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
Please add me to the lawsuit… I add a quart of oil a month 2014 Sante fe sport
We bought a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport from Parkway Chevrolet in Tomball Texas. When I went for the first oil change they said it was extremely low on oil on March 23, 2022. I checked my oil before making a trip and it was not showing on the stick at all. I went back to where I got my oil changed and had around 1,100 miles on the oil change. They had to add 3 quarts of oil.I made my trip which consisted of about 130 miles one way. I had my son in law check my oil after it sat all night and it was between add and full and when I returned home we checked the oil the next morning and it was on Add already. I would like to be placed on the class action lawsuit list as well. This is way to much oil to be using. Now I am having to set a reminder to check the oil every couple of days….
Please add us to the CAL as well. 2016 Elantra GT, bought new from Norm Reeves Cerritos CA. We actually never had issues with the dealer as I did most of the required maintenance myself. But right about the 80K mark, I noticed II had to keep adding oil very frequently. It got so bad I had to get Siri to make a 2-week permanent follow-up to remind me to check the oil. I go through about 1 qt of Mobil 1 synthetic every 1000 miles. One of my grandsons slapped my head and said to go back to regular dino oil if having to add is that frequent (I found a good full synthetic I can use for the top-offs {Super Tech}). Fortunately, oil top/off is the only issue I’ve had with the motor. Current mileage: 123K
2013 Hyundai Sonata. Consuming about 1.5 qts every 800 miles. Oil is just gone – no smoke or leak. Took to Hyundai in Winter Park, FL and they calculated the consumption rate. They suggest I do a combustion cleaning but I think it’s a waste of time and money. Hyundai says they won’t provide assistance because the car is out of warranty – even though a recall should have been issued a long time ago. Very disappointed and want to get added to the lawsuit
I have 2016 Hyundai sonata sport having same issue. Done several consumption tests but they all supposedly “within normal limits” no physical leaks. Having to add between 2-4 quarts of oil in between changes every 5000 miles.
My 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport went through two oil consumption tests after having to be towed to the dealership numerous times for not having oil. After the first test, they “cleaned the engine” to fix the problem. When the problem arose again and I went through the second test, it showed that I burn 1.2 quarts of oil every thousand miles. Hyundai refused to replace my engine, and I was recommended by the service manager to either trade my car in, add a quart of oil to my car every thousand miles, or to let it run bone dry to destroy it and hope that Hyundai replaces it. I want to be added to this class action lawsuit.
Add my name ro the class action lawsuit
I have a 2018 Hyundai ELANTRA Yes it needs oil changes all the time it’s costing me a fortune
Hyundai Sonata 2014- I add oil WEEKLY to my car. Hyundai dealership DOVER, Delaware said nothing was wrong with it when I brought it in & to just keep adding oil when low.
Hyundai dealership in FL admitted this is a known issue but then said Hyundai wouldn’t help because car is out of warranty. UGH.
I have a 2018 Hyundai sonata that uses excessive oil and had faulty brakes. I purchased the car in April 2021 it had under 30k miles it now has just over 50k and I had to pay over $1500.00 for brakes for a car I religiously take on time every 3 months for recommended service and was never told or warned there was a brake issue or brakes needed to be replaced anytime soon. I unfortunately found out when they suddenly went out on me without warning. Also I happened to check the oil right after a supposed oil change and the oil was nearly empty and black as can be.
I bought a 2017, Hyundai sonata from a used care dealership and I’ve noticed that my car always seems to burn off oil, and I’m always having to top it off. Furthermore the car is always over heating and I constantly have to run the heater. If there’s any way to get in on this class action suit let me know.
A Kona owner. I would like to log my experience publicly for the record. Add me to the class action!
2020 Hyundai Kona Ultimate purchased new off the lot.
I have had one oil change per the service message recommendation and was told by the service manager to come back after 6000 more miles. I am at 10,700 miles total and had to add a quart before my second oil change. I have a dealer service scheduled on 5/16/2022.
This is a problem. Hyundai and their dealers know it is! There is no reason a new car with 10,000 miles should need a quart of oil added after just the first oil change. I filled my car’s oil with the same weight oil as was shown on the window sticker from the dealer.
This is unacceptable and is why there must be a recall on this engine. I will comment back with the dealership recommendation.