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. LaKeysha Adams says:

    I’m tired of buying oil. I thought I needed changes, but it was truly running out of oil. So much so, that my oil light didn’t come on and I didn’t know until I happened to need my headlight replaced and they checked it. 2017 sonata.

  2. Dave Daniel says:

    2015 Hyundai Sante Fe with 141K just died. Was adding 1-1.5 quarts every 2K , oil changed regularly. Engine now dead, was ran completely dry in less then 4K since last oil change. Car itself is in excellent condition inside out, shame the engine is garbage. Already had to replace Transmission.

  3. Trista Drean says:

    Owner of a 2018 Tucson and just starting to have the oil consumption issues at about 50,000 miles. I’ve have always loved my Hyundai’s (this is my 3rd one) and I’ve never had an issue before now. Not sure where this road is going to lead me or what loops I may have to jump through to figure this one out but I’m not a happy camper about it right now. I’m a single mom with 4 kids at home and I most certainly need a reliable vehicle. I do know that 1 quart for every 1,000 miles is absolutely ridiculous. I mean, if they recommend an oil change every 4,000 miles and my car hold 5.5 quarts of oil, you mean to tell me that there’s only 1.5 quarts left at oil change? Yeah…just a little fishy to me.

  4. Howard richards says:

    2017 hyuandai veloster 133,400 miles uses about 1 quart of oil every 250-300 miles about 2 quarts a week been like that for Bout 6 months get oil changed when it’s due but really just changing filter since oil is so new lol also catalytic converter is showing bad at dealers they just reset light and it comes right back on if I had known this motor was so bad would have never ever bought this car the motor is pure junk can’t afford new one they want give me nothing for it no choice but to keep feeding oil to this monster

  5. Jessica says:

    2017 needs engine and catalytic replaced. Will cost upwards of $13,000 hyundai is making it difficult. The car consumed so much oil. I’d have to top it off every week.

    1. Matthew broehl says:

      2016 hyundai tuscon limited 1.6 turbo is starting to consume oil vehical has only 83000 miles.

      1. Manjinder Singh says:

        My 2016 Tucson turbo started burning excess oil around 50k and has gotten progressively worse I add 1qt on a weekly basis.

  6. John says:

    2015 Hyundai Sonata with just over 100K miles… the dealership tells me 1 quart/1,000 miles is acceptable usage…. Even the worse beater car i’ve ever driven in my life doesn’t use oil at that rate…. my response to them next time they service my car may be that I consider a 0% payment to be an acceptable amount for service on a POS

  7. Fabion S. says:

    I have a 2015 Sonata and I’m having this issue. I use about 10 quarts between oil changes!

  8. BRIAN PETERSON says:

    I have a 2018 Hyundai sonata, 2.4 engine and having similar problems with excessive oil consumption, a quart every 24 to 48 hours

  9. Shane morand says:

    My 2018 hyundai santa fe is icing a quart roughly every 300-350 miles. I need to join this lawsuit

  10. nevio dunatov says:

    2016 tuscon adding f 1 quart oil a month, every 300-500 miles

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