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
My 2015 Hyundai Sonata burns oil crazy fast I have to top it off 3 to 4 times in between oil changes and every time they top it off there’s hardly any oil on the dipstick and the car isn’t leaking oil either
I own a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Sport and my car is currently at Hyundai for an oil consumption test. I have been forced to get oil changes every 3 months and have to constantly add oil which has been costing me a lot of money. I have provided maintenance records but was just notified that my claim has been denied. I am desperate and don’t know what to do. I cannot afford to replace the engine.
2017 Hyundai Sonata. Burns 1qt every 500 miles. Taken to the dealership 5 times the past 11k miles for this same issue.
2014 Sante fe sport 2.0T engine. 4,000 after last oil change, the crankcase was completely empty. Dealership said I waited too long between oil changes. I think the service manager thought I was an idiot. Dealership did an oil change and said to check oil more often. Drove home on the freeway and the car had no power. Turned around and took right back to the dealership. They’ve had it for 3 days with no explanation of what’s wrong with my car.
I thought I was only one with oil problems and transmission and turbo…
Please add me for this lawsuit. My Sonota hybrid de has same problem for 3 years. I have to add oil every month. I asked for oil consumption test. My car is under warranty. However, the dealer said the first one thousand miles only less a little bit. It’s normal. I told them this a hybrid car You need to do the other thousands miles test. They refused me. I took the pictures to show them after two thousands miles diving, the oil level is only one third left. The manual book indicated oil change at 7500 miles. The car no oil at 4000 miles. I will don’t this suite.
My 2011 Kia Optima requires me to top it off with oil about every 500 miles, with no leaks in my parking spaces. Please add me.
2014 Sonata. Same issue.
My 2012 Hyundai Accent is eating oil like candy. I’m taking it in again for a check and I am betting something is clogged again.
I have had to put oil into my 2018 Hyundai Sonata after 500 miles of getting an oil changed. It’s been ridiculous. My oil light flashes on and off constantly and When I check my oil level, right after adding oil, it says low. And I don’t have an oil leak anywhere.
My “genie lamp” kept going on then off for the past few weeks. Bf is a mechanic so he changed my oil tonight… there was only 1.5qts in it as opposed to the 5 it needs!!!! Was just changed like 3 months ago!!!! We’re debating him just replacing the engine himself! But I want to be added to this. My car is a 2018 sonata sport. Got it sept 2021, so I haven’t even had it a full year yet!