The owner of the vehicle, Jason Burns, along with his wife Allison, purchased a used Santa Fe SE in May 2019 with a mileage of 17,350 miles (about 28,000 km). However, in April 2024, at a mileage of 79,966 miles (approximately 129,000 km), their SUV suddenly lost power and stopped.
Upon inspection of the vehicle, a hole was found in the engine block, presumably caused by a connecting rod failure inside the engine.
That same year, Hyundai decided to extend the warranty period for 2014-2019 Santa Fe models to 15 years or 150,000 miles, which was a result of an NHTSA investigation.
The Burns went to the nearest Hyundai dealership with their malfunctioning vehicle, but according to the lawsuit, they were denied free repair or engine replacement. The couple learned about the extended warranty only in January 2024.
After lengthy negotiations with the dealer, the Burns agreed to sell the faulty vehicle back for a small amount and purchase a new vehicle from the same dealer for about $30,000.
In their lawsuit, the Burns claim that Hyundai has long been aware of issues with the 3.3-liter engine, including instances of complete failure. They accuse the company of unfair and fraudulent practices, as well as breach of (both express and implied) warranty. The couple is seeking damages and a court order requiring the recall of all affected engines.
