Hyundai South Carolina Lemon Law Cases

Hyundai is well-represented in the SC market. Most popular Hyundai models in SC (Sonata, Tucson, Santa Fe, Santa Cruz) are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) Montgomery — see Alabama Hyundai coverage for the home-state defendant context including the Theta II engine recall sequence.

HMMA Montgomery — Alabama-adjacent production

• Hyundai Elantra — compact sedan.
• Hyundai Sonata — midsize sedan.
• Hyundai Tucson — compact SUV (including hybrid and PHEV).
• Hyundai Santa Fe — midsize 2-row SUV (and hybrid).
• Hyundai Santa Cruz — compact unibody pickup.

Montgomery is approximately 7 hours from Charleston, 4.5 hours from Spartanburg. M.D. Ala. (Montgomery Division) is the AL home venue.

Theta II engine — flagship defect category

The 2.0L and 2.4L Theta II GDI engines have been the subject of multiple NHTSA-supervised recalls and class-action settlements over:

• Connecting rod bearing failure — catastrophic engine seizure.
• Engine fire risk.
• Knock sensor monitoring system (KSDS) software updates.

Affected Hyundai models (HMMA-built)

• Hyundai Sonata (2011-2019).
• Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (2013-2018).
• Hyundai Tucson (2014-2020).
• Hyundai Elantra (some years).

SC consumer impact

SC consumers with Theta II-affected Hyundai vehicles have access to:

• AL home-state federal venue (M.D. Ala. Montgomery Division).
• D.S.C. home division for the consumer.
• Class-action history supporting SCUTPA public-interest pleading.

Lemon-law / SCUTPA strategy

Theta II engine defects with persistent recurrence after recall remediation create strong § 56-28-30 presumption AND strong SCUTPA public-interest pleading (NHTSA recalls = clear public interest). Misrepresentation about the recall scope or “fixed” status creates SCUTPA willful exposure.

Other common Hyundai defect categories

GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) fuel-system issues

• Carbon buildup on intake valves.
• Walnut blasting / induction service often required.
• Performance degradation.

Dual-clutch transmission (DCT)

• Symptoms: hesitation from a stop, harsh engagement.
• Models affected: Veloster Turbo, Tucson Hybrid, Sonata Hybrid.

8-speed automatic / 6-speed automatic

• Newer 8-speed harsh shifts.

BlueLink / infotainment

• Touchscreen freezes.
• CarPlay / Android Auto disconnects.
• Bluetooth pairing issues.

A/C / climate

• Compressor failures in SC summer heat.

Santa Cruz-specific (pickup)

• Tonneau cover mechanical issues.
• Bed-trim issues similar to Honda Ridgeline.

Hyundai Ioniq EVs — NOT built at HMMA

The Ioniq 5, Ioniq 6, and Genesis GV60 are imported from Korea — not HMMA-built. However:

• ICCU (integrated charging control unit) failures — class actions and software updates.
• Charging system issues.
• Range performance.

SC Hyundai dealer network is substantial — service-center support is good across the state.

Recall and TSB history

• NHTSA recall search by VIN.
• HyundaiUSA service portal for TSBs.
• Class-action history — Theta II is well-documented; counsel familiar with patterns.

Documented patterns include:

• Multiple Theta II engine recalls.
• KSDS software updates.
• Engine-fire risk recalls.
• Various transmission and software-update campaigns.

Procedural considerations

• BBB Auto Line is Hyundai’s certified IDS — mandatory under § 56-28-60.
• Written notice to Hyundai Motor America Consumer Affairs triggers customer-relations engagement.
• Federal venue: D.S.C. divisions or M.D. Ala. (Montgomery) for HMMA-built vehicles.

SCUTPA exposure

Hyundai cases have substantial SCUTPA exposure for:

• “Recall fixed” representations — paradigm when Theta II issues recur after recall remediation.
• GDI engine efficiency claims vs. actual.
• Hybrid / PHEV battery range claims vs. actual.
• Manufacturer warranty representations.

The Theta II recall sequence creates particularly strong SCUTPA public-interest pleading basis.

Bottom line

Hyundai cases — particularly Sonata / Tucson / Santa Fe involving the Theta II engine — are high-value SC lemon-law cases with strong AL-adjacent OEM exposure. HMMA Montgomery is the home-state defendant for these models. Theta II recall remediation often doesn’t fully cure the defect, creating ongoing Lemon Law + SCUTPA exposure with strong public-interest pleading.

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