Logotype of Hyundai corporation.
(Photo Credit: Arsenie Krasnevsky/Shutterstock)

Update:ย 

  • A judge dismissed a class action lawsuit filed by a group of vehicle owners against Hyundai Motor Co. in a California federal court.ย 
  • 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.ย 
  • 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.ย 

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 automakerโ€™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 hasnโ€™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 ownerโ€™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 shouldnโ€™t be, damaging the combustion and exhaust systems.

This allegedly causes โ€œabnormal wear of engine parts, oversaturation of carbon and deposits of oil sludge, ultimately requiring a costly engine rebuild or replacement.โ€

Automaker should honor warranty claims outside terms, Hyundai class action says

The plaintiffs allege that Hyundai should honor customersโ€™ warranty claims even when the warranties have expired.ย 

According to the lawsuit, Hyundai canโ€™t adequately repair the oil consumption problems and doesnโ€™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, โ€œand in most cases do not receive required engine replacements.โ€

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, 2011โ€“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.ย 

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!ย 


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3,221 thoughts onHyundai class action over excessive oil consumption dismissed

  1. Paul Stashak says:

    2016 Hyundai Sonata SE โ€” 139k miles โ€ฆ smell burning oil, adding oil, had p0010 code ,โ€ฆfixed that with the end cap, now the code is back again ,โ€ฆDealer said timing belt issue but itโ€™s possible that it could be the engine, however, the warranty is only for a โ€˜rod โ€˜ issue so they wonโ€™t replace it. They want $3000 to replace timing chain but not sure that will solve issue. It could still be the engine that needs replacement. Had I known about this engine issue, I would have NEVER bought a Hyundai vehicle ever. Contact me please.

  2. CHUCK says:

    2016 tucson, 77,000 miles and always have low oil

  3. Bill Zepeda says:

    Yes, please add me. I have the same issue with my 2016 Tuscon. I have to add oil between changes and dealership said itโ€™s not covered under the warranty.

  4. Paula Hughes says:

    Add me to please. I have a 2018 Sonata. Started having problems with oil & engine in November 2021 with only 26,500 miles on the odometer. Burning oil and almost stalls when I come to a stop, sounds horrible when idling, stopped or even in motion, like something is crackling under the hood.
    Dealer stated my oil was extremely low and did an oil change. Expressed how I should come back every 1K miles to have it measured to see what the problem was. I went back twice and both times it was a quart low.
    They then tell me โ€œitโ€™s a Sonata thing and they canโ€™t do anything about it. I just need to check my oil level at every fill up and make sure I put in a quart of oil every 1K miles along with doing a complete oil change every 3K miles.โ€ They also told me I could have it looked at further by the service dept (cost $500-not covered under warranty) to see if they could find anything else wrong with it. Along with recommending to have my engine and all fluid lines throughly cleaned (cost $700-800) (*Really? At only 27K miles no one should have to do that!). I would also have to leave my car over night for the cleaning but they would not be able to offer me a loaner(single Mom, one vehicle, that wonโ€™t work). Then to fix my idle and acceleration to add in a fuel additive they sold there in the service dept. Told me by the time I filled up my tank again I would see and feel a huge difference. Well that was $50 wasted because nothing changed, still the same problems.
    I paid for the extended warranty coverage when i purchased my Sonata. I have always gone to Hyundai for all my scheduled maintenance needs to make sure my warranty stayed active and in compliance. Yet, now at only 30,300 miles I have to worry about checking oil levels at every fill up, putting in oil every 1K miles, more frequent oil changes, worrying about my car stalling or not even starting. Iโ€™m sorry, but I donโ€™t have the ability or resources to do all this or to pay for all these extra services due to their faulty engines and parts.
    I have Stage 3 liver cancer so my time and monetary funds are very limited. I hope something good comes out of this lawsuit and Hyundai steps up to take care of their customers sooner rather than later. I do not want to get rid of my Sonata, I got it because I loved it & still do. However, I need a dependable vehicle to get me to where I need to be and right now, itโ€™s not looking good if you own a Hyundai.

  5. Amanda Willinsky says:

    I have a 2019 Hyundai Tucson and I just started having the same problem. My car had no oil in it and it just came up on time to change it. And now I have an engine light on. Just took it to the dealership. Add me on.

  6. Brooke Salter says:

    I have a 2016 Sonata and Iโ€™m having oil burning issues. I will keep an eye on this bc I have been going to dealership for over 6 months now dealing with this issue. Getting back and forth on answers, now Iโ€™m supposed to keep adding oil and if it blows, the dealership will submit a claim for a new motor that may or may not he approved bc of rod bearing extended warranty on car. Itโ€™s frustrating, especially when you like your car!

  7. David P Dobrev says:

    I have a 2017 Kia Optima that I purchased pre-owned from Carvana. My wife saw the check oil light flash on and then quickly off while she was driving. I checked the oil when she got home. Not only was the dipstick dry, but i could SEE the bottom of the oil well, and it was also bone dry. I had to add 3 quarts, and we later took it for a full flush and change, because the oil on the dipstick looked black not even a week later. We are ABSOLUTELY effected by this recall, and would like our information added to the lawsuit (she was driving a 2013 Kia Soul up until 1/25/2022 when it was totalled in an accident. She had owned it since back 09/2013).

  8. Adam says:

    I have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata and my car uses 5 quarts of oil at least in between oil changes Iโ€™m constantly having to add oil to my engine.

    1. Adam says:

      Please add me to the class action. Thanks

  9. Kathy Cebrian says:

    I also have the issue with oil.

  10. thomas j walsh says:

    i have a 2018 kona that has oil consumption usage it happened be for my warranty expired and now that my car has gone over the warranty they wont honor it

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