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. Derrick Green says:

    2018 Hyundai Sonata Limited. Before 100k miles it started using oil between oil changes. Now it is more frequent. No oil spots anywhere. No oil under hood. It is just ‘using it’. We had oil changed and they started using high mileage oil and then eventually said adding Lucas Additive would help. Still uses oil. We love the car but oil is expensive to keep adding and it is pointless to own a nice car and have to do ‘old used car’ tactics to keep it running. I’m high school I had an old Pontiac and as long as she had oil l, we went places. She was 20 years old then lol

  2. Genaro Rodarte says:

    2017 Hyundai Tucson Sport: 87,000 miles
    These are the issues I’ve had since I purchased the car:
    Car rolling forward for a couple of seconds after changing the gear from Drive to Reverse.
    Lack of power when accelerating.
    Car stalls when making turns after a complete stop.
    Took car in to the dealer to complaint and dealer replaced the clutch.

    The vehicle shakes and everything sound like it’s rattling in side the car when brake is release and not pressing the gas pedal. Typically happens while I’m in a drive thru.
    The above issues happened less than 4,000 miles after purchasing the vehicle.

    Oil constantly runs low. I Typically have to add a quart of oil every other week or so.
    A door mechanism broke, so the door would not open. – Dealer replaced it due to recall.

    Car was stalling after an 1.5 hour drive this weekend. As I was driving uphill, the car did not want to accelerate and started shaking, the rpm was a bit shaky as well. I was afraid I was going to make it home. It is working now, but still a bit shaky and I have not driven it for over 30 minutes yet.

  3. Dee L says:

    Hyundai Sonata 2017 ECO huge loss of oil, lead to damage to the turbo charger (replaced under warranty after fighting with dealership), engine replaced (under warranty after fighting with dealership), now turbo is failing again and im no longer under warranty.

  4. Traci Greenberg says:

    2017 Hyundai Santa Fe- oil started to deplete when I hit 60,000 miles- I need to put in a quart every week to keep it running.

    1. Scott B says:

      I too have a 2017 Santa Fe which depletes oil with no warning light when oil is low. In fact, I had taken it in for an oil change only to find out it was completely out of oil. This has been an ongoing problem with the loss of oil and no oil pressure warning light.

  5. Chuck Barnes says:

    I have a 2017 Hyundai Sante fe sport which is burning oil. I put 5 quarts of oil in it since the last oil change. It oil has 85k miles on it……

  6. K H says:

    My Sante Fe just went into safety mode and then stalled on the highway for this and I was told is done with oil checked regularly and no other issues

  7. Denise James says:

    My 2006 Hyundai sonata is burning way to much oil is my car among the lawsuit?

  8. Catherine Goodison says:

    Just found out my 2013 Elantra is burning oil. My mechanic said I have to take it to dealership.

  9. Travis Ambrosy says:

    We have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata and it currently burns over a quote of oil every 1000 miles. Hyundai is saying that it is normal to burn oil as the car ages, but currently we burn more oil during the life of an oil change then was orginally put in the car, so basically we are change the oil twice during each oil change. At this rate not sure if it is necessary to even do an oil change.

    1. Derrick Green says:

      Same! Exactly the same problem I’m having. I have a 2018 Hyundai Sonata.

  10. Martin Stevens says:

    I have a 2017 Santa Fe Sport around 65,000 MI just checked the oil level it was three to four quarts low please add me to the class action lawsuit.

    1. caroline oldam says:

      car is alway low on oil

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