More Consumers Allege Recall of Hyundai Tucson, Kia Soul Vehicles with Defective GDI Engines Is Inadequate

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An alleged stalling defect in the gasoline direct-injection (GDI) engines found in 2011-2013 Hyundai Tucson and 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles that could cause the cars to burst into flames is at the center of a lawsuit filed in Washington.  

Arguments that defendants Hyundai Motor America, Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors America and Kia Motors Corporation knew or should have known of the potentially catastrophic defect notwithstanding, the plaintiffs, echoing a previous proposed class action, say the companies’ recent recall of affected Tucson and Soul vehicles is altogether “inadequate to remedy the problem or to compensate the customers who bore the risk” that their cars may burst into flames during normal operation. At any rate, the nascent recalls “do not go far enough,” according to the lawsuit, in that some Kia Souls are equipped with two other engine models—the 1.6-liter “Gamma” and the 2.0-liter “Nu” engines—that similarly present a fire risk.

Hyundai and Kia’s apparent track record when it comes fixing the vehicles it recalls is “also studded with problems,” the complaint continues. Despite numerous past recalls, issues with the defendants’ GDI engines have allegedly recurred, and many vehicles wrapped up in the latest recall, according to the case, suffer from the same problems.

“Consumers have every reason to suspect that a recall for the vehicles at issue in this Complaint—which were not part of the previous recalls but appear to suffer from similar defects—at this late date will not be an adequate solution,” the lawsuit reads.