Hyundai Problems and News Tagged #lawsuit

Another owner has sued Hyundai and Kia for knowingly equipping vehicles with defective Theta II engines.

Proving once again that when it comes to engines that catch on fire, people generally aren't fans. The automakers have settled similar lawsuits and issued recalls for these clunkers, but the plaintiff suggests not all affected vehicles were included.

About the lawsuit ∞

• These gasoline direct injection (GDI) engines are plagued with problems. From bearing failure, to connecting rod knocks, to oil consumption, and yes – engine infernos.
• The plaintiff bought their car used and shortly after learned that the car needed a new short block to the tune of $7,000. The work also took 6 months because there're a backorder on parts.
• In December Hyundai recalled 128,000 vehicles over concerns they could catch on fire. But the lawsuit wants more coverage for the 2012 Santa Fe
  2011-2013, 2016 Sonata Hybrid, and 2015-2016 Veloster.

Hyundai is questioning the merits of a class-action lawsuit that says the 1.8L Nu engine is a ticking time bomb.

The troublesome engine can be found in the 2011-2016 Elantra and is known for ticking noises, oil sludge, and premature failure. The automaker has a history of blaming these problems on poor maintenance and often denies warranty claims. So what else is Nu?

Hyundai has proposed a settlement that would offer owners extended coverage in case their sunroofs explode.

If approved, the settlement would double the existing sunroof warranty, reimburse certain previously-paid expenses, and even offer cash to those that decide to sell their car within the next 90 days.

Hyundai still won’t admit the sunroof is defective, but they’re sure acting like it is.

The 5th generation Elantra’s engine is making a ticking noise consistent with piston slap, according to a proposed class-action lawsuit.

Piston slap eventually leads to block damage, oil sludge, and complete engine failure. The lawsuitaccuses Hyundai of placing blame on owners for their defective engines.

Hyundai’s “smart trunk” is supposed to open all the way without using keys or pushing any buttons.

However, a lawsuit alleges that while the trunk unlatches, it never really works as advertised.

Hyundai has marketed the Smart Trunk as a feature that automatically opens the trunk fully, or at least enough for a person to put large items into the trunk. But according to the lawsuit, the trunks are defective because they fail to open more than a few inches, or sometimes not more than a small crack.

I never saw the appeal in this feature, especially given its $950-$1,900 price.

A peeling paint lawsuit has fallen apart after a judge’s recent dismissal.

The judge said this dismissal is with prejudice because the plaintiffs keep repeating the same allegations that were already dismissed.

In other words, the plaintiffs had their chance and blew it. The original lawsuit alleged that Hyundai’s paint falls apart as the polymers break down and make the paint susceptible to peeling and flaking.

Hyundai is being sued for using soy-based wire insulation that attracts rabbits, mice, squirrels and other creatures.

The Hyundai lawsuit alleges the automaker denies there is a problem by using the soy-based wiring and since no defect exists, any replacement parts will also consist of soy products.

The soy-based materials are more biodegradable and generally cost less than their plastic counterparts.…

After more than 100 complaints submitted to safety regulators, a proposed class-action has been filed saying Hyundai steering wheels can lock up while driving.

The plaintiffs say the cars lose power steering without warning and make it impossible to safely drive, an allegedly similar problem that caused Hyundai to recall 173,000 Sonata mid-size cars in 2016. The lawsuit alleges the automaker has long known about the steering problems but has neglected to warn consumers or take actions to fix the loss of power steering.

The lawsuit covers the 2013-2016 Hyundai Accent and Elantra.

A pe

ling paint lawsuit has been dismissed by a California district judge. Whether Hyundai knew the paint was defective was a question because the automaker said third-party websites talked about the problems, but customers weren't complaining directly to Hyundai. In other words, if customers don't complain directly to Hyundai, no one can prove the automaker had prior knowledge of alleged problems.

This is a terrible argument. Third party websites, like CarComplaints.com, are not only useful for venting. Complaint data is collected, compiled, and shared to other owners who might be having the same problem. Seeing how many others are facing a similar issue can be a catalyst for action.…

A Santa Fe engine settlement for a lawsuit filed way back in 2014 has finally been approved by a judge.

