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
I purchased a 2017 Kia Sportage Sx Turbo with 77k miles. It had a perfect car-fax history report with all maintenance completed by the dealership. Me being the third owner and the vehicle having all safety inspections/maintenance completed I figured I was getting a great suv from a reputable dealership. I had the car for three months, while I was driving my check engine light came on, oil light and it began to sputter and loose power. The car shut down and when I checked my oil is was dry as dirt! My vehicle failed to tell me my oil was ever low until it was too late. When this happened I had only put 3.8k miles on it since I purchased it from a used dealership. All recalls were completed before I was the owner. Now my engine needs to be replaced and Kia refuses to fix it because it’s not part of the extended engine warranty from previous lawsuit and now wants $7k to install new engine.
I have a2013 Sonata. It has 180,000 miles. We complained to the dealer that it was burning oil years ago but that said it was normal. Finally got an oil consumption test but they said Honda I wouldn’t do anything for us even though it burns 1 to 1 1/2 quarts every 1000 miles. Now the engine light went on, it stalled once in the middle of driving and the cylinders were misfiring. They said they can’t even submit anything until the engine fails.
Have a Hyundai hybrid sonata 2011 reoccurring fluid leaks replaced 2 valve cover gaskets in one month. Still no resolution.
Have a hyundai elantra GT 2016. (143000miles). Every 1000-1200 have to add oil. It is very frustrating. Had Toyotas for over 30 years and never had this problem.
I just bought a 2017 Tucson SE in July and right before my scheduled Oil change, I had an engine light go on that turned out to be a knock sensor and my car went into limp home mode because it only had a quart of oil in it! After an oil change, the engine light went off but I noticed after about a 1000 miles, I’ve blown at least another quart. They want me to do an oil consumption test but what’s the point? I don’t need that test which I would have to pay for to tell me that my vehicle is consuming oil abnormally.
I bought my daughter a used car from the dealership. I changed the oil and filter and checked her oil 2 weeks later and she had only driven it about 1000 miles and it was a quart low.
I have a 2016 Sonata and out of the blue after 1600 miles on a oil change, the oil light came on and some hesitation occurred.
Checked the oil and it was down to a very low level without any leaks. Added oil in hopes it fixed the issue but it did not.
Had it towed to the Hyundai dealership after reading it was a bad idea to drive it, could cause further damage to the engine.
Paid $100 to tow it and are being told the spark plugs needed to be changed and a new Oil change to document the oil issue.
Asked to bring it back after i drive it 1000 miles to do an oil testing and check the oil level again. Was told the documentation is needed for Hyundai before anything can be done with replacing an engine.
What lawyer do I call for the oil consumption issue? My car HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY A HYUNDAI DEALER and Hyundai AGREES! They said that I would Owe 40% of the bill! I need the lawyers name pronto…. PLEASE CAN ANYONE help me! Their fault and I pay? I WILL NEVER GET ANOTHER HYUNDAI if this is the case! EVER!!!!!
oil consumption is 1 1/2 quarts 900miles and oil light blinking. 2015 genesis coupe
I have a hyundai tucson 2019 – Im having major burning oil issues. My light also has not warned me recently. I change my oil regularly. My husband noticed something off and come to find out it was burning oil faster then he had ever seen in between oil changes. We are keeping track now of how much oil it will be burning as he just put 2 quarts in. I was planning to take it to the dealership to have them note what is happening. and check on the light warning system as well. has anyone had the same issue? my husband has owned many cars and this is a first for us.
I did not see my 2012 Sonata on the list of affected vehicles, but I’m here to tell you it should be. I am now having to put a quart of oil a week. I did find a plant specific recall for my car for the motor, but I was told that my motor was still running so it doesn’t qualify. I LOVE the way my car handles/rides, but this is unacceptable business practices! Why should we have to wait for the motor to lock up, make an appointment, have it towed in and sit waiting with fingers crossed/breath held/hoping they replace the obviously defective motor that they decided to drop in it!?!