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Last week, Hyundai Motor America Inc. was hit with a class action lawsuit in California federal court alleging that the motor company failed to disclose a defect in the engine of its 2011 to 2015 Sonata models.
Lead plaintiff Beth Graham, a Sonata owner, alleged in her class action lawsuit that Hyundai did not disclose that the engine in the Sonata model was manufactured with a defect in its rotating assembly that causes “sudden and catastrophic engine failure.”
“The rotating assembly cannot withstand the long-term stress generated within the Sonata’s combustion chambers and fails within the useful life of the engine (most failures occur between 60,000 to 90,000 miles),” the Hyundai class action lawsuit alleges. “When the rotating assembly fails, it does so without warning and causes the engine to seize suddenly—leaving Sonata drivers without power and struggling to maneuver the vehicle to safety.”
Graham further alleges that in addition to concealing this defect from Sonata owners and failing to issue a recall, Hyundai improperly denied warranty coverage to owners whose engines failed due to the defect. “Hyundai has concealed the problem from consumers and implemented a concerted practice of denying warranty coverage for failed engines,” the engine defect class action lawsuit alleges.
“Hyundai tells Sonata owners that they must submit a complete record of the vehicle’s maintenance history before making a warranty claim—even though it knows that Sonata engines fail regardless of owner maintenance and that the faulty rotating assembly is responsible,” Graham alleges in the Hyundai class action lawsuit. “For those warranty claims that are submitted, Hyundai’s practice is to deny them based on inadequate maintenance records or improper maintenance,” she continues. “Hyundai denies that engine failures are widespread in Sonata vehicles and blames its customers for the problem—forcing them to pay as much as $10,000 for an engine replacement.”
Graham also alleges in her class action lawsuit that Hyundai was or should have been aware of the defect. “Hyundai is, of course, currently aware that Sonata engines are seizing in record numbers,” the Hyundai class action lawsuit alleges. “It provides Hyundai dealerships with replacement engines and carefully tracks both part sales and the type of repairs conducted by its dealerships,” Graham further explains.
“In addition, many Sonata owners have complained to their dealership and to Hyundai’s corporate office—to no avail,” the Hyundai class action lawsuit continues. “The strong likelihood is that Hyundai knew of the rotating assembly defect much earlier, likely before Class Vehicles were ever released to the public.” Graham further points out that discovery and review of Hyundai’s internal records will be necessary to know whether Hyundai was aware of the defect, “but the rotating assembly defect is one that would typically be discovered during standard pre-release testing,” she contends.
Graham alleges that Hyundai violated various state laws and class members are entitled to costs and damages. The proposed Class includes “[a]ll persons who purchased or leased a 2011-2015 Hyundai Sonata within the United States.”
Graham is represented by Eric H. Gibbs, Dylan Hughes, and Steve Lopez of Gibbs Law Group LLP.
The Hyundai Sonata Engine Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Graham v. Hyundai Motor America Inc., Case No. 5:15-cv-02071, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District for California.
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310 thoughts onClass Action: Hyundai Failed to Disclose Sonata Engine Defect
The dealerships are full of bullshit and bold face liars. They will deny everything. My Sonata started being a qt low at just under 50k miles. I took it in for the oil use test and they told me it was fine. I took it in because I had changed my oil and it was 1 qt low. I kept adding and getting it “topped off” with additional oil until now and my engine has stopped working. I checked it with w code reader and it appears that the catalytic converter is damaged and that could be where the “missing ” oil is. I will never as long as I never ever buy a piece of crap Hyundai and spread the word to others not do to so as well.
Same exact issue I am having now the dealer is telling me I need to wait 3 months for a new engine that may not even be covered under the warranty
I’m having same issues with the oil burning a quart a week that I was adding in my 2015 Hyundai Sonata at 116,000 miles. My mechanic checked it and there were no leaks. I had the oil changed when I was suppose to. It started to rev up, and started knocking in the engine. I had to pull over on the side of the road. Then it completely locked up when I tried to crank it. I was told it would cost between 6.000 to 8,000 to replace. There’s isn’t a recall on the engine just a TSB(technical service bulletin) I’m not sure what else to do.
I am also having problems with the oil my Hyundai is a 2016 the mechanic says the oil was completely dry I also having problems with the engine I am so upset that it can be depressing dealing with this car.
I am in Australia I received a letter to my old home address which I haven’t lived there in over 10 years however I randomly got a phone call to pick up my mail from Hyundai urgent recall for my car and now I missed out on the deadline . Can somebody pls help me what I do? I almost had a really bad accident while the engine stopped working due to the recall problem on the freeway at 100kms I was driving my car instantly locked . Please I need some advise?
Hyundai stated that my engine needs to be replaced ( because I was burning 2-3 quarts of oil every 2-3 weeks) but I have to pay 20% of the total and they put all of my old parts back on my engine which broke- and I had to put out more money for each part that needed to be replaced –for the new engine installed.
