Hyundai Tucson class action overview:
- Who: Plaintiff Dennis Sperling filed a class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America.
- Why: Sperling alleges Hyundai sold Tucson SUVs with defective automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems.
- Where: The Hyundai Tucson class action was filed in California federal court.
A new class action lawsuit filed against Hyundai Motor America alleges the automaker sold Tucson SUVs with defective automatic emergency braking systems.
Plaintiff Dennis Sperling claims Hyundai’s automatic emergency braking systems have a defect that causes them to falsely engage randomly, causing sudden, unintended braking.
The alleged sudden unintended braking defect causes the vehicles to detect obstacles that are not actually present, automatically triggering the brakes and causing the cars to abruptly slow down or come to a complete stop, sometimes in the middle of traffic, Sperling claims.
He further alleges the defect can startle and distract drivers by activating sudden, blaring visual and audible alerts even when no obstacles are on the road, creating a safety hazard even if the brakes do not engage.
As a result, Sperling contends Hyundai’s automatic emergency braking systems function as a safety hazard rather than a safety feature.
Class action: Hyundai knew about braking defect and did nothing
Sperling alleges both Hyundai and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have received numerous complaints about sudden unintended braking in the vehicles at issue.
He claims Hyundai was aware of the problem before bringing the vehicles to market, asserting the automaker knew the AEB systems were prone to unintended activation.
Sperling seeks to represent a nationwide class of consumers who purchased or leased a 2025 Hyundai Tucson equipped with an AEB system. He brings claims under California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act as well as for breach of implied warranty and unjust enrichment.
The plaintiff seeks certification of the class action, an order requiring Hyundai to implement a service campaign to deactivate the AEB system or replace it with a safe alternative, an order requiring Hyundai to publicize the full extent of its knowledge about the defect, an order reforming Hyundai’s warranty to ensure that dealerships will repair the defect for free and an award of damages and restitution for himself and the class members.
In another class action, Hyundai was recently sued over allegations it sold more than 500,000 Palisade vehicles equipped with defective third-row side curtain airbags.
What do you think of the allegations made in this Hyundai class action lawsuit? Join the discussion in the comments.
Sperling is represented by Joel D. Smith and Yeremey O. Krivoshey of Smith Krivoshey P.C. and Philip J. Furia of Furia Law LLC.
The Hyundai Tucson class action lawsuit is Sperling v. Hyundai Motor America, Case No. 8:26-cv-00410, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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