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. Elizabeth says:

    I have a 2017 Hyundai Elantra and the engine light has been on and car has been shaking. Worried now more that I’ve read this . I’ve had no motive of any recalls and I’ve heard there’s also other problems with these cars. Keep me in the loop

  2. KELLI MORENO says:

    MY SONATA WAS A 2011 AND WITHIN 5 YRS I HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED TWICE!!!

  3. Glenn palmt says:

    Have a 2016 Hyundai sonata and have been deal with this problem for 4 years. The car now rattles, stalls,field plugs,uses 1 quart of oil every 250 miles. Fuel injectors foul and car is now useless because the knock sensor keeps going off from internal engine vibration. add me to the class action.

  4. Ann Hamilton says:

    Please add me. Kia Sorento 2017. Using aprox 1+ quarts of oil per 1,000 miles driven.

    1. Kenneth Cregg Crislip says:

      I own 2013 Elantra which has many 4ecalls needing to be performed.

  5. Carrie Howett says:

    Add me to the list. Have a 2015 Sonata and it leaks oil on combustion leaves burning smell. Sure it’s ruining parts.

  6. Mikhaiel Mikhail says:

    I have a 2020 Hyundai sonata with the same problem and the dealer open a case and all they did was add extra oil ever time i changed the oil so it wouldn’t burn excess oil and then closed the case with out solving the problem after contacting Hyundai several times they have yet to reply and answer glad someone started this class action.

  7. Randy smith says:

    Add me to the list! I have owned a 2013 Kia Forte and experience a quart loss of oil every fill up now! This car is just a money pit and a death trap from the fires it’s causing and guess what I’m not under the recall list for a new engine and it taps like a son of a gun since the day I bought it!

  8. Daniel Navarro says:

    Our 2013 Hyundai sonata hybrid started burning oil @80,000 miles took it to Hyundai they said there was no recall and to just keep adding oil. That was 7months ago 3weeks ago the car just died coming to a stop sign no idiot lights nothing… Now the engine is totally seized. Please add me as well.

  9. Ann Fischer says:

    Hyundai 2017 turbo sport oil low problems two times. Didn’t show up on the car oil gauge either. Non Hyundai service shops have told us problems.
    Add us to the list.

    1. Ryan Ragutero says:

      Got a 2017 Elantra sport. Engine has been losing oil. Having to add a QT of oil before oil changes. Engine has 87k.

  10. Monica Silver says:

    Currently own a Hyundai 2019 Santa Fe. Please add me.

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