Hyundai Class Action Over Faulty Driver Monitoring System

A group of plaintiffs initiated a class action lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Company. The core allegation is that vehicles equipped with a forward attention warning (FAW) system, which uses a dashboard-mounted infrared camera via the Direct Driver Monitoring System