Two South Carolinians allege in a class action lawsuit that the 2011-2015 Hyundai Sonata vehicles suffer from an engine defect that causes the cars to lunge, hesitate, and even fail to engage into reverse.
Lead plaintiffs, Dana M. Ballew and Charles A. Ballew, claim in their class action lawsuit that they purchased a new 2015 Hyundai Sonata.
Despite getting the vehicle regularly serviced, the couple say that their Sonata started having problems in May 2018.
The plaintiffs allege that because their Sonata was periodically lunging, hesitating, and failing to engage into reverse, they brought it back to the dealer after it had only been driven approximately 57,000 miles.
“After instructing Mrs. Ballew that this condition was normal for the Sonatas, Dick Smith employees investigated her vehicle and determined that the DCT gear actuator needed to be removed and replaced,” states the Hyundai Sonata class action lawsuit. “The removal and replacement were covered under the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty, and once completed, the vehicle began operating as designed.”
Despite the repair, less than two months later the plaintiffs brought their Sonata back in because it allegedly started shaking, jerking and failed to engage into reverse once again. Additionally, the check engine light had come on.
The Hyundai class action lawsuit claims that at this point, the dealer determined that the engine would need to be replaced and that the plaintiffs’ warranty would not cover the replacement because the repair was due to “sludge build up and lack of maintenance.”
The plaintiffs contend that they properly maintained their 2015 Hyundai Sonata, and the issue in their and other consumers’ 2011 through 2015 Sonatas is the result of an engine defect.
“Under normal use and with proper maintenance, the engines in Subject Vehicles suffer from inadequate engine oil lubrication, which causes the engines and their subject components to wear prematurely and ultimately cause catastrophic engine failure,” alleges the Hyundai class action lawsuit.
“The connecting rod bearings within Subject Vehicles additionally suffer from failure caused by metal debris circulating within the engine via the engine oil. The oil contamination and inadequate engine lubrication cause the connecting rod bearings to break and release even more metal debris into the engine oil. Consequently, contaminated oil begins to recirculate throughout the engine, causing further engine damage and eventual catastrophic engine failure.”
According to the Hyundai Sonata class action lawsuit, Hyundai Sonatas with the alleged defect often develop a “knocking” sound as the contaminated oil is circulated in the engine.
The Hyundai class action lawsuit seeks to represent a Class of consumers in South Carolina who are either current or former owners or lessees of any 2011 through 2015 model year Sonatas with a 1.6- liter turbo Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) 4-cylinder engine.
The Hyundai Sonata class action lawsuit is seeking damages on behalf of the Class Members, along with a court order requiring Hyundai to repair or replace the allegedly defective engines.
The Hyundai owners are represented by T. Christopher Tuck and Robert S. Wood of Richardson Patrick Westbrook & Brickman LLC.
The Hyundai Sonata Engine Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Ballew, et al. v. Hyundai Motor America Inc., et al., Case No. 7:18-cv-03014-DCC, in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina, Spartanburg Division.
UPDATE: The Vehicle Safety Defect Investigation is now open! If you own a vehicle that has a safety defect and you believe it should be covered by the warranty and it’s not, submit your information here.
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99 thoughts onHyundai Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Sonata Engine Defect
I have a 2011 Hyundai sonata hybrid and my car wouldn’t shut off even after I put it in park and unplugged the big battery and the main battery but the engine wouldn’t turn over after I tried to turn it back on everything came back on but the engine would not turn over or come on but the whole car was lit up and ready to go it’s crazy I don’t know who to talk to about getting apart of this ….
My 2015 Hyundai Sonata had been doing the same thing. It broke down on me last week. I was just told that it needs a new engine for $8,000. I still owe $3,500 on it. Not sure what to do now. Any advice in how to get in the class action suit?
I’m having same Issues
I have a 2015 Sonata and I just had to have my engine replaced after the same issue. My son was driving it and it suddenly went into “limp” mode and would not go any faster than 30 miles an hour. How would I go about becoming a part of the class action??
I want to become part of this class action lawsuit. My Hyundai 2015 limited is doing the same thing
2015 Hyundai Sonata lunged and went through my garage into my house. I ann I’m bruise but not hurt . The car in totaled and my house is a mess. Do I gave any recourse?
Camping 957 update is what the recall is named. Very descriptive or should I say deceptive
Campaign 957, sorry
We have a 2016 Sonata that is experiencing the same issue. I’m going to call the dealer today and see what they tell me they are going to do about it. I will update with their response.
I am experiencing this issue for the 2nd time in 3 weeks. How do IO participate in the class action?
Help! I’m just learning about this from a friend and need to be included and or directed. I purchased a 2015 Sonata pre owned certified in January 2018 and in November 2018 the vehicle started losing power, engine came on, and would not go more than 20 mph. My son was driving the car and had it towed to Capitol Hyundai in San Jose, CA. The dealership kept the car for 3-4 weeks and said they were required to replace the engine. Here we are again July 2019 and on July 4th the exact same issue and the car has been towed to the dealership and they still have yet to contact us to explain the diagnosis and what’s happening, because supposedly they put in a newly rebuilt engine.
I purchased my 2015 Hyundai Sonata, May 1st,2021 at U.S Auto. Shortly after my 30 day warrant, my car started leaking water from the passenger dash and I had it repaired. By July 2022, my car suddenly stopped while I was doing doordash, all the light came on the dashboard. I went to have it checked thinking it was my starter or something small, but it turned out to be an engine blow out. U.S Auto gave me a hard time for about year. It is now 2023, U.S Auto is out of business and the car still remains in my possession, not drivable, and I’m still responsible for the car note after the car has been sitting since last year. The dealership is now owned by another company and every time I call for solutions I get a run around and it’s hard to purchase or finance another vehicle with an open car loan for car that is useless.
Our 2013 sonata motor seized on me while driving last week. Mechanic thinks I have a crankshaft bearing seize.
Looks like there’s been lawsuits about these motored but I don’t see anything saying there was a recall on the motors.
Does anyone know if there’s a recall on the 2013 motors ?
YES CAMPAIGN 953
I have had my engine replaced twice on a purchased new 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. The second time the engine had to replaced, the car sat at the dealers shop for 6 months waiting for the engine to arrive. The car drives even worse now and the car is leaking oil yet again. Replacing the engine does not fix the problem for good. Our engine is having to be replaced every year.