The class-action lawsuit was filed by lead plaintiffs Julia Reniger and Greg Battaglia who claim their SUVs kept stalling without warning, causing problems with trying to steer and stop the SUVs.

For years, owners have been complaining that their engines can stall at any speed.

With the 2010-2012 Hyundai Santa Fe engine stall class-action lawsuit finalized by the court, the automaker agrees to reimburse customers on a claims-made basis for out-of-pocket costs if the customer's SUV experienced a documented stall. In addition, a software update will be available for free for 10 years after the date the SUVs were sold as new.…

keep reading article "Judge Finalizes Settlement for 2010-2012 Santa Fe Engine Stall Lawsuit"

A Theta II engine settlement for Mendoza v. Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd., et al. has been approved by the court.

A Hyundai Sonata class-action lawsuit will receive final approval after U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman said she sees no problem with the settlement terms and believes the agreement is excellent for Sonata owners.

Hyundai was accused of concealing defects with their Theta II GDI engines, and the settlement helps owners of the 2011-2014 Sonata with either the 2L or 2.4L variant.…

Hyundai motion to dismiss a panoramic sunroof lawsuit has been denied.

The 2015 lawsuit says the sunroof glass can explode without warning. The judge previously threw out some claims concerning unfair profit but allowed fraud claims to continue. Hyundai then asked the judge to whittle down the lawsuit even more by throwing out claims based on unjust enrichment, a request denied by the court.

Hyundai also argued claims of an owner who said the vehicle was unmerchantable within the warranty period should be tossed, but the judge denied the request.

Hyundai has had problems with sunroofs dating back to a 2012 investigation for the Veloster.

A class-action lawsuit accuses Hyundai of failing to meet industry standards with their paint in the 2006-2016 Santa Fe, Sonata, and Elantra.

The plaintiffs say the self-healing process won't work if the scratch is deeper than a surface scratch, such as a chip in the paint caused by a rock flying off the road and hitting the car. Further, there is a concern that if the self-healing process does not occur, the scratch or chip may cause further breakdown of the paint’s molecular structure, in essence triggering the technology to operate in reverse.

Hyundai’s “self-healing” paint is advertised to heal minor scratches. A chemical compound called scratch recovery clear contains a polymer which, when exposed to ultraviolet light, becomes molten and fills gaps in paint.

That sounds great, but the plaintiffs claim that long-term exposure to ultraviolet light eventually breaks the polymers down, turning the paint into an ever-molten state that allows it to peel off in sheets.

Contaminated oil is carrying metal shavings on a not-so-joyful ride through the Theta II engine leading to knocks, stalls, and eventual failures according to a recent class-action filed by a Sonata owner in California.

[The plaintiff]_ brought [her] Sonata to a dealership and was told a piston had blown out. Mendoza asked for her car to be repaired under warranty, but the dealership refused to make the repairs. However, the dealer said the engine could be replaced for $4,500. Mendoza said no and took the Sonata to a mechanic and had the engine replaced at a cost of $3,000.

The plaintiff says she followed Hyundai’s recommended maintenance intervals and there was no reason her engine should have seized, you know other than the whole “doomed from the start” theory.…

Hyundai is being sued for permanently disabling Blue Link systems if a subscription has been inactive for more than one year.

The plaintiff claims on or about January 7, 2015, Hyundai notified owners of its Blue Link vehicles whose Blue Link subscriptions had been inactive for more than one year. Hyundai told owners, “If you do not reactivate your Blue Link services by January 28, 2015, your current Blue Link system in your vehicle will be permanently disabled.

Except, permanent didn’t mean forever if you’re willing to pony up the cash. The Blue Link handbook mentioned that disconnected services could be easily restored for a “nominal reconnection fee.” They just didn’t say what it was.…

For

ears, owners of 2010-2012 Santa Fe have been saying their engines can stall at any speed. Now the issue has found its way to court.

The lawsuit claims the dealer notification letter admits the SUVs can stall because a heavy load on the alternator can cause a drop in engine rpm. The letter says even if the engine stalls it can be restarted immediately. Furthermore, the dealer letter says a "specific set of operating conditions" must occur before the Santa Fe stalls, but the lawsuit says that is false because Hyundai owners complain the problem can happen at any time.

The “dealer notification letter” was part of a service campaign by Hyundai which owners say did nothing to fix the actual problem.