Hyundai Lemon Law Attorneys in California
If your Hyundai has repeated problems that won’t go away, we can help.
Hyundai sells cars, SUVs and electric vehicles across California, and owners rely on them every day. However, the South Korean manufacturer has filed dozens of recalls on its 2020 and newer models since January 2024.
Thankfully, those who’ve purchased a faulty Hyundai are protected by the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, better known as the California Lemon Law. If your vehicle has a defect that isn’t fixed after multiple repair attempts, the experienced Hyundai Lemon Law attorneys at Lemon Law Help are ready to review your case. Contact us online or call 833-208-8181 today.
Why Choose Lemon Law Help for Your Hyundai Lemon Law Case
Lemon Law Help has built a reputation for getting significant compensation and record-breaking results for our clients, including Hyundai lemon law claims. Since 2006, we’ve helped more than 10,000 California consumers get the relief they deserve.
If you go forward with a Hyundai lemon law case, we represent you at no cost while you seek cash compensation, a replacement or a buyback. If you prevail in court, the law lets the court order Hyundai to pay your reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. We offer case reviews in Spanish and other languages, and can meet with you remotely if necessary.
Common Hyundai Models With Lemon Issues
Examples of Hyundai models named in recent recalls and a proposed class action include:
- Hyundai Santa Fe models, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, have been recalled for engine, electrical, and airbag defects.
- Hyundai Palisade models from 2023–2025 are named in a proposed class action over braking issues.
- Hyundai Elantra models have been included in recalls over engine problems and electrical defects.
- Hyundai IONIQ 5 and 6 models may have a charging defect that causes the vehicle to lose driving power.
Ongoing Hyundai Issues
Your Hyundai may be a lemon vehicle if it has ongoing warranty-covered problems that substantially hurt its safety, use, or value and that Hyundai or its dealers still have not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts. Hyundai recalls and owner complaints describe ongoing issues such as:
- Oil leaks
- Brake failure
- Airbag failure
- Loss of rearview camera display
- Catastrophic engine failure
- Lack of acceleration
- Check engine light turns on
- Sudden power loss
- Engine stalls while driving
- Engine catches fire
Hyundai Engine Recalls and Issues
Lost power, an oil leak or an engine that needs oil between changes? Check the recalls and bulletins below.
Hyundai has recalled certain 2024 Palisade SUVs because the engine valve springs may break while driving, which can cause a loss of drive power and possibly a hole in the engine block. A smaller recall covers certain 2025–2026 Tucson and Santa Fe models whose engine connecting rod bolts may have been improperly tightened, which can cause a loss of drive power, engine damage and an oil leak. In both recalls, dealers replace the engine or engine sub-assembly at no charge.
Certain 2020 Elantra and 2020–2021 Kona and Veloster models with 2.0-liter Nu MPI engines were also recalled because the piston oil rings may not have been properly heat-treated, which can damage the engine. Dealers inspect the engine and, where needed, swap it out at no charge.
In October 2026, Hyundai gave dealers a bulletin with inspection and repair steps for certain gas, hybrid and plug-in hybrid models with higher-than-expected oil consumption. A second bulletin covers cleaning the combustion chamber on certain 2020–2025 Palisade SUVs with the 6-cylinder Lambda II engine. A service bulletin is a repair guide for dealers, not a recall, so keep every repair order that shows your Hyundai needed oil between changes.
Hyundai Electrical Issues
Hyundai recalled more than 220,000 vehicles, including certain 2021–2022 Santa Fe and Elantra models, their hybrid versions, and the Santa Fe plug-in hybrid and Elantra N, because a damaged circuit board can keep the backup camera image from displaying. Dealers replace the camera at no charge. A separate recall covers certain 2024–2025 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Hybrid models whose rearview camera may not have been installed properly, which can damage the wiring harness and keep the image from displaying.
Certain Hyundai electric vehicles are known to lose driving power when the Integrated Charging Control Unit is damaged and fails to charge the 12-volt battery inside the car. Hyundai recalled more than 145,000 vehicles to fix this problem, including certain 2022–2024 IONIQ 5 and 2023–2025 IONIQ 6 models, Genesis GV60, Genesis GV70 “Electrified,” and Genesis G80 “Electrified” models.
Hyundai has since extended the warranty on the charging control unit and its fuse to 15 years or 180,000 miles for certain IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6 vehicles from the same model years. Hyundai’s notice says the coverage runs from the original retail delivery or first use and applies to original and later owners.
Software errors have also led Hyundai to recall certain newer models, including 2025–2026 Tucson models, because the instrument panel display may fail and stop showing the speedometer or warning lights. Hyundai updates the display software at no charge, either over the air or at a dealership. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, your vehicle might qualify for a Hyundai lemon law claim.
