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. Debora says:

    My 2017 Tucson has the same problem with high oil. consumption. Now the engine shot and the Hyundai dealer says there is nothing they can do. They said it will cost $10,00.00 to replace the engine

  2. Kaila Hudson says:

    I have a 2015 Hyundai Sonata that has been burning Oil excessively. I have to put oil in the car almost every week or I will start to smell it burning

    1. Brittany Knell says:

      Mine does the same thing. I will get oil changed and with in 3-4 weeks it is extremely low or out of oil.

    2. Brian elwell says:

      Same exact thing is happening to mine

  3. Torneshya Ingram says:

    I’ve been trying to figure out what I need to do about my car . I have a 2015 Hyundai Sonata & my engine failed after not having any oil in it despite me getting an oil change 2 weeks before it went out . I kept having to put oil in it in between changes & I thought it was weird but didn’t think too much of it until this . Currently haven’t had my car in 3 months.

  4. Deacqualanette Richardson says:

    Pretty much same issues…started stalling first…talked to Hyundai dealership they offered ni help…excessive oil consumption..even after oil changes…still stalling

    1. Deacqualanette Richardson says:

      2014 hyundai elantra

  5. Nick Harnamji says:

    I’m glad to see that other people can relate, but feel bad for the rest of the commenters as I, too, have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata that goes through copious amounts of oil, buying gallons upon gallons every month to keep up with what’s being burnt.

  6. Shicole Beauregard says:

    I’m also having this same problem. I have a 2013 sonata that is using around 5 quarts of oil between changes. I just had my valve cover gasket replaced. I’m having a misfire now. I’m currently at 170,000 miles.

  7. Paul Stumpo says:

    2018 Sonata Sport. 48000 miles.
    500 miles to a quart. Unbelievable!!
    Shopped twice last month. Engine misfiring requiring towing.

  8. jamey watts says:

    Having the exact same problem with my 2019 Tuscon. Going through 2 qts of oil every 1000 miles. Took to Hyundai today to start oil consumption test. Of course that will be out of pocket and the inconvience of having to take it back for them to see it is low. According to the dealership my other option is to just live with the problem and add oil every week. Very disheartening to invest hard earned money into a vehicle just to find out what a piece of crap it is.

  9. Chris Byrd says:

    Just bought a 2017 Sonata in September. It was in the shop before my first payment with a misfire. Before third payment, i am told i need a new engine and it will cost me $7k – $10k. Now i am buying gallons of oil to keep it going. Of course the corrupt dealership doesn’t offer an extended warranty and now i know why.

    1. Shaunna Smith says:

      Although I did not see my ear in car model and the last I do have an official paper from Hyundai themselves saying that I need a new engine as they didn’t know consumption test and my oil had to be refilled at 700 miles when it should not have it was completely empty I have a 2014 Hyundai accent GLS yes I would like more information on this cuz I am paying payments on the car and I don’t know what to do.

      1. Diego Popino says:

        What!? Maybe a little punctuation? Spell check? Proofreading? Could your sentence be any more confusing? On the other hand, am I safe assuming English is not your first language?

  10. Joelle Garrett says:

    Same problem with excessive consumption of oil on 2014 Sante fe. Now at 134k miles adding a quart every 500 miles.

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