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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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43 thoughts onHyundai faces recent class action lawsuit claims, safety recalls
We have a 2013 Hyundai, and can’t sell because of these lawsuits, can’t afford it anymore
Se me incendio mi vehículo Elantra 2013 estando estacionado en mi residencia en el día de ayer.
I see the only way to join the class action lawsuit is to call Hydai customer service. Well my sonata was stolen in Dallas as i was taking my daughter to SMU. We had to buy my daughter a whole new wardrobe as her clothes for school was in the vehicle. I swear to you that i will never buy another Hydai as long as i live. Problem is I have a Santa Fe and a Tucson I would love to get rid of.
Rearended at a high rate of speed
My vehicle a Hyundai Sonata, was totaled my airbags did not deploy
I received head injuries
My Sante fe had the check engine light on, and was told it was an o2 sensor. Came right back on after a day. Took it back to hyundai and was told they had checked the recalls and the engine was fine. Had the air conditioning system flushed and the rotars worked on, after 2 weeks got the car back and my engine was knocking and it was undrivable.
I am having trouble with my 2018 Sonata using excessive amounts of oil. Dealer tried to blow me off and said I should check oil every 200 mi. and add oil. I told them that was not normal, but they said it could be normal. currently doing a oil consumption test but the already know I used 3 qts in 200 mi. Now they want me to drive 1,000 mi or until i run out. I dont put much mi. on the car and will take me some time to dr. 1,000 mi. I wantd to take a couple trips this summer, but afraid to drive very far. Right now, it is a piece of junk to me
Got my tire rods fix they forgot to grease my driver side front my tire rods is rusted it has to be replaced
My wife and I first experienced tail light failure melting/smoking harnesses . Then the car lost power and wouldn’t gain speed for a while and made clinking noises shifting gears . The dealership said it had to do with my axil’s and sent us on our way . Few months goes by engine seizes on the freeway we are issued a new engine at no cost due to the recall . Right when we thought we were in the clear we drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles where we go shopping in the downtown area . We return to our car completely stolen to this day we’re still shocked we took the last trip to pick up my son all his clothes and toys he bring for the summer we’re in the car plus my wife and I personal belongings I see there’s a Class Action Lawsuit going on how do I make a claim?
Hello, my 2017 recently Hyundai recently got stolen, I have called Hyundai about them fixing and being responsible for the Awd system malfunction, but they did not want to be responsible. Now I have no car and force to buy another and make new payments when my Hyundai was already paid for. Please Assist me.
I OWN A 2014 HONDA SANTA FE SPORT. It is part of the class action lawsuit where the engine can catch on fire. I have been having nothing but problems that no mechanic can seem to figure out. The check engine light goes on and off. When I was over 600 miles away from my home the car became strained and engine was tapping. No check engine light was on this time. I immediately took the car to a mechanic because I needed to take my son and his fiance home. The mechanic immediately said it sounds like the class action recall issue. He said he had 2 other cars like mine that was doing this and it was that
Especially after I explained to him everything else that has happened up to this point. He said he wouldn’t touch it. I had to rent a uhaul and a trailer yo get my car home. I immediately called 2 different hyndai dealerships. BTW they were the 2 closest to me. Both more then 45 minutes away. Both were willing to take the car, BUT they wouldn’t get to it for almost a month. I asked for a loaner. BOTH DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME NO. THEY SAID I COULD RENT A CAR AND WOULD GET REIMBURSED. Well that would be great if I had $2500 or more a month to do so. Yet I don’t. I’m permanently disabled and unmarried. That amount of money is almost double of what I take home!! So what does someone like me do?? The class action paperwork said that Hyndai would take each car in and check them out. So when I received the class action lawsuit paperwork I called 4 different Hyndai dealers. All of them said the same thing. WE CAN’T DO THAT. WITH THE AMOUNT OF CARS AFFECTED THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE. SO WAIT TIL IT STARTS HAVING THE PROBLEM THEN BRING IN.
Well I did still no help.
What I don’t understand is why in the class action lawsuit didn’t make provisions for Hyndail to have a contract with Enterprise or another car rental place so the victim doesn’t have to front the money for a car rental. Especially since Hyndai won’t get to my car for a month!!! Someone needs to make this right. Everyone doesn’t have that kind of cash for a car rental. Nor do they have a credit card to put it on. Or at the least maybe require Hyndai to make our cars a priority. They need to look at it within 48 hours. The only thing I know is that Hyndai once again is getting away with not addressing the issue and the victims, their customers are the ones suffering!
I have a 2015 Santa Fe sport the engine just locked up they’re telling me Hyundai won’t cover it about almost a year ago. Engine light came on code said engine failure Massey Hyundai said all the light was wrong and they fixed it plus I needed all other things and I was good to go now the engine just locked up, so why was it good a year ago but now you’re telling me it’s not it’s their engines on those years and Hyundai will not stand behind them
Ditto! I have a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe sport and my ABS LIGHT has been on and off for years. Does Hyundai do anything about it? They will only address the recalls that you have documentation for, wth? I even called the 888 or 800 number that was on the paperwork gave my information about the lawsuit and guess what? It’s been well over 3 months and still not call back. I did call times afterwards and the number is now disconnected! It’s all about MONEY, y’all… Such a shame! Now I have multiple lights on and the darn anit-lock system ABS is still showing!
Add please. I own a Kia and I have had multiple issues
May 9,2023 I took my 2012 Santa Fe in to get MPI inspection (l) went in they completed my inspection got my paperwork walked outside mechanic was pulling in from test drive my car was barely moving and my check engine light was on. He said I might have to leave it. And they would give me a loner car. He tried something else test drive again it drove ok. Left didn’t even get out of the parking lot engine light came on. Took it bad over there he put that OBD in just reset it. Check engine light came back on before I got home. I was not on before I got there. Now it’s ready code P200A. Fine when it went in reading code when I left I took it in for MPI engine inspection update. Now I can’t drive my car . Cause it can get worse. They are responsible to return my car back to me. The same or better. Not with engine light on. It didn’t read any codes I have a OBD as well. Please help they are responsible code P200A
Same thing happened to me! I need in this class action lawsuit.