Hyundai Malfunctioning Airbags
In certain 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe and Santa Fe HEV vehicles, a damaged wiring harness can make the airbags deploy unintentionally or keep them from deploying in a crash. Airbag deployment issues can pose several dangers to drivers and vehicle occupants, as other recent Hyundai airbag recalls show.
Hyundai has also recalled certain 2020–2025 Palisade SUVs because the third-row side curtain airbags may deploy improperly in a crash. Dealers install a protective film over the rear window and remove padding as needed at no charge, and Hyundai planned to mail final repair letters through December 2026.
Defective Brake Hyundai Class Action
A proposed class action alleges that the anti-lock braking and traction control systems in 2023–2025 Hyundai Palisade vehicles misread wheel speed on rough or uneven roads, such as speed bumps, train tracks or potholes. Owners quoted in the complaint say their Palisades shook violently and lurched forward when braking. They report not being able to brake safely or anticipate braking distance, including when approaching intersections or stop signs.
Hyundai has since launched a service campaign to update the ABS software on certain of these Palisade SUVs at no charge. Its owner letter says these vehicles “may exhibit brake pedal/steering wheel vibration and noises from the ABS when braking over uneven road surfaces or bumps” and that “the brake system remains functional under these conditions.”
If your Hyundai Palisade shows braking issues that your dealership cannot seem to resolve, contact us about a California lemon law claim. The class action’s proposed classes cover buyers and lessees in New York and Ohio, not California.
California Lemon Law Process for Hyundai Owners
Getting started on your Hyundai lemon law claim soon after you detect a defect helps you stay within the deadlines that apply. If the issue keeps coming back after repair attempts, you may have a lemon on your hands.
Under California law, Hyundai is presumed to have had enough repair attempts if one or more of these happened within 18 months after delivery or before the odometer reached 18,000 miles, whichever came first:
- Hyundai or its dealers worked on one problem four or more times
- Hyundai or its dealers tried to fix a problem likely to cause serious injury or death two or more times
- Your Hyundai spent more than 30 calendar days in total in the shop for repairs by Hyundai or its dealers
The first two also require that you told Hyundai directly at least once, if Hyundai’s warranty or owner’s manual explains that requirement. Hyundai also has a state-certified arbitration program, and with timely written notice of it, the presumption is only available after you first take your claim through that program. It’s possible to have a valid case even if you don’t meet these presumption criteria.
If you believe you have a lemon, reach out to an experienced California lemon law attorney quickly to get a consultation and review your legal options. Hyundai elected to follow the lemon law procedures California added in 2025, which cover at least its vehicles sold through 2025. For those vehicles, a lawsuit generally has to be filed by one year after the Hyundai warranty ends, with six years after first delivery as the outer limit, and both limits are extended for time the vehicle spent in for repair and in a few other situations.
How to Document Your Hyundai Lemon Case
After making your first repair attempt, begin keeping records about the defect and your efforts to fix it. Save any invoices and communication logs with the dealership or repair shop, and keep any documents or materials detailing your vehicle’s warranty.
If possible, take photographs of any visual evidence of your defects. Keep a timeline of when the issue started, when it pops up, and when you’ve taken it in for repairs, including a log of the amount of time your Hyundai is in the shop.
Hyundai Lemon Law Settlement and Buyback Options
If Hyundai can’t fix a warranty-covered defect after a reasonable number of attempts, the lemon law requires it to either buy your Hyundai back or give you a new one, and you never have to accept a replacement instead of a buyback. In a buyback, Hyundai must refund what you paid or owe for the vehicle, including taxes, registration and other official fees, plus reasonable repair, towing and rental costs you incurred. Hyundai may deduct an amount for your use of the car, based on how far you had driven it when you first brought the problem to a dealer.
For vehicles the 2025 procedures cover, certain add-ons bought from outside companies and negative equity from a trade-in are not refunded. If Hyundai’s violation was willful, the judgment may also include a civil penalty as large as two times your actual damages. To seek that penalty under the 2025 procedures, you must first send Hyundai a written demand that it repurchase or replace your Hyundai while the vehicle is still in your possession, then wait at least 30 days before suing, and no penalty is owed if Hyundai makes that offer inside 30 days and finishes the buyback or replacement inside 60 days.
Speak With Our Hyundai Lemon Law Attorneys
If you’re dealing with a defective Hyundai, the skilled lawyers at Lemon Law Help can work with you to pursue a buyback, a replacement, or cash compensation. If you go forward with your case, we represent you at no cost. Contact us online or call 833-208-8181 today.
Lemon Law Help works only in California. We help California residents who bought or leased a defective model year 2020 or newer vehicle from a licensed California dealer. We cannot help people outside California, unless they are active-duty military.
