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Hyundai class action lawsuits overview:
- Who: Consumers recently filed a pair of class action lawsuits against Hyundai North America. The automaker also recently initiated a pair of recalls, and a judge granted preliminary approval to a class action settlement.
- Why: The class action lawsuits collectively involve claims Hyundai failed to safeguard its vehicles and honor a lifetime battery warranty. The recalls and settlement were made over separate fire-risk concerns.
- Where: The class action lawsuits were filed in California and Maryland federal courts.
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.
The class action lawsuits involve claims that Hyundai failed to properly safeguard its vehicles from being susceptible to theft, as well as allegations it reneged on its promise to honor lifetime battery warranties.
Hyundai also initiated a pair of vehicle recalls in March over concerns certain vehicles could catch fire. The newly approved class action settlement, meanwhile, similarly resolved claims regarding a fire risk for certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
Cleveland claims Hyundai, Kia failed to properly safeguard vehicles from theft
The city of Cleveland filed a class action lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia in March over claims the companies endangered public safety by allegedly not placing proper safeguards to prevent vehicles from being stolen.
Hyundai and Kia are accused of not keeping “up with the times” by allegedly failing to equip their vehicles with anti-theft technology that would prevent someone from starting their ignitions without a key present.
“Hyundai and Kia are nearly unique among automobile manufacturers in failing to install vehicle immobilizers in most of their cars,” the Hyundai and Kia class action lawsuit states.
The city of Cleveland argues Hyundai and Kia’s alleged failure has led to a wave of vehicle thefts, spurred by viral instructional TikTok videos, that have a significant impact on the city’s emergency services and law enforcement operations.
Hyundai accused of failing to honor lifetime warranty promise for Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles
A married couple filed a separate class action lawsuit against Hyundai near the end of January, arguing the automaker failed to honor its promise of a lifetime warranty for batteries used in one of its now-discontinued electric vehicles.
Hyundai “abandoned” customers who purchased its Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles, allegedly leaving some vehicle owners without a functional battery for more than a year, according to the Hyundai class action lawsuit.
Hyundai offered customers a lifetime warranty on the battery used to power the vehicles when in electric mode, according to the couple, who argue the automaker was ultimately unable to honor its promise since it allegedly did not have the inventory or ability to do so.
The couple claim Hyundai sold the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid vehicles from between a model year of 2016 and 2020, at which time the automaker allegedly decided to discontinue production for the hybrid model.
Hyundai issues pair of recalls over vehicle fire risk concerns
Hyundai also initiated a pair of recalls in March over concerns its vehicles could unexpectedly catch on fire either while in use or while parked.
One of the recalls was for a combined total of more than 570,000 model year 2019-23 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles, model year 2021-2023 Santa Fe Hybrid vehicles and model year 2022-2023 Santa Fe Plug-In Hybrid, Santa Cruz and Kia Carnival vehicles.
Hyundai initiated the recall over concerns the vehicles could catch fire either while in park or drive, as a result of an electrical short in circuit boards located in the vehicle’s tow hitch harnesses.
“An electrical short could increase the risk of a trailer tow hitch harness module fire while driving or while the vehicle is parked with the ignition off,” the Hyundai recall states.
Hyundai has advised recalled vehicle owners to avoid parking them inside or near structures until they are fixed.
The automaker initiated its other March recall over concerns its model year 2012-2013 Hyundai Velosters could catch fire as a result of their parking sensors short circuiting.
Hyundai recalled more than 26,000 Velosters in total. The automaker says it has not received any reports of injuries or crashes that would be connected to the recall; however, it said it has received five reports of fires.
Vehicle owners impacted by the recall will be notified by April 29 by mail with instructions on how to bring their vehicles in for a fuse and sensor replacement, if necessary, according to the Hyundai recall.
Hyundai, Kia settle claims automakers sold vehicles with defect causing failure, fire
Hyundai and Kia agreed to a class action settlement to resolve claims the companies sold certain vehicles with a defect that could allegedly cause them to suddenly fail or catch on fire. It was preliminarily approved by a California federal judge in February.
The class action settlement will provide reimbursement for repairs and extended warranties for around 2.1 million vehicles.
Eligible class members include owners of model year 2013-2019 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport vehicles, 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata vehicles, 2012-2019 Kia Sorenta and Kia Soul vehicles and 2011-2019 Kia Optima and Kia Sportage vehicles.
Have you been impacted by a recent Hyundai class action lawsuit, settlement or vehicle recall? Let us know in the comments!
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42 thoughts onHyundai faces recent class action lawsuit claims, safety recalls
My hyundai use to stop in mid traffic. I got on the highway one day and it wouldnt pick up speed. Last Thursday someone tried to steal it they bust the window ans climb in. I recently got the update on the anti locka so they could get it to start. They ripped the ignition apart. They did the same to 7 other cars in the area. Now i have another recall. Im so sick of Hyundai, its not even funny.
My 2013 Hyundai Sonata has a gas leak. I smelled a heavy odor of gas when I entered my car. Started it up and notice the mileage decreasing drastically. Looked under the hood gas pouring from the pressure fuel line. I do not remember receiving notification of a recall!! This is not even on the list of (active) recalls when I enter my VIN!
I Had a 2014 Hyundia Sonanta It was stolen, I wanted to join the class action suite but I do not qualify for, cause of the year was forced to buy ,another car, which i had not planned on doing. my car was paid in full, I also to pay a 750.00 deductable,. Plus a heavy down payment on a anoter car. Plus the mental strain. I am afraid they will come back and maybe rob me, since they took my registration and insurance card. I had a appointment on August 11th at 1:15 pm to have the new software installed, which i had waited almost a month to be serviced, My car was stolen 9 days prior to installation of the software. So because of the year of my car I can not sign up for the class action suite.
Had 2012, bought new, Elantra. Paid it off. In 2018, while parked in drive, the car burst into flames with no one in car. Was using official tire inflator to fill one tire. Insurance totaled for much less value and Hyundai ignored me.
Se incendió mi carro Hyundai Elantra Limited 2013 estando estacionado en mi residencia en el día de ayer.
My mother’s Santa Fe caught fire and burned to the ground today. Ironically, she had just picked it up from the dealership service department about an hour prior. Due to an oil leak that that the dealer was unable to locate or account for after studying the problem over 7 or 8 drop offs the dealer finally qualified my mom for a brand new motor – a complete replacement of her engine. She was to take her car home and come back to drop it off in a week or two to have the new motor installed free of charge.
Moving on to today.
After picking her care up from the dealer (11:00 am CST), and being informed that they would finally accept responsibility as defect and replace her motor (free of charge) she made her way home where she parked her vehicle in the driveway. Approx. 10 minutes later the vehicle was engulfed in flames – blowing out windows of her home, burring the garage door and several other parts of the houses exterior as the entire engine melted to the ground. Fortunately our local fire had a truck already in route to another call when they heard about our situation – and they were rerouted to us making their in just 5 or short minutes from placing the call.
Strangely, my mother had already taken the vehicle in the have the recall addressed – so not really sure