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
We bought our son a 2015 Hyundai Tucson on 6/30/21. 10 days later, returning home from a trip, the car lost acceleration while traveling in the passing lane on the interstate. Luckily, he was able to safely pull over to the side where it stopped running and oil spilled out. Total failure of engine. Dealership split cost of used engine with 89k miles on it with us. Now that engine is using an excessive amount of oil. Please add us to the lawsuit.
Hi, I just seen this. I just brought a 2016 Hyundai Sonata, and now I’m scared to drive after reading this. I’ve having issues already. Taking vehicle in to be looked at next week. How do I get added into suit. Help Chayna Nettles
Please add me to the lawsuit. At just 70,000 miles and with the 10-year warranty having just expired in 2021 (I paid extra for platinum), my 2012 Santa Fe is leaking oil between the engine and transmission. The oil pressure light flickers on intermittently and it’s sitting in the garage waiting for my appointment at the dealer. This is a serious and, from what I now gather, a known issue for my year and model. Unbelievable.
Please add me to the lawsuit. My 2016 Hyundai Sonata Limited engine seized. Rshahid1900@gmail.com
Please add me to the lawsuit. Rshahid1900@gmail.com
My engine seized at the dealership during testing! Last month I was finally approved for an engine replacement, but it’s been over 35 days and I still don’t have my vehicle-I’m the owner of a 2016 Hyundai Sonata Limited and after 6 months of high oil consumption, low power, knocking, fluttering, stalling, 2 tows to the dealership, several Lyft rides to and from the dealership, over $1000 in rental car expenses-This has seriously interfered with day to day living, attending my daughter’s graduation-all normal life activities we take for granted-the whole time having to painstakingly detail every account, only to wait for a response, and then repeat another 1000 mile oil consumption test. When my car is going through 3 quarts in 900 miles, what is left?
It’s a Theta Engine but my vin was not included in the recall, obviously a mistake on Hyundai’s part. As a result I’ve incurred cost, time spent, missed appts, family needs, emotional distress from delay after delay in acknowledging the problem in a timely manner, only to be told that Hyundai will only reimburse $40/day for the rental car I am forced to have while the car is in the shop, still.
I commented to my case manager that where I live you cannot rent a vehicle for $40, the response was that was Hyundai’s policy. Are you kidding me? This is extreme customer abuse and unethical behavior by any standards.
As far as I can see, anyone who bought any of these problem models, over payed and should be refunded the total amount and more. The product was not as specified, it was inherently damaged or made with an out of spec engine/parts. In any other purchase, if the item is “broken”, standard practice demands a refund.
What Hyundai did, is doing, is an absolute abuse of power, a travesty to the consumers. Never, will I buy another Hyundai or recommend it to anyone. We’re talking about peoples’ lives, have some decency.
i have a veloster & my oil has been a major problem for me for the past year. Not knowing the severity of the situation I would do oil changes as recommended. and that costed me my whole engine. yesterday my veloster’s engine failed completely, i was on the way to my mechanic. only 1 mile away & the rpms we’re going crazy, no acceleration ( while i was on a major houston bridge in rush hour traffic with my wife in the car) then finally it shut off . as i was pushing it to the gas station oil was pouring out to the point where i slipped on it while pushing. These engines are a real problem and are putting people in danger & financial crisis’. I truly wish hyundai would acknowledge this.
I have just reached 111k miles the rapid oil leaks began around 100k
I have to add a quart of oil a week to my 2011 Kia Optima.
Started out with about 1 quart every 1000 miles and now it’s up to 3. First time I bought Hyundai and will probably be the last. We loved the car until this issue
I am having the problem of excessive oil consumption with my 2015 Tucson!! Had to start the consumption test 3 times because workers left! Really frustrating! I also paid for the clean out, and of course it did nothing to fix/help the problem!
I started at 1 qt every 1000 miles and now I’m at 3.5 qts every 1000 miles. Dealership tried saying at first maybe its the rings and I said we both know 3.5 qts due too rings is not realistic because I had no leaks. They them tried saying oh your valve cover gasket is leaking. I knew it wasn’t the case because I just had the valve cover gasket replaced a month prior. After completing the oil consumption test and each time it being 3.5 qts low they basically told me without saying it to let nature take its course and then they can test for knocking and replace the engine. This all started at 110k miles and currently at 143k.