A Maryland driver has filed a proposed class action against Hyundai in federal court claiming that the Genesis GV-80 shakes uncontrollably and veers off the road at speeds above 40 mph.
Barbara Feinstein said she leased the luxury SUV-crossover this spring — the same model Tiger Woods was driving during his life-altering accident earlier this year — intending to drive from Maryland to Florida with her husband. But once on the road, the car started shuddering violently and pulling to the left at only moderate speeds, “causing a continual struggle to keep the SUV from veering off the road,” according to her Wednesday complaint.
After around 40 days in the shop and three separate attempts to fix the problem — replacing the tires, an axle and a driveshaft — the stability and steering problems persisted. And despite numerous requests, Corwin said, Hyundai has refused to take the car back and offer Feinstein a refund.
Feinstein is not the only Genesis GV-80 driver reporting these dangerous issues, according to her attorneys, who point to a number of other customers with similar complaints about driving instability and failed repairs on public message boards such as genesisowner.com. Corwin said he and his colleagues are currently in discussions with other owners who have contacted them, and expect more inquiries.
The 2021 Genesis GV-80 is the first SUV offered by Hyundai’s luxury vehicle division, and promises top-of-the-line safety features, according to the Genesis website. There were some signs of initial trouble last year, however, as Korean media outlets reported that the automaker delayed distribution of the vehicle due to engine vibration problems.
Instead of the “high performance capabilities” promised in Hyundai’s luxury line of vehicles, customers instead experienced “dangerous instability, shuddering, vibrations and uncontrolled veering,”
The proposed class includes nationwide consumers who have bought, leased or owned a GV-80 in the U.S., excluding individuals with personal injury claims as a result of the alleged defects. The complaint alternately proposes a state class of Maryland consumers.