A New Jersey woman recently filed a class action lawsuit alleging that certain Hyundai Elantra models have a piston defect which can cause dangerous engine failures.
Plaintiff Elizabeth Brown filed the class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company LTD, alleging that the car maker’s Elantra models posses a dangerous piston defect.
The Hyundai Elantra class action claims that Elantra models from 2011 through 2016, with “Nu” 1.8 liter engines, are affected by a piston defect.
Brown says the piston defect stems from 2011 changes to the piston manufacturing process.
The Hyundai class action lawsuit alleges that Brown purchased a 2013 Hyundai Elantra, containing a “Nu” 1.8 liter engine, from an authorized dealer near her home.
In late 2017, Brown reportedly began to notice a knocking, ticking noise from her vehicle. A week later, while her son was driving the car, a loud pop was heard from the engine before it failed.
The plaintiff says she attempted to file a warranty claim but was denied when the dealer allegedly found oil sludge, citing inadequate maintenance.
The Hyundai Elantra piston defect can allegedly cause engine failures. The symptoms of the related engine failure reportedly include a knocking noise upon start up, loss of engine power, loss of power steering, loss of break assistance, and sudden stalling.
The Hyundai Elantra class action lawsuit claims that once the engine fails, there is no way to fix it apart from completely replacing the engine, a $10,000 repair.
Brown argues that Hyundai Elantra engine failure can place consumers at serious risk for accident, injury, and death. If a Hyundai Elantra engine were to fail while a consumer was driving, they would reportedly be at serious risk for collision.
The Hyundai Elantra class action claims that the automaker knew about the defect but did not initiate a recall or repair action in the United States.
Brown says Canadian dealers were instructed to replace engines affected by engine knocking, a symptom of the problem, but no such order was initiated in the United States.
Instead of offering a fix for the dangerous problem, Hyundai Elantra dealers blame consumers for “inadequate maintenance” and deny warranty claims for a replacement engine, according to the Hyundai Elantra class action lawsuit.
“Defendants have not recalled and/or offered an adequate engine repair to the Class Vehicles, offered their customers suitable repairs or replacements free of charge, or offered to reimburse their customers who have incurred out-of-pocket expenses to repair the defect,” the Hyundai Elantra class action states.
Brown seeks to represent a Class of current and former owners and lessees of Hyundai Elantra vehicles affected by the alleged piston defect. She also seeks to represent a New Jersey subclass of the same consumers.
The Hyundai Elantra class action seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.
Brown is represented by Matthew D. Schelkopf and Joseph B. Kenney of Sauder Schelkopf LLC; Nicholas Migliaccio, Jason Rathod, and Esfand Y. Nafisi of Migliaccio & Rathod LLP; Daniel C. Levin of Levin Sedran & Berman.
The Hyundai Elantra Piston Defect Class Action Lawsuit is Brown v. Hyundai Motor America, et al., Case No. 2:18-cv-11249-JLL-JAD, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
UPDATE: On Jan. 22, 2019, Hyundai asked a federal judge to dismiss a class action lawsuit which alleges that the company concealed Elantra engine defects.
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163 thoughts onHyundai Elantra Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Piston Defect
How do you go about being part of the class action suit? I own a 2015 Elantra. My engine failed Feb 2018. I was denied a replacement while still under warranty due alleged neglect. The oil sludge lie Hyundai tells. Well I opened a BBB case and took Hyundai to meditation. Hyundai’s Rep lied on many accounts and luckily the mediator believed me. She required an independent mechanical expert inspector to look at the car. He found no sludge and I won the case. I went without my car from Feb to June. Was denied the free loaner because they refused the warranty repair. And to make matters worse my car now runs like a total piece of junk. I have left it at the Hyundai dealer for almost 2 weeks and they can’t find anything wrong or so they say. I almost got hit today due this problem I’m having. At my wits end with this cheap pile of junk.
I have a 2012 with 102 thousand and ticking noice is very bad. I took it to a dealer and they claim I needed a whole new engine that would cost about $6,000 and they too claimed that they won’t cover it. How do I join the lawsuit?
I have a 2011 and my engine started knocking at about 120,000 miles. I’ve spent about $3000 repairing parts of the engine, but the answer is a whole new engine. I’m out of warranty and Hyundai isn’t going to help me out. I’d love to join this class action lawsuit!
My 2011 Hyundai Elantra also has the piston slap defect. I’m at 102k miles, and no longer under warranty.
I’m facing a pile debt in repairs, an unfinished loan, and the chance of my car blowing at any moment.
I’m enraged at the thought that I’ve been put under such a strain thanks to faulty design.
Is there a way to join or support this lawsuit?
I have a 2014 Elantra and just had the engine replaced. Only 48k miles. It took over 7 months for it to be repaired and when it was returned the AC did not work and the car was filthy. Loved my Hyundai before getting this one. It has been in and out of the shop for 11 of the last twelve months.
I have a 2015 that has the same issue. It blew before the 60k and now 25 k later after they “fixed” it blew again while driving !!! How can I join this lawsuit?
I also own a 2013 Elantra. Second owner. 111,000 miles and it has the piston defect. It sounds like a diesel! I called customer service and Hyundai won’t do anything for me. I will NEVER buy another Hyundai and I tell everyone I know about this. Would like to join a lawsuit! Contact me.
Would like to find an attorney in Las Vegas willing to initiate a class action lawsuit against Hyndaui for the newer Accents which have known issues with the charcoal canister and fuel pumps. The defective parts in these vehicles cause gas fumes to spew from the gas tank, putting cars at risk of igniting. These vehicles also stop driving randomly – another safety risk. We are currently protesting daily in front of Henderson Hyndaui on Boulder Highway in order to bring attention to this matter, and have had numerous people stop to tell us they have had the EXACT same issues. Multiple Hyundai employees have acknowledged this is a known issue with these cars.
I second this and would like to be a part of the class action suit.
I have 2013 Elantra sedan motor blew at 70,000. still have engine as evidence.
can I join lawsuit?
My engine went at 30,000 they fixed my block because purchased the extended warranty . I AM SCARED what if this happens again.
I also had a recall on the brake pedal causing it to crash received this 2 days after I crashed. I had the wiper blades criss cross in the middle of my window and 3 X the juicy to run my vehicle after the block was changed . I had my heater malfunction it wouldn’t turn off. After all this work being done my car doesn’t start all the time but there is also a computer recall . WHAT NEXT Scary
I have 2013 Elantra sedan motor blew at 70,000. still have engine as evidence.