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A consumer says that late model Hyundai vehicles are equipped with wheels that wear out far sooner than expected due to a severe vehicle defect in a class action lawsuit filed Friday.
Lead plaintiff, Mary O’Riordan, wants to represent other Hyundai vehicle owners who were saddled with the allegedly defective vehicles. She accuses Hyundai of knowing about the defect in the wheels, but equipping vehicles with them despite the problems they caused, including unsightly discoloration, delamination, and peeling of the wheel surface.
O’Riordan says that she purchased a 2017 Hyundai Veloster with just over 50,000 miles on it in June 2018. She claims that the wheels on her Hyundai vehicle suffered significant damage within the first three years of ownership. The plaintiff says that she asked for Hyundai to pay for the repairs, but the automaker refused, forcing O’Riordan to pay out of pocket.
“The circumstances causing Hyundai’s vehicles to have the wheel surface peel off is attributable to a defect that existed at the time of the original factory manufacture and appears to be caused by a defect that prevents the protective surface coating on the wheel from properly adhering to the underlying metal,” explains the Hyundai vehicles class action lawsuit.
The plaintiff points out that Hyundai “heavily” advertises its warranty, claiming that it is one of the best in America. Despite these claims, the automaker refuses to acknowledge or pay for the defective wheels it puts on its newer Sante Fe minivans and Veloster vehicles, claims the lawsuit.
O’Riordan points to numerous complaints online from consumers who say that the wheels on their late model Hyundai vehicles wear out prematurely. The defect is not only annoying and unsightly, it reduces the value of the vehicle, according to the class action lawsuit.
The plaintiff accuses Hyundai of hiding the defect from consumers. Breach of warranty and violating New York consumer protection laws. O’Riordan wants to represent a nationwide Class of Hyundai vehicle owners and lessees who experienced the alleged wheel defect.
The plaintiff is seeking damages on behalf of the Class and a court order forcing Hyundai to acknowledge the allegedly defective wheels.
Do you own a 2017 or newer Hyundai vehicle? Have you had issues with the wheels wearing out? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
The plaintiff is represented by Donald S. Burris of Burris & Schoenberg, LLP, and Eugene Y. Turin of McGuire Law, PC.
The Hyundai Vehicle Defective Wheels Class Action Lawsuit is O’Riordan v. Hyundai Motor America, Case No. 2:21-cv-05970 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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56 thoughts onHyundai Vehicles Come With ‘Severely Defective’ Wheels, Alleges Class Action Lawsuit
In August 2023 I purchased a 2019 Santa Fe with less than 12k miles on it and I saw the wheel’s finish was peeling but the advertised 5y/60k mile warranty made this purchase a no brainer. But when I took it into the dealer a couple of months after purchase I was told the warranty didn’t cover that issue. In conversation I discussed with the maintenance manager that this was clearly a defect but again, it’s not covered. Not only was the coating on the rims peeling, we found a bubble forming in the paint on the tailgate. So there is definitely an issue in how they prepare the car and rims for painting.
I have a 2018 Sonora Limited that was purchased in 2019. I had noticed for some.time that one of the wheels was not like the others (the other 3 were darker) and I thought something was wrong with that one wheel. Our daughter came home.from college and as I walked outside and saw the car I was like what the hell is wrong with the wheels. Turns out…the lughter one was thw only 1 that was how it was supposed to be
The darkness of rhe other wheels was the clear coming off now.to the point they all have just huge blisters on them. This is ridiculous and looks HORRIBLE. Nobody in their right mind.would pay me full value this car outright or at trade in. VERY UNHAPPY!
I have a 2018 Santa Fe Sport Ultimate 2.0T and a 2019 Sonata 2.0T Both vehicles have about 45,000 miles on the odometers and the wheels on both vehicles are beginning to experience the paint de-lamination discussed in this article. They are not as bad as some I’ve seen on car sites but they are definitely headed in that direction.
2020 Palisade with the same issue on the wheels. All four are peeling
On August 2023 we purchased a used 2020 Palisade Limited with 37000. miles at the time of purchase, which by the way, such low mileage was really rare. 2 to 3 months into our ownership while washing our vehicle, we noticed the factory custom wheels were peeling from the backside to the front. I took the vehicle to the local dealer and was told the warranty would not cover the defect. I now have alittle over 38000, and have no where to turn to have this detect resolved.
I purchased a new 2019 Santa Fe Ultimate 2.0T and all 4 rims are peeling badly. Created ticket on MyHyundai and had dealer take photos to send to Corp. Dealer indicated that Corp no longer replacing rims but is having them refinished. Dealer has no one to send to and Corp has not replied to ticket. Seem to be stuck in limbo.
I own a 2019 Hyundai Sonata and my wheels have what I would call “clear coat” that has peeled off on all four rims. I also have the white body paint peeling on my hood. This is my fifth Hyundai Sonata and have not had these issues in the past. It’s unsightly on a car that’s not even 4 years old.
I bought a 2017 Hyundai Veloster in 2018 for my granddaughter to take to college. After about maybe a year the wheels began to peel. All four wheels look terrible now. I’ve recently thought about trading the vehicle for something else, but I know those awful wheels are going to diminish its value. They make what otherwise looks like a great car look horrible. Frustrating to say the least.