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.
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
©2008 – 2024 Top Class Actions® LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
164 thoughts onHyundai Class Action Alleges Defect Leads to Catastrophic Engine Failure
Hyundai Accent with 79,000 miles on it. Engine blew a piston after 2 months of ownership. No oil in engine despite putting oil. Centennial Hyundai said “it is not their problem”. Replaced engine for $4000 and same thing happened again 2 weeks later. Put another engine and 4 months later, the same thing happened. Now told to junk the car. Lost $14,000 plus other repairs.
First my turbo went out .. I just had a new motor put in with an 12,000 bill ., two months later now the transmission.. 2016 Tucson :(
I am financing a 2016 Hyundia Tucson. I started to finance in Sept of 2019. I have always maintained regular oil changes everyday up-keep. Like most people they need their vehicle for everyday use. Well I use my vehicle to make a living. Now I am financially screwed! March 23rd, 2023, I was driving to work went about my day. As I was getting out of work I noticed my engine making a awful noise. Sounded like a cat purring with a lot of ticks or metal on metal noises. I came home did and oil change because I was due. The noise never went away got worse and louder. The next day March 24th, 2023. I was on the way to work didn’t even get off the street I live on and had to turn around. My oil light on my dash was flickering and it sounds like my engine was going to blow up! I made it home safe. I had my father check my car out. He said something is wrong with your engine, it needs to go to the shop. We ended up doing two more oil changes that day. Still the noise was getting worse and worse! Makes no sense, either something is clogged or the oil is going somewhere where it shouldnt be. One day my car was fine, the next not so much. NO WARNING SIGN!! I do believe my engine is failing due to lack of oil getting where it needs to go even dispite staying on top of maintenance! I am at a total loss for words. If there is anyone out there that have any leads to help me out. I appreciate it.
I have a 2016 Hyundai Tuscon Limited Turbo which I bought USED in August of 2018. The same week I left the lot I returned multiple times complaining that the car was hesitating and seemed like the transmission was having problems. The car would hesitate to go from a stop, several times leaving me and my infant (at the time) in the middle of intersections crossing traffic and unable to move. It almost got us SLAMMED multiple times. I explained this to them and they just kept telling me it was because of the turbo. I said NO ONE in their right mind would manufacture a car that goes fast at the cost of safety. That was insane to me but they kept sending me home. I returned over and over and over again for the entire 1st year I had the car with no resolution. Eventually, I also discovered issues if I had to brake hard, several times almost running into the back of people and one time I actually DID slam into the back of someone. I got to eat the cost of the insurance claim – only later to find out that there was a recall on the ABS system, 1 car accident later and when it was too late to do anything about it. The damage had been done. Anyway, moving along to 2020 when the transmission died, they replaced it under warranty. Took like a month to replace, meanwhile I have an infant and riding a bus and riding my bike everywhere because the dealer did not help me with a rental or anything. Then a year later in the middle of 2021 the engine died which they replaced under warranty, this time providing me with a rental for only a short time of the month long situation. Also racked up tow and tow storage bills exceeding $500 because it broke down on a major road in the middle of the night. Fast forwarding to the present – on 03/11/2023 I heard a sound coming from the engine which sounded like a cat screaming, coupled with severe hesitation when trying to accellerate. I immediately drove the mile home and parked the car. First thing Monday morning 03/13/23 I drove it with hazards to Coconut Creek Hyundai. It took them 4 days to even LOOK at the car, and the service manager called me on 03/16/23 to tell me that the engine and turbo have failed and it’s due to lack of maintenance because he sees sludge build-up. I MAINTENENCED my engine. This is NOT ACCEPTABLE. There are SEVERAL reasons that sludge can build-up in the engine and only ONE of them is lack of maintenance and it was maintenanced so STOP RIGHT THERE, and move to the next reason SIR. This engine is 1.5 years old since you replaced it and it should NOT be failing right now. I am at a loss right now, I need an attorney or something because this car has been a LEMON since the day that I got it. I also pulled the records and the prior owner had issues with the car as well. This is a nightmare and I still owe a lot of money on my loan. I submitted a claim to dispute the dealer because this should be under warranty! Someone HELP!
My 2019 Hyundai Tucson engine blew in 2022 with only 79,000 miles on it. Company said my car wasn’t in the lawsuit because it didn’t go to 2019 only 2015-2018 however they used the same moter in this car as the ones before started making new engines 2020. They were being consideret of costumers they said so they covered half the engine my out-of-pocket was over 4,000, in my opinion, in my opinion I shouldn’t have had to pay a dime!!
I have 2016 Tucson limited car has been burning oil for months
The engine blown and stopped on I-10 had to tow back to Phoenix. Car dealer spent over a week before they informed me about engine failures due to blown spark plugs parts into engine. Catastrophic failure repair cost thousands.
I have about 117,000 miles on my 2016 Tucson and it just crapped out on the way to my son’s wedding from Austin TX to Dallas TX! Spark plugs were full of oil and piston #4 has zero compression. Garage says engine is shot. We’ve been losing oil for a very long time and the dealer refuses to help – at one time they couldn’t see me for 3 months and I bought the car there.
2016 Sonata, engine blew at 105,000 with $6,000 left on the loan.
2016 Hyundai Sonata with 87,000 miles … engine went out
We just brought our 2016 Tucson to the dealer. The oil light and engine light is on and a message popped up saying you have an engine failure. Dealership is saying it isn’t covered and that the engine failure doesn’t typically happen on this vehicle. Boloney. It’s a catastrophic engine failure!
My sister in law just paid her loan off and had her car taken to dealership for the recall and had the software update done. Now the engine is knocking and won’t move.
First my turbo went out .. I just had a new motor put in with an 12,000 bill ., two months later now the transmission.. 2016 Tucson :(