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 daughter bought a 2015 kia Sorento with the 3.3 engine a few months ago. She’s always out of oil no matter how much she adds. It looked like the oil pan and/or oil drain bolt were leaking, so we replaced the gasket and crush washer on those. After about a month it looks to be leaking again at the same spot and her dipstick is always dry. She’s had a loss of power and she has white smoke, thick and lots of it sometimes, coming from her exhaust. She’s a single mom of 2 girls under age 5 and spent her whole income tax check on this car hoping to get 1 that is safe, reliable, and would last several years. No such luck which sucks cuz her last car had oil issues. It was a 2009 Toyota Camry which had recalls due to defective engine design concerning the pistons and rings. How can she join this lawsuit? She bought the car used from an individual out of state.
I have a 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport that just had an engine failure while our family was up in Canada. First the check engine light went on followed shortly by the oil light coming and the engine went into a “safe mode” that did not let it accelerate above 2000 rpms. I had to rent a Uhaul truck and trailer to get the vehicle back home and to a Hyundai dealer. That was nearly 800 miles I had to tow my car home. When I brought in to the dealer, they could not tell me when they would look at it, but said it would likely be at least 2 to 3 weeks, just to look at it!!!!! When I asked for a loaner, they could not or would not offer me one. Hyundai has lost my confidence based on how they are handling this whole matter.
I bought a used 2016 Hyundai Sonata with only 26,000 miles on it. 4 years later, and now paid off, my car started consuming oil. Between 500-1000 miles I’m burning up to 2.5 qts of oil and constantly have to monitor/put more oil in my car to feel safe to drive it. I’ve done the oil consumption tests, paid out of pocket for a combustion chamber cleaning per the dealerships advice, and was denied engine replacement because I was out of warranty. I’m now stuck with a safety hazardous vehicle. I was told my only options is to pay for a new engine myself or get a new car.
Sole owner of a 2017 Tucson with 73,300 miles. About 8 weeks ago returned from a trip and noticed the oil light flicker on briefly. Checked oil later that day after it cooled off and there was NO oil showing on the oil stick. Added a quart and had the oil changed the next day even though it was 600 miles from the recommended change interval. After checking it a few times over the next 3 weeks and it was full I forgot about it until 2 weeks ago and, again it was not showing on the stick. It required THREE quarts to bring it to full. Hyundai dealership has told me it is a multi step process to determine if there is an oil consumption issues, currently on step one.
I have a 2018 Santa Fe that uses or loses a quart of oil or more ever 1,000 miles. It’s been looked at and nothing is being done. Then a knock sensor had to be reset for a second time and Hyundai still claims my vehicle is fine and they won’t do anything about it.
I have a 2016 Hyundai Sonata sport and having issues with our engine. We are currently at Hyundai.
I have a 2013 Hyundai Sonata the is using oil. We have to add between 1 and 1-1/w quarts every 1,000 miles. Took it to the dealership for a oil consumption test and they said it did not qualify. Where is this oil going and why are they ignoring the issue?
I have a 2018 Santa Fe Sport with 110,000 miles which is going through a quart of oil every 600-800 miles. Definitely not normal
My 2017 Santa Fe Sport Ultimate burns over 3 quarts every 600 miles. It is total garbage now with barely 100,000 miles on it. I doubt seriously I could sell it for $500 bucks.
2018 Tucson losing about 1.5 qrts per 1000 miles! I only have 80k miles on it!
i am also having this problem with my 2017 Kia Sportage and theyre trying to act like i should be paying for these things. Like hell i will!!