Status: In progress

Franz v. Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai allegedly sold certain vehicles containing defective oil pumps that pose a “massive fire risk.”

  • Deadline to file a claim: TBD
  • Proof of Purchase Required: No
  • Potential Individual Reward: TBD
  • Total Settlement Amount: TBD
  • States Involved

Abraham Jewett  |  September 7, 2023

Category: Auto News
2023 Hyundai Tucson, representing the Hyundai oil pump class action.
(Photo Credit: Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock)

Hyundai oil pump defect class action lawsuit overview: 

  • Who: John Franz filed a class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America. 
  • Why: Franz claims Hyundai sold certain vehicles containing defective oil pumps that pose a “massive fire risk.” 
  • Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court. 

Hyundai Motor America sold certain vehicles containing malfunctioning oil pumps that pose a “massive fire risk,” a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff John Franz claims Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia issued a recall last month over the alleged oil pump defect that included more than 90,000 vehicles produced by either of the two automakers. 

Franz argues the oil pumps in the recalled Hyundai and Kia vehicles contain a controller that can short-circuit and overheat, causing the oil to likely “overheat and combust.” 

“Due to the design defect, the Class Vehicles’ oil pump tends to malfunction and overheat while surrounded by combustible oil. This is a massive fire risk,” the Hyundai class action states. 

The class vehicles are model year 2023-2024 Hyundai Palisade, 2023 Hyundai Tucson, 2023 Hyundai Sonata, 2023 Hyundai Elantra and 2023 Hyundai Kona vehicles, according to the class action. 

Franz wants to represent a nationwide class and South Carolina subclass of consumers who purchased or leased any of the class vehicles. 

Hyundai concealed, failed to disclose oil pump defect, class action says

Franz argues Hyundai concealed and failed to disclose to its customers that the class vehicles allegedly contained a defective oil pump. 

“(Hyundai) knew that the Class Vehicles suffered from an inherently defective oil-circulation system, were defectively designed and/or manufactured, and were not suitable for their intended use,” the Hyundai class action states. 

Franz claims Hyundai is guilty of negligence, unjust enrichment, fraud by omission or fraudulent concealment, negligent design defect, breach of implied warranty of merchantability and breach of express warranty, and of violating the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

The plaintiff is demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory relief along with an award of actual, general, special, incidental, statutory and consequential damages for himself and all class members. 

A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Hyundai in April 2022 over claims a number of Hyundai and Kia vehicles are equipped with defective engines that use an excessive amount of oil, stall and fail in time. 

Have you purchased a Hyundai vehicle equipped with a defective oil pump? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Eric M. Poulin, Blake G. Abbott and Paul J. Doolittle of Poulin Willey Anastopoulo LLC. 

The Hyundai oil pump defect class action lawsuit is Franz v. Hyundai Motor America, Case No. 2:23-cv-07218, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.


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47 thoughts onHyundai class action alleges some vehicles have oil pump defect

  1. Amy Thorne says:

    My mother has a,2019 hyundai kona that we have been trying to get fixed she was told she needed a new engine but 2 years later she still doesn’t have it. They have done test after test and were told that hyundai keeps changing the “protocol” for further testing.

  2. Philip says:

    I have a 2016 Accent that has the issue of excessive oil consumption. Hyundai has acknowledged this in some other models but not this one. The consequences of this remaining not repaired include the vehicle suddenly stalling in the middle of traffic or at an intersection. Yes, very dangerous. Hyundai knows this defect also exists in my model but refuses to issue the extended warranty. Shame on you. I will definitely be spreading the word of Hyundai’s unethical and dishonest business practices.

  3. Debbie says:

    I have a 2013 Hundai Elantra is this only for 2023 oil pumps issues?

  4. Warren says:

    I had this problem from the first day I brought my new 2023 Hyundai Tucson home from the dealer. It was just a few oil drops at first and it took me a few months to notice how bad it got. I took the car back to the dealer and they replaced my oil pump under warranty. Now it does not leak anymore.

  5. Michael Duane Irby says:

    I purchased a 2023 Tucson in Dec 2022

  6. Bonnie says:

    I had a 2011 Hyundai Sonata, the oil pump blew on our way home from visiting grandma. Hyundai admitted they had a recall and we received a brand new engine at no cost.

  7. Linda Witt says:

    I just purchased a new 2023 Hyundai Tucson in April 2023

  8. Dorothy Gladney says:

    I have a 2010 Hyundai Elantra can I be part of the lawsuit settlement

  9. Jess says:

    We have a 2023 Palisade and a 2023 Elantra

  10. Cynthia Brown says:

    I just purchased my 2023 Hyundai Elantra after having a 2017 Hyundai Sonata with a lot of recalls. I thought they would have fixed alls of their issues by now. Please add me.

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