Seeking Redress for Thousands of Australian Consumers Who Were Sold Defective Vehicles by Hyundai and Kia

Woodsford-backed class actions were filed in the Federal Court of Australia in mid-February 2023 relating to defective engines in various Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold in Australia from 2011 to date.

The actions allege that the numerous vehicles sold by Hyundai and Kia in Australia were offered for sale with engines that were manufactured or designed defectively and, as result, have the unusual propensity to exhibit faults, including sudden loss of power (including while driving), increased oil and fuel consumption, emission of smoke, and in some cases, fire.

As early as 2015, Hyundai was required to carry out a safety recall in the United States because of a defect that could cause certain vehicles to stall while in motion.

A series of further safety recall notices have been issued by regulators since then, including in the United States and Korea, which identify that this is a widespread defect affecting several engine types.

Despite this, Hyundai and Kia have continued to sell these defective vehicles in Australia, making a profit at the expense of thousands of unknowing consumers.

Woodsford Brings Together a Top-Quality Legal Team

Having identified Hyundai’s and Kia’s wrongdoing, Woodsford selected Johnson Winter & Slattery (“JWS”) to prosecute this matter. JWS has significant experience of bringing class actions in Australia which you can read about here.

Woodsford and JWS have also instructed an extremely impressive barrister team: Stephen Free SC (11 Wentworth Chambers), Julian Zmood (8 Wentworth Chambers) and Llewellyn Judd (3 Wentworth Chambers and Hampson Chambers). Woodsford Brings Together a Top-Quality Legal Team

We believe that this highly regarded legal team, when combined with Woodsford’s financial resources and expertise in Australian class actions, is ideally placed to hold Hyundai and Kia to account and obtain recompense for the over 500,000 consumers impacted. Woodsford’s funding means that consumers can get the benefit of this world-class legal expertise without paying any legal costs out of pocket.

What Next?

As stated above, the class actions were filed in February 2023. Hyundai and Kia customers can check whether they purchased an affected vehicle and register for this class action at the following websites:

– Hyundai customers: https://www.hyundaiengineclassaction.com.au/

– Kia customers: https://www.kiaengineclassaction.com.au/

We recommend that anyone who thinks they may be a group member registers on these websites. This will make it easier to contact you and provide you with updates, for example if Hyundai and Kia decide to settle this action and you are entitled to a payment.

The claims are ongoing.