Update:
- A judge dismissed a class action lawsuit filed by a group of vehicle owners against Hyundai Motor Co. in a California federal court.
- The class action lawsuit claimed a number of Hyundai and Kia model vehicles contained an engine defect that caused them to use an excessive amount of oil.
- The vehicle owners argued the alleged defect, in addition to costing them money for the excess oil, caused the vehicles to stall and eventually fail.
- Court approval of the dismissal was not required as the class had not been certified nor proposed to be certified for purposes of a settlement, according to court documents.
Hyundai excessive oil consumption class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A group of Hyundai and Kia vehicle owners are suing Hyundai Motor Co.
- Why: The drivers allege numerous models of Hyundai and Kia vehicles are equipped with defective engines that use excessive amounts of oil, stall and eventually fail.
- Where: The lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.
(April 20, 2022)
Hyundai makes numerous models of Hyundai and Kia brand vehicles with defective engines that use excessive amounts of oil, costing their owners huge sums of money, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
On Apr. 12, eight owners of Hyundai and Kia brand vehicles filed a class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor Co. in a California federal court, alleging violations of federal warranty laws.
The Hyundai excessive oil consumption lawsuit alleges that numerous models of the automaker’s vehicles are equipped with defective Nu, Gamma, Theta, Lambda and Kappa engines.
The defective engines allegedly use excessive amounts of oil, stall and eventually fail. The drivers say Hyundai should have issued a recall for the vehicles a long time ago but hasn’t.
As a result, thousands of Hyundai and Kia owners and lessees have allegedly been forced to constantly check the oil levels, and oil must be added to the engines more frequently than even the owner’s manuals recommend, Car Complaints reports.
The engine issue has flow-on effects like reduction in engine lubrication due to crankshaft submersion and gaskets and seals damage, which leads to oil leaks.
The plaintiffs also claim that oil in their vehicles migrates to places where it shouldn’t be, damaging the combustion and exhaust systems.
This allegedly causes “abnormal wear of engine parts, oversaturation of carbon and deposits of oil sludge, ultimately requiring a costly engine rebuild or replacement.”
Automaker should honor warranty claims outside terms, Hyundai class action says
The plaintiffs allege that Hyundai should honor customers’ warranty claims even when the warranties have expired.
According to the lawsuit, Hyundai can’t adequately repair the oil consumption problems and doesn’t offer any reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs caused by the issue.
The class action states customers must suffer through long wait times for replacement parts, “and in most cases do not receive required engine replacements.”
The cars with the allegedly faulty engines include the 2012-2020 Hyundai Elantra, 2009-2018 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, 2019-2021 Hyundai Kona, 2020-2021 Hyundai Palisade, 2010-2012 and 2015-2021 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2009-2010 and 2015-2021 Hyundai Sonata, 2011–2021 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 2010-2013 and 2015-2021 Hyundai Tucson, 2011-2021 Hyundai Veloster, 2020-2021 Hyundai Venue, 2010-2021 Kia Forte, 2017-2020 Kia Niro, 2011-2020 Kia Optima and Optima Hybrid, 2012-2021 Kia Rio, 2011-2020 Kia Sorento, 2012-2021 Kia Soul, 2011-2020 Kia Sportage, 2018-2021 Kia Stinger and 2022 Kia K5.
Meanwhile, Hyundai has expanded its recall of vehicles with an exploding seat belt part issue that has caused multiple injuries to include 6,240 of its 2021-2022 Elantra and 2020 Accent vehicles.
The plaintiffs are represented by Nye, Stirling, Hale & Miller LLP, Sauder Schelkopf LLC and Walsh, PLLC.
The Hyundai Oil Consumption Lawsuit is Cho, et al., v. Hyundai Motor Company, LTD., et al. in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
Are you one of the drivers affected by an allegedly faulty Hyundai engine? Let us know in the comments!
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3,221 thoughts onHyundai class action over excessive oil consumption dismissed
We have a 2018 Tucson. This is the second time the engine light has come on and it is low on engine oil. This time, it was 3 quarts low. There is no blue smoke nor is there any puddles on the garage floor. It has to be in parts of the engine like described in this post.
