A class action lawsuit has been initiated against Hyundai, encompassing a range of electric vehicles including the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and Genesis GV60. The lawsuit centers on alleged issues with the vehicles' level 2 chargers, which have reportedly led to charging failures and overheating concerns.

Owners' Claims of Charging Challenges

The lawsuit was filed by three owners who assert that their experiences with the level 2 chargers were far from satisfactory.

These vehicles are advertised to offer specific charging times when using a level 2 charger at home. However, it's alleged that defects within the chargers cause them to overheat before completing the charging process.

Overheating Issues and Unfulfilled Charging Promises

According to the plaintiffs, the chargers can overheat within a short span of 30 to 60 minutes of usage. As a consequence, Hyundai owners are reportedly required to disconnect and reconnect their home chargers to restart the charging process.

The lawsuit claims that customers who plug in their vehicles overnight discover in the morning that their electric vehicles are not fully charged. Moreover, overheated chargers are said to frequently result in damage to vehicle components.

Charging Time Discrepancies

The electric vehicles are purportedly designed to be charged using 240-volt level 2 chargers at 48 amps within about seven hours. Interestingly, the Kia EV6 model pledges a charging time of five hours and 50 minutes using a level 2 charger at home.

However, the lawsuit argues that offered software repairs by Hyundai and Kia do not effectively address the charger issues. Allegedly, the software updates lower the level 2 charging speeds to prevent overheating, significantly prolonging the charging times to more than 10 hours.

Software Modifications and Charging Port Design

The class action lawsuit asserts that the software repairs implemented by dealerships fail to deliver solutions. In fact, the lawsuit contends that the technical service bulletin (TSB) 23-EV-003h, which addresses charging problems, does not disclose that the software update doubles the charging time.

The plaintiffs point out that customers must manually reduce the charging current to prevent failures, but even this approach does not prevent charge failures, especially when charging at a lower 28 amps.

Design Defect Allegations

The heart of the problem, as per the plaintiffs, lies in a design defect within the charging port. This alleged defect is believed to trigger overheating. When the port reaches a certain temperature, the vehicle's safety mechanisms reportedly halt the charging session, yet fail to automatically resume the session when the port's temperature becomes acceptable again.

Moreover, the lawsuit claims that charging failures occur more frequently during higher outside temperatures.

Class Action Lawsuit Filed

The lawsuit, titled David Gould, et al., v. Hyundai Motor Company, et al., was filed by three Hyundai Ioniq 5 owners: David Gould from New York, Kaushik Iyengar from Georgia, and John Nixon from Florida.

The lawsuit is currently under consideration in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

If you are an owner of a Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, or Genesis GV60 and have faced similar problems related to level 2 chargers, you might have the opportunity to initiate a new lawsuit to seek compensation.

Consider potential claims, including:

• Deceptive Practices Claim: If you've been misled or deceived during the purchase or repair process, you may have grounds for this claim.
• Magnuson-Moss Act Claim: Federal law safeguards consumers who purchase products with warranties, ensuring fairness and remedies for defects.
• Breach of Implied Warranty Claim: Your vehicle should meet certain expectations of quality and performance, and if it doesn't, you may have a case under this claim.
• Lemon Law Claim: Is your vehicle a constant source of frustration due to defects? Lemon laws provide recourse for consumers in such situations.
• Breach of Express Warranty Claim: Manufacturers must uphold the promises made in their warranties. If they fail to do so, you may have grounds for this claim.

Our proficient attorneys of Law Office of Howard Gutman are here to provide you with a complimentary consultation to discuss your situation and offer expert legal guidance. Don't hesitate to get in touch by dialing (973) 598-1980, or you can also complete our online form to take the first step towards resolving your concerns.

Source:

• HYUNDAI LEVEL 2 CHARGER PROBLEMS CAUSE LAWSUIT | Carcomplaints.com

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