Hyundai and Kia Engine Seizures and Fires Class Action

“The most important duty of a car manufacturer is to provide consumers with a safe car.” Thus opens the complaint for this class action against Hyundai Motor Company, Hyundai Motor America, Kia Motors Corporation, and Kia Motors America, Inc. The issue is certain gasoline direct injection (GDI) and multipoint fuel injection (MPI) engines in certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles that pose a risk of engine failure and spontaneous engine fire while the vehicles are in use.

The Nationwide Class is all persons or entities who bought or leased a class vehicle in the US. The California Class is similar, but for all persons or entities who bought or leased a class vehicle who bought or leased in California. The class vehicles include, but are not limited to, the following:

• 2012 MY Hyundai Santa Fe
• 2011-2013 and 2016 MY Hyundai Sonata Hybrid
• 2015-2016 MY Hyundai Veloster
• 2012-2015 MY Kia Forte
• 2012-2015 MY Kia Forte Koup
• 2011-2013 MY Kia Optima Hybrid
• 2012-2013 MY Kia Sorento
• 2014-2015 MY Kia Soul
• 2012 MY Kia Sportage

The complaint summarizes the problem this way: “A design and/or manufacturing defect exists in the Class Vehicles that causes the engine’s moving parts, such as connecting rod bearings, to prematurely wear to the point that the engine parts seize, which stops engine operation while running… Engine seizure often causes internal parts, such as the connection rods, to break and knock a hole in the engine, permitting fluids to leak and ignite a fire.”

This unacceptably increases drivers’ and passengers’ risks of accident, injury, and death. Not only that; the complaint alleges that the defect “plagues an ever-increasing number of Hyundai and Kia vehicle models, years, and engines.”

One of the plaintiffs in this case, Nicole Thornhill, for example, in May 2018 bought a 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid with low mileage that was equipped with a 2.4 L Theta II MPI engine. In August 2018, She noticed a knocking noise in the engine. A mechanic told her it was on the verge of failure and needed immediate repair. She took it to a Kia dealership which told her it needed replacement of the short block. The repair was priced a $7,000, and the vehicle remained at the dealership for six months, waiting for a new short block. The vehicle was finally fixed in February 2019. About one year later, Kia finally recalled it for the engine defect.

Hyundai and Kia know about the defect, the complaint contends, from a number of sources, including their own testing of vehicles, complaints from consumers, complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and the technical service bulletins and recalls they themselves have issued.

Despite their awareness of the problem, the complaint charges that the companies have not warned prospective customers and have only issued “piecemeal and belated recalls over the last six years … while omitting similar vehicles without apparent explanation.”

The counts include breach of warranty and violations of California laws.

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Automobile
Tags: Defective Automobile, Engine Defects, Fire