Our 2016 Hyundai sonata that we bought used last year has 65,000 miles and burns a quart of oil every week…brought to dealership for unrelated recall last month and asked them to look at oil and they said no leaks but they could do a burn consumption diagnostic test for $800 which I declined…..can I join lawsuit?
I have this same issue with my 2016 Sonata. I’d also like to join this lawsuit.
I have a 2016 Hyundai Tucson I just found out I have 2 recalls and my car is not turning on I need to get my car towed to the dealer in 3 weeks.
Nobody notified me about the recalls until I called to tell them my car don’t turn on.
I need help. My 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe engine has failed. It has 53000.
We have a 2021 palisade and at less than 10,000 miles i checked the oil level before taking it in for 2nd oil change and was 3 qrt low, we have been contacting hyndai delearship and hyndai corp. And been getting the run around and we’re being told its normal on those engine to burn that amount of oil.
2017 Sonata Sport with GDI engine; 5 yrs old and 85,000 miles right now; same thing and it started about December 2021. Engine oil light came one and there was NOTHING on the dipstick! Pulled into auto parts store immediately and purchased/filled with 4 quarts of oil and reported it to Hunter Hyundai dealership. Oil light again came on about 1500 miles later and again I reported it; oil consumption was not done until the next episode. I was told that it was within “normal” oil loss. Oil light again came on last week after only driving less than 800 miles since the last oil change and was told that it was 2 quarts low…after less than 800 miles driven. I now have a check engine light in which they tell me is not under powertrain warranty…they say it is the “intake runner’? Not sure if all associated with any other oil loss/consumption or not? Either way, engine has stalled before but started again; oil loss now with engine. Safety issue for sure as I am not waiting on engine to seize up, etc. and leave me stranded or in an accident.
2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Issues started in November of 2021 with just under 60,000 miles on my car. The dealership has dragged this out for almost 10,000 miles and 3 oil consumption tests and a combustion chamber cleaning. Hyundai said an engine is $6500 and they will pay 70%. I’m supposed to be happy with that since it’s not under warranty because I’m the second owner. Seems like an admission of responsibility to offer to pay any of it. The right thing to do is to replace my engine at no cost to me. Cars with 70,000 miles should not need a quart of oil every 500 miles! I am now looking at all of my options and found this class action suit.
I have two Hyundai Tucsons years 2017 and 2018 with the same oil issues. I take it to the dealer every1,000 miles for the consumption test but what the people at the dealer are doing is adding more oil than it needs so that when taken back for the test it seems as if it’s not missing any oil…the dealer knows that these vehicles are having this issue and what they are doing is adding more oil than what’s needed. This is just a heads up so that if you are having this issue as well make sure you check your vehicle before leave. I would like to be added to this lawsuit, I’m from Chicago and I’m having this problem with 2 Hyundai Tucsons.
Miserable situation, folks! Mine is a 2017 Hyundai Sonata with high oil consumption. Now, it’s missing constantly. Changing the spark plugs every week buys me some time, not because the spark plugs are bad… but because they are covered in gas! Staying wet! We take them out, replace with another set while the ones we removed get cleaned and ready for the next rotation. RIDICULOUS!!! My routine for the last year and a half… fill up with gas, add 1.25 – 1.5 qts oil. Fill up, add that much oil. Over and over! Else, the oil would run dry. The car has cut off on me in the middle of major intersections. Lost power in drive. Failed to turn over at times. And I’ve called dealerships to be told that this oil consumption test to the tune of $600 is my only path to help. But, I can’t swing that price and can’t imagine not filling my oil between their checks. It’d be ruined for sure. I’m waiting on my appt for evaluation in two weeks. Whether I have to tow it in or not, I’m praying Hyundai will do right by this car. It’s a five year old, paid-off vehicle worth nuttin much now! And in this current used car market of 2022… what a lousy time to buy! I’m definitely hoping hoping this lawsuit helps the customer recoop losses! And regain a car that’s safe to drive! Thank you for the forum here! Best wishes to all you other Hyundai owners! :)
i have a 2013 Hyundai Veloster turbo. goes though oil like crazy and passes oil to the bypass valve causing it to trip the check engine light
how do we join the class action lawsuit?