Logotype of Hyundai corporation.
(Photo Credit: Arsenie Krasnevsky/Shutterstock)

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

  1. Charles Starke says:

    2014 Hyundai Sonata here can’t afford to keep oil in it at 5 bucks or better a quart, cars going back for the engine recall we will see what happens.

  2. Olivia Gunn says:

    I would love to be included! I have a 2018 Hyundai Tuscon & it has this same issue! Dealership says there is nothing wrong & everything is fine but it’s clearly not.

    1. Donald Dickmeyer says:

      My 2017 Tuscon has used 57 ounces of oil in the last 3000 miles while I was on the road to CO. 4 times in 6 weeks

  3. Diane Turner says:

    I would like to be included in class-action. Thank you!

    April 2022 @ 88K miles paid $800 for engine combustion chamber cleaning. July 2022 @ $91K, bone dry!

  4. Alesia Anum says:

    We own a 2016 Santa Fe Limited and without warning, meaning no engine alerts, the engine began knocking and then seized. My husband checked for the oil level and it was bone dry. We would like to join the class action lawsuit. Thank you.

  5. Alesia Anum says:

    We own a 2016 Santa Fe Limited and without warning, meaning no engine alerts, the engine began knocking and then seized. My husband checked for the oil level and it was bone dry.

  6. Anthony novak says:

    I have a 2017 hyundai sonata limited and I’m realizing I have to change
    the out every 1000- 1300 miles. I’ve driven a long time with no oil before I realized. My check engine light has started to come on occasionally suddenly now. How can I become become part of this lawsuit?

    1. Anthony Novak says:

      *Change the oil out every 100-1300 miles

  7. Crystal Joiner says:

    I had to replace the engine in my 2017 Santa Fe. The oil light never came on and then it locked up.

    1. Antionette says:

      Hi I have a 2015 Hyundai Sonata with a severe oil consumption problem where as I have to get an oil change every month and the dealer says there is nothing wrong. There is something definitely wrong. Hyundai has denied me for an oil consumption study as well.

  8. Tesfaye Tohe says:

    I have a 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe and the engine seized up. Using 6-8 quarts of oil between changes. The company refuses to put a new engine in it because I am the second owner. How can I get in on a class action lawsuit in Ohio?

    1. Cathy Carson says:

      I am having the same issues! Also in Ohio. Grrrr

  9. Rev. Stephen E. Stults says:

    I own two Sonatas, one a 2016, the other a 2017. The 2016 began using excessive amounts of oil (around 4 quarts per 1000 miles) and then failed suddenly on the way to work. I had the required engine software update done when notified by Hyundai. It promised lifetime engine protection. Next week, I take it to a dealer near me. We will see how this plays out.

  10. Linda Cronin says:

    I have a 2016 Hyundai Tucson and goes through a lot of oil and no the oil light doesn’t come on until the oil is empty! Can I get in with this class action so I can get it fixed!!

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