely they know this this is wrong they’re playing Russian Roulette with our lives and don’t care good job Hyundai good job I would love to be able to say that not being negatively But I can’t this is awful when we put our money that we work hard for and product that they make and something to be able to get us backwards and forwards safely it doesn’t matter to them as long as I get that number one dollar that’s it please add me to the class action lawsuit
I have a 2017 Hyundai Sante FE which is losing 2quarts of oil between oil changes. I told the dealership about this, and they said there is no recall of this problem. It is an oil consumption issue which 2 qts of oil in 3000 miles is a lot. I love my car, and I bought it used during covid when they could not get any vehicle now it is not worth what I owe on it. I am upside down $5000. I need help with this problem. I need a new engine, or I need them to buy the car back. I am out of options at this point. I am not going to spend thousands of dollars on a 2017.
I own 2013 Hyundai sonata I had recalls and regards the theft settlement which my car was stolen on April 1, 2024 how can I join the settlement which I never knew about or was informed by Hyundai
I have a 2019 Hyundai Kona which needs to be added to this settlement – I had this vehicle for less than 2 years and engine (rod bearings per service manager at Colonial Hyundai(formerly MJ Sullivan Hyundai) seize up with no help and many, many emails to many (including president/CEO-J Munoz) and Consumer Affairs and National Consumer Affairs – just turned me down with any help – no compensation and no new engine -NOTHING, done and no answers – to help me out – I had to rent a car and laid out a lot of money to do this and I am 72!