Last week, Hyundai Motor America was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging some of its Santa Fe vehicles have a defect that can cause delayed acceleration, loss of power or rough shifting.
Plaintiff Andre Damico says this powertrain defect can occur suddenly while the vehicle is in operation and that it “poses an extreme and unreasonable safety hazard to drivers, passengers and pedestrians.”
According to the Santa Fe powertrain defect class action lawsuit, Hyundai has known about the issue since at least 2016 but actively concealed the powertrain defect to consumers.
Further, despite Hyundai’s knowledge of the defect, the automaker has allegedly failed to offer vehicle owners and leaseholders a suitable repair or replacement and has not offered to reimburse them for the costs they incurred to diagnose and repair the Santa Fe powertrain defect, Damico claims.
He says he would not have purchased a Hyundai Santa Fe, or would have paid less for it, if he had known about the powertrain defect.
Damico purchased a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe from a California Hyundai dealership in May 2016, the Hyundai class action lawsuit says. Within three months, he allegedly began experiencing issues associated with the Hyundai powertrain defect, including delayed acceleration and RPMs spiking without an acceleration response.
When he brought the vehicle in to the Hyundai dealership, he was told that there was nothing wrong and that the vehicle was operating as intended, according to the Hyundai Santa Fe class action lawsuit.
Damico says his experience with his 2017 Santa Fe is not unique. He points to numerous complaints filed with the National Highway Transportation Safety Authority that are posted online to demonstrate that the Santa Fe powertrain defect is “widespread and dangerous.”
These complaints portray incidents with delayed acceleration while trying to entering freeways or pass vehicles at highway speeds. Some consumers claim that their Santa Fe vehicles fail to accelerate as expected but will suddenly take off, creating a dangerous situation.
Despite these numerous complaints, Hyundai has not disclosed the Santa Fe powertrain defect, offered a fix to the problem, recalled the vehicles, or provided compensation for out-of-pocket expenses incurred by vehicle owners and lessees seeking to remedy the issue, the Hyundai class action lawsuit says.
Damico filed the powertrain defect class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and a proposed nationwide Class of consumers who purchased or leased a Hyundai Santa Fe vehicle in the United States. He also seeks to represent a California subclass.
The Hyundai Santa Fe class action lawsuit asserts claims for violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law, breach of implied warranty pursuant to the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, breach of express warranty, breach of implied and written warranties under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and fraudulent omission.
Damico is represented by Lionel Z. Glancy, Marc L. Godino, and Danielle L. Manning of Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP and by Mark S. Greenstone of Greenstone Law APC.
The Hyundai Santa Fe Powertrain Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Andre Damico v. Hyundai Motor America, Case No. 8:18-cv-01276-CJC-ADS, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division.
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 – 2026 Top Class Actions® LLC Various Trademarks held by their respective owners This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
122 thoughts onHyundai Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Santa Fe Powertrain Defect
I am having the same issue with my 2012 Hyundai SANTA FE , while driving I lost power where the vehicle locked, prior to it locking it made weird jerking sounds, I took it my mechanic to check, he checked codes and came up with 4 WD couple assembly, he couldn’t work on due to the part being a dealer part. I took to the nearest Spradley Hyundai for the recall, they completed the recalls but not the issue, they stated nothing is wrong, I explained numerous times the loss of power , acceleration, and jerking. I am a teacher and travel this very stressful.. now I’m left with out vehicle!!
Tengo una Santa fe del 2017 y el motor de daño de un día para otro .sin ninguna razón tiene todo los cambios de aceite al día, bueno mi carro está como nuevo excepto por el motor que se fundió.
Tengo un Santa Fe (2013) 59000km, todos los mantenimientos en HYUNDAI GILDEMEISTER (Lima-Peru), el motor se malogro de un momento a otro, estoy demandando a la empresa a través de INDECOPI, necesito ayuda de alguien que sepa de algún caso parecido. Gracias
TENGO UN HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2013, SE DAÑO EL MOTOR DE UN MOMENTO A OTRO Y ESTOY DEMANDANDO A LA EMPRESA (Lima-Peru).
I have a 2021 sante fe with 34,000 miles, with in a few weeks of buying this brand new vehicle I noticed it would not speed up. I thought maybe I need to get used to my new vehicle. I had to pick up my son and took the side streets. But the time I got back the over heating light came on. I was close to the dealership and took it there and left it. Luckily they gave me a car to drive. They tried to blame me at first only to find something faulty. I took it in and let them know my back camera goes out on its own .. And when the car turns off at the stop it won’t start back up unless I restart the car. They said it’s fine. And today I have am having the same issue with it not accelerating. It’s Saturday. Service dept closed and I have to go into work tomorrow. So I have no choice but to drive my faulty car to work. And on Monday I have to miss work. I have always owned Hyundai and had no issue. I don’t even want this $600.00 a month car anymore.
Please include me to I have 2015 hyundai Santa fe. Oil is burning 🔥 so fast 😩
My 2018 Santa Fe lost power on the hiway and engine light came on. This was random and was lucky that it wasn’t busy. I pulled over and checked the oil. It was down some so topped it up and continued to the nearest town 15km away at low speed. It had little power and would shake.
Dealer in New Glasgow, NS had it for almost 2 months while I was trying to get my extended premium warranty to cover it. I had no luck as they said it was a carbon issue. How did I get carbon? I don’t sit in traffic all day, but good gas, and change my oil.
Bought the vehicle a year and half ago from Steele Hyundai (Halifax) and purchased a $3000+ premium warranty and told I wouldn’t have to worry about and power train or electrical issues. BS.
I was charged.
I have a 2013 Santa Fe I had extended warranty up to 100k and Had so many issues with this car I always had my oil change is done really dealer and always took my car to the dealer. I was driving on a major highway going 60
Miles a hour when my car lost power and would not accelerate anymore.
This was very scary with kids in the car I had to have my car towed I have my car in the shop in the past because my car did not have any pick up and was slowing down I just crossed over 100,000 mark but I complained about my car having issues prior. The camshaft and my ABS brakes codes are popping up.along with losing power and oil issues I have put my car in the shop for the dealer again and they were telling me that the oil is getting burned up in the engine. I I have to go every thousand miles for combustion to check to see how much oil is being consumed. This iis very dangerous to my family I almost had several cars hit me when my car lost acceleration. Could someone please help me with hell I could forward this to be addressed with this action lawsuit
My Hyundai Santa Fe 2013 limited V6 engine died 100% at 120,000 miles nine years old. It’s still sitting at Hyundai’s parking lot. They offered me $500 to trade it in. It’s worth 15,000.
We have been having oil issues and hesitation at times. Had spark plus replaced and issues resolved for 2-3 weeks then lost power and had to drive home not going over 45 and shaking. Took to repair shop by tow truck because would not run once put in gear. Shook like I was riding a Harley. Mechanic said compression issues with plugs and told motor is shot because oil on plugs
tengo una santa fe sport 2016 el motor se dano y no me han resuelto nada