Hyundai to Face Stalling Defect Class Action Lawsuit

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Last Friday, Hyundai Motor Co. was hit with a stalling defect class action lawsuit and faces accusations of knowingly and willfully concealing a stalling and power loss problems in their Santa Fe SUV model vehicles.

The Hyundai stalling defect class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court by Julia Reniger and Greg Battaglia who allege that the popular Korean automaker was aware of the defect present in 2010-2012 Santa Fe vehicles that made them prone to suddenly and unexpectedly stalling during a drive.

Both Reniger and Battaglia are owners of the Hyundai cars with the alleged stalling defect, a 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited and a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe, respectively. Both used their Hyundai vehicles for everyday transportation purposes, such as trips to work, home, shopping trips, in both highway and street speeds and conditions.

Reniger and Battaglia allegedly had their Hyundai SUVs stall multiple times during heavy traffic, passing over speed bumps, and even when slowing down before making a right turn. This alleged stalling problem in Hyundai Santa Fe SUV’s can be dangerous to drivers and passengers, because it can lead to problems braking and steering while in drive.

According to the Hyundai stalling defect class action lawsuit:

“In about the beginning of March 2014, Plaintiff’s vehicle stalled twice in one day. Plaintiff [Julia Reniger] brought her vehicle to Mission Hills Hyundai three times during March 2014 to have the Stalling Defect repaired and multiple ‘fixes’ were attempted including, among other things, cleaning the throttle body and changing the battery. Each time, however, shortly after Plaintiff picked up her vehicle, it stalled again. Because the Hyundai dealer was unable to remedy the Stalling Defect after repeated attempts, and the defect was a serious safety issue which impacted Plaintiff’s use and enjoyment of her vehicle, Plaintiff subsequently traded in her vehicle.”

Plaintiff Greg Battaglia alleges in the class action lawsuit that he barely averted a major and lethal accident caused by the stalling defect in his Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.

Both lead plaintiffs allege that Hyundai concealed important information regarding the nature and prevalence of the stalling defect from their consumers. Reniger and Battaglia also allege that the so-called Hyundai Service campaign launched earlier this month by the carmaker does not fully address or remedy the alleged stalling defect problem or the supposed concealment.

The stalling defect class action lawsuit claims that Hyundai was aware of the stalling defect based on various consumer reports and complaints submitted to the automaker, but especially because of reports filed to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The Hyundai class action lawsuit alleges that consumers who directly filed complaints to the automaker were ignored, told the problem was either non-existent because if could not be replicated, and on many occasions were provided alleged “fixes” that were ineffective and did not properly fix or address the stalling issue. These alleged fixes were also used in last month’s Hyundai Service campaign, “which purports to address the Stalling Defect. However, Defendants’ ‘Service Campaign Notification’ is materially false and misleading and proposes a ‘fix’ which, on its face, fails to address many manifestations of the Stalling Defect, and, on information and belief, does not remedy the Stalling Defect.”

Reniger and Battaglia bring this Hyundai stalling defect class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased or leased 2010-2012 Hyundai Santa Fe vehicles, as well as a subclass of consumers residing in California.

The Julia Reniger, Greg Battaglia, and the Class are represented by Lionel Z. Glancy and Mark S. Greenstone of Glancy Binkow & Goldberg LLP.

The Hyundai Stalling Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Reniger, et al. v. Hyundai Motor America, et al., Case No. 3:14-cv-03612, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

UPDATE: On June 21, 2016, Hyundai agreed to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the car maker of concealing a stalling defect in certain Santa Fe vehicles.