How To File a Lemon Law Claim Against Hyundai for Excessive Oil Consumption

If you are a Hyundai owner, you may have been dealing with frustrating oil consumption issues.

In 2022, eight owners filed a class action lawsuit against Hyundai in California federal court, alleging that the automaker’s engines in more than 20 models consume excessive amounts of engine oil, stall, and eventually fail. The Hyundai oil consumption lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California as Cho, et al., v. Hyundai Motor Company, LTD., et al.

Meanwhile, there has been a settlement in a class action lawsuit against Hyundai, which says certain vehicles have a defect that can cause engine seizure, engine failure, and engine fires, and that some Hyundai owners have been improperly denied repairs under the vehicle’s warranty.

Another option for addressing your Hyundai oil consumption problems is pursuing a claim under California’s Lemon Law. The law says a motor vehicle’s manufacturer must replace or buy back a vehicle if the owner or lessee has been unable to have performance problems that are under warranty repaired in a reasonable number of attempts.

The Barry Law Firm of Los Angeles, CA, focuses solely on pursuing California Lemon Law claims for California consumers. We have helped thousands of affected owners recover money spent on defective vehicles. We would like to help you, too.

If you have a Hyundai that consumes excessive amounts of oil and you haven’t been able to get your car repaired, contact The Barry Law Firm for a free case review today.

Understand The Basics of the California’s Lemon Law

California’s Lemon Law gives consumers who have bought or leased faulty motor vehicles important rights. If a reasonable number of repair attempts fail to resolve a substantial defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, the car, truck, motorcycle, or RV is considered a lemon. The Lemon Law allows the owner or lessee to demand that the manufacturer replace the vehicle or buy it back.

California’s Lemon Law applies to issues that are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty and that substantially impair the use, value, or safety of the vehicle. The law allows the manufacturer a reasonable number of attempts to correct the problem.

A reasonable number of repairs can vary from case to case. If the vehicle defect poses a significant danger, under California Lemon Law, two or more attempts to fix the problem are typically considered reasonable. However, if the problem is less severe, manufacturers may be entitled to more than two attempts to fix the problem. In certain circumstances, if your vehicle is in the shop and out of service for more than 30 days for a problem covered by the vehicle’s warranty, your vehicle may automatically qualify as a lemon.

A consumer who pursues a Lemon Law claim has two options for relief:

• A buyback or restitution of the purchase price and associated taxes and fees of the faulty vehicle.
• Vehicle replacement, in which the manufacturer is to provide a vehicle that is substantially identical to the one being replaced.

In either case, the manufacturer also pays the car owner for all reasonable repair, towing, and rental car costs incurred because of the faulty vehicle.

Vehicle manufacturers pay attorney’s fees accrued by consumers who file successful Lemon Law claims. The Barry Law Firm will not charge you any legal fee for providing legal representation.

Hyundai’s Excessive Oil Consumption Problem

Among several complaints about Hyundai vehicles is that defects within its Nu, Lambda, Kappa, and Theta engines cause excessive oil consumption in several Hyundai models. Car owners have complained about:

• The cost of frequently refilling oil lost to the excessive consumption problem.
• Oil migrating within the engine and damaging or destroying the combustion or exhaust systems.
• Adding oil above the maximum fill line in an effort to counter excessive loss and causing the crankshaft to be partially or fully submerged. When the movement of the crankshaft causes the oil to foam, it reduces engine lubrication.

The loss of oil means there may not be enough to lubricate the engine’s moving parts properly. This may lead to metal-on-metal contact, which could be indicated by loud clunking, knocking, or grinding noises, as well as illumination of the engine’s oil pressure or low oil warning light. Loss of oil could eventually lead to parts wearing out and failing. In extreme cases, the engine might seize up.

Steps To File a Lemon Law Claim Against Hyundai

If you have tried repeatedly to have your Hyundai repaired in California but have not been successful, we can help you pursue a Lemon Law claim.

To prove that your Hyundai qualifies as a lemon, you’ll need to gather records of your purchase and your repeated attempts to have the dealership repair an issue that is under warranty. If the dealership has the documents you need but will not release them to you, we can help.

Before filing a claim, you must notify the manufacturer in writing of your vehicle’s problem to give them a final opportunity to repair it. If the final repair attempt is not successful, then you may file a lawsuit to demand a buyback or replacement vehicle.

In many Lemon Law lawsuits, the manufacturer will offer a settlement after the exchange of evidence in the discovery phase. If you accept the settlement, there will be no need to go to trial. If the settlement offer is not appropriate, or the manufacturer refuses to settle, your case will go to trial.

If your claim must go to trial, your Lemon Law attorney with Barry Law Firm will aggressively argue your case in court.

Contact a California Lemon Law Lawyer

You don’t have to live with any defective motor vehicle. The Barry Law Firm can help you take advantage of the protections that California’s Lemon Law provides to consumers like you.

Our experienced lemon law attorneys have helped thousands of frustrated consumers in California with their car problems. We’ll help you, and you’ll never get a bill from us. Under California law, the manufacturer pays your attorney’s fees. So call us now or reach out online for a free review to determine whether you have a Lemon Law claim.