2015 sonata. I got an oil change on 3/3/22. On 3/31/22 my vehicle engine started knocking. Pulled over and had the vehicle towed home. My mechanic check to see what the problem was. There was no oil. He said if we had an oil change 30 days ago there should still be oil in the engine. Oil light never came on to indicate it was low. Check engine light flashed with it started knocking. How can this be recitified? The engine is gone. Is the class action suit still an option?
I own a 2015 sonata SE and it also burns an ungodly amount of oil. From day one I have asked hyundai about it and they tell me it’s normal. The car sounds like an old worn out POS. IT HAS 85,000 MILES ON IT. A MONTH AGO I WAS DRIVING home and lost power was able to get off the road. No lights came on nothing just stopped. My engine had froze up. It is now at the dealership and I’m waiting for word if they are going to replace my motor. We still owe 9,000 dollars I have had every oil change they suggested. All done at the hyundai dealership. I will go to court over this. I will not let them screw me over.
Running into similar problems with a 2016 Sonata. It has always had issues from day one with hesitation on acceleration. Service could never replicate the problem when I took it in. Now around 80k miles we did an oil consumption test and after 1,000 miles they found no oil. The service department at the dealership submitted to Hyundai but I have been denied supposedly due to one missing service record from early 2018 in which I have no proof of an oil change. Reading these forums, it looks like others have been denied even with warranties and all service records. Hoping to find some restitution if possible, though I am unsure how to get information as to whether or not a class action is still ongoing for this issue.
The lawsuit was settled and Hyundai is replacing engines now. BUT the runaround you get, submitting oil change records, and signing forms and, and, and was a pain and frustrating. I own a 2012 Hyundai Sonata, 114,000 miles, which had the defective Theta II engine identified in the lawsuit. I had brought it to the dealer for all recall/safety work, per their notices to me. This included the software update Knock Sensor Detection System which was to alert drivers to an impending engine problem.
My engine seized up at 70mph on the interstate on 05/15/22. No warning light or chime. No brakes or steering. Only the momentum of the car allowed me to dodge traffic and pull onto the shoulder. It took 6 weeks to have the engine replaced. I had to submit oil change documents. I had all 21 invoices from the year I bought the car through April 2022. The Hyundai service rep told me verbally that 6 or 7 of the most recent changes was sufficient. They got all 21.
I imagine Hyundai Motors of America has turned down requests for a new engine if, heaven forbid, you know how to change your own oil! (I also had been adding oil at home due to excessive consumption starting in 2021. I read another class action lawsuit may be on the horizon about that.)
Hyundai has known about these faulty engines for a decade. It is disgusting and deadly how they have treated their customers to protect the bottom line $$$$. Now my decision is whether to keep the car for a while longer or sell right away. I’m going back to Honda. Never should have left them in the first place.
I noticed my 2015 Sonata burning oil at 92000 KM… It burns 1 liter every 1000km… the dealer said this is acceptable. I have never owned a car which burns this much oil. I was not told at the time of purchase that this is a normal oil consumption situation with 2015 Sonata. If I was told I would not have purchased the vehicle.
Is Hyundai addressing this problem in Canada or the USA?
Same thing going on with my 15 right now. Bill shit worse mistake I ever made buying this car 🙄
Search on the web “Hyundai excessive oil consumption lawsuit”. Your 2015 Hyundai Sonata is listed as one of the affected models (19 Hyundai and Kia). My 2012 Sonata is not listed, but I have added many quarts of oil between regular changes since 2021. My hunch is that the list will grow. Especially since it will probably take years before a settlement is reached.
Good luck.
Is this suit still open?
I too need to file. Mine burns quart of oil every 1,000 miles
Has anybody contacted you yet? I need to file a lawsuit too. Both Dealership and my extended warranty is expected me to pay for even manual work. Please reach out if you have the contact to call. Thanks,
I would like to know if the class action is still open because I have a 2014 and they said the motor is messed up and needs to be replaced and they’re wanting to charge me $8,000 that’s ridiculous
My 2011 Hyundai Sonata was repaired with Hyundai replacing with a rebuilt engine. I only had $70,000 original miles on the vehicle when the engine just quit in the middle of a turn. There were no arrangements for a loaner car and I had to do without anything to drive for three weeks. I have just suffered another engine problem February the fourth 2022 ( 14 months after the first) Now Hyundai advises me they won’t even be able to look at the car until March 23. And probably not be able to begin repairs until at least April 1 if that. I am alone, no other vehicle and obviously Hyundai has no solution. To my predicament I am an elderly widowed female with two hip implants. What am I supposed to do for a month and weeks after that for transportation.? You think someone could at least advise so if I need another rebuilt engine it could be ordered and waiting to be installed by the time they “get around to it”. When my Son looked under the intake Manifold cover he took had to take pictures documenting how dirty that area was and wondered how any mechanic would put something in a freshly rebuilt engine without having everything clean to begin with? I could just imagine the service manager at Hyundai shrugging his shoulders while on the telephone with me when I told him I was in a predicament. Everything is about victims now, I wonder how our local television news would like to bite into this one. I am not shy.