Hyundai faces recent class action lawsuit claims, safety recalls

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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.

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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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Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Hyundai Veloster recall announced due to potential fire risk
• Hyundai announces recall for 570,000 vehicles due to fire risk
• City of Cleveland files lawsuit against Hyundai, Kia over after rash of thefts
• Hyundai class action claims BlueLink feature rendered obsolete upon 3G sunset