Lawsuit Filed Against Hyundai and Kia Regarding Alleged Faulty Engine Performance
In a significant development, class actions have been lodged in the Federal Court of Australia against Hyundai and Kia over allegedly defective engines in vehicles sold from 2011 to the present. The affected models include the Tucson and Sportage SUVs, among others, from both brands.
These class actions are distinct from other recent cases in Victoria. They are being financed by two litigation funders - UK-based Woodsford and IMF Bentham. The legal representation for these class actions is being provided by the law firm Johnson Winter Slattery.
The allegations centre around the 4-cylinder Theta II MPI, Theta II GDI, Gamma II GDI, or Nu GDI petrol engines, which are claimed to have been manufactured or designed defectively. It is alleged that Hyundai and Kia were aware of these engine issues since at least 2015, but continued to sell affected vehicles.
The symptoms of the alleged engine issues include sudden loss of power, increased oil and fuel consumption, emission of smoke, and, in some cases, fire.
Kia Australia has been notified of the filing of the class action but will not be making further comments at this stage. Hyundai Motor Company Australia has stated that they stand by the integrity and reliability of their vehicles and will consider the allegations carefully before commenting further.
The class actions are being led by Woodsford's Chief Investment Officer, Charlie Morris, and Johnson Winter Slattery Partner, Robert Johnston. Woodsford is currently backing numerous other major class actions in Australia, the UK, and Europe, including those brought by consumers against Mitsubishi Motors Australia, Toyota, Westpac, and ANZ Bank.
Owners of affected Hyundai and Kia cars can register for the class actions by providing their details at specific websites. It is estimated that half a million vehicles could be affected by these class actions.
A separate class action has been launched in a Victorian court over a fault with the braking system in several popular models, creating a 'fire hazard'. This adds to the growing list of issues facing Hyundai and Kia in Australia.
The Hyundai vehicles affected by the class action include the Accent, i30 and i30 N, Elantra, i40, Sonata, i45, Veloster, Kona, ix35, Tucson, Santa Fe, iLoad, and iMax. The Kia vehicles affected by the class action include the Rio, Cerato and Cerato Koup, Optima, Stinger, pro_ceeu2019d, Seltos, Sportage, Sorento, and Rondo.
These developments underscore the need for consumers to be vigilant and informed about potential issues with the vehicles they own or are considering purchasing. As more information becomes available, it is expected that further updates will be provided.
