Hyundai Class Action Alleges Defect Leads to Catastrophic Engine Failure

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

Hyundai Motor Company Ltd. and Hyundai Motor America Inc. are facing a class action lawsuit alleging certain vehicles contain an engine defect that prevents oil flow to vital areas of the engine, leading vehicles to stall during operation and potentially experience catastrophic engine failure.

Plaintiffs James Kinnick and Wallace Coats claim that the Hyundai engine defect results in the restriction of oil flow through the connecting rod bearings and other vital areas of the engine. They claim that the defect typically manifests during the limited warranty period or shortly after it has expired.

Kinnick and Coats allege the Hyundai engine defect can cause catastrophic engine failure at any time—even when the vehicle is in operation. As a result, the driver and occupants of the vehicle are at an increased risk of an accident, injury or death. Other drivers and passengers who share the road are also at risk, the Hyundai engine defect class action lawsuit alleges.

According to the Hyundai class action lawsuit, the vehicles affected by the alleged Hyundai engine defect include certain 2015-2016 Sonata, Tucson and Santa Fe vehicles with Theta 2.0-liter and 2.4 liter gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines.

“Not only did Defendants actively conceal the fact that particular components within the Class Vehicles’ engines are prone to failure, they did not reveal that the existence of the defect would diminish the intrinsic and resale value of the Class Vehicles and lead to the safety concerns described herein,” the Hyundai class action lawsuit states.

Kinnick and Coats claim that Hyundai has long been aware of the defect but that the motor company has refused to repair the affected vehicles without charge even when the alleged defect manifests during the limited warranty period.

“Indeed, in many cases Defendants have even refused to disclose the existence of the defect when Class Vehicles displaying symptoms consistent with the defect are brought in for service, instead choosing to ignore the defect until it has caused significant mechanical problems necessitating costly repairs,” the Hyundai engine defect class action lawsuit alleges.

Kinnick and Coats both claim that they had to pay thousands of dollars to replace the engines in their affected Hyundai vehicles. According to the engine defect class action lawsuit, Hyundai did not inform them of the existence of the Hyundai engine defect despite allegedly being aware of the issue.

The Hyundai class action lawsuit asserts claims for violations of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, California Unfair Competition Laws, the California False Advertising Law, the Ohio Consumer Sales Practices Act, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, breach of written warranty under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, common law fraud, breach of the duty of good faith and fair dealing, and violation of the Song-Beverly Act – breach of implied warranty.

Last year, Hyundai settled a similar engine defect class action lawsuit that allegedly affected 2011-2014 model year Hyundai Sonata vehicles with a Theta II 2.0 liter or 2.4 liter GDI engine.

Kinnick and Coats are represented by Richard D. McCune, David C. Wright, Joseph G. Sauder, Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of McCune Wright Arevalo LLP; Bonner Walsh of Walsh PLLC; and by Adam Gonnelli of The Sultzer Law Group PC.

They Hyundai Engine Defect Class Action Lawsuit is James Kinnick and Wallace Coats v. Hyundai Motor Company, et al., Case No. 8:17-cv-02208, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.