These suits also benefit our cash-strapped courts by allowing similar claims to be resolved in a single court and before one judge, as opposed to many courtrooms and judges. By allowing multiple claims to be brought in one lawsuit, a class action provides a vehicle for everyday consumers to seek redress from large businesses and corporations for harms that might otherwise be too small – or too expensive - for them to address through individual lawsuits. A “class action” is a lawsuit in which one individual, or a group of individuals, file a lawsuit on behalf of persons who have been harmed by the same wrong or who have similar claims against the company. The class action lawsuit demands that Hyundai and Kia properly warn all affected car owners of this dangerous defect, fix the defective ABS modules properly, and reimburse them for all expenses, including the loss in value to their cars.Pritzker Levine LLP and its attorneys have the knowledge, skill and experience to represent consumers in class action litigation against businesses and corporations who engage in fraud, deceptive marketing practices or produce defective, substandard goods and services. Further, the lawsuit alleges Hyundai and Kia haven’t adequately disclosed the defect to all affected car owners, nor have they offered to reimburse owners for any expenses and the loss in value to their cars. owner of a 2010 Hyundai Elantra, complaint filed with NHTSA in August 2013ĭespite numerous customer complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and ample data from their own pre-sale part testing and defective part repair and sale records, Hyundai and Kia’s recalls have been woefully delayed and incomplete. THE ELANTRA BURNED COMPLETELY FROM THE FIRE. BOTH NEIGHBORS’ PRIVACY FENCES WERE BURNED DOWN BEHIND AND BESIDE MY GARAGE. I LOST MY GARAGE AND CONTENTS ALONG WITH KAYAKS ON KAYAK TRAILER PARKED BESIDE GARAGE. THE FIRE APPEARED TO COME FROM THE FRONT OF THE ELANTRA, AS BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE COMPLETELY BURNED WITH ONLY STEEL WIRES WRAPPED AROUND WHEELS. “AT ABOUT 01:00 AM ON AUGI WAS AWAKENED WITH MY ENTIRE GARAGE ON FIRE. owner of a 2017 Kia Sportage, complaint filed with NHTSA in September 2018
CURRENTLY IT SUSPECTED THAT THIS WAS ELECTRIC FIRE.” IN FACT IN JUNE IT WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE.AND 15000 MILE MAINTENANCE. THE SUV HAS BEEN MAINTENANCE AND GIVEN ALL REQUIRED MAINTENANCE. IN THE PROCESS I ENDED WITH TWO SMALL BURNS AND A SLIGHT ABRASION. I COULDN’T BECAUSE OF HOW FAST IT WENT UP. THEN I REALIZED OUR MEDICATIONS WERE IN THERE. WE WERE AT A COMPLETE STOP WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF THE CAR THEN FLAMES. THIS OCCURRED IN INDIANAPOLIS ON HARDING ST. “ON SAT MORNING MY SUV CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. owner of a 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring, complaint filed with NHTSA in April 2011 “MY 6-MONTH-OLD HYUNDAI ELANTRA TOURING CAUGHT FIRE AFTER SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR NINE HOURS… HYUNDAI OFFERED TO REIMBURSE MY INSURANCE POLICY DEDUCTIBLES AND TO PAY ME $500 FOR GOOD WILL BUT HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE VEHICLE OR REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OTHER EXPENSES RELATED TO THE FIRE.” The class action lawsuit alleges that as early as 2011, Hyundai and Kia knew their cars had defective ABS modules (also known as Hydraulic Electronic Control Units, HECUs) that could cause spontaneous engine fires, creating dangerous risks of injury, property damage to homes or other nearby buildings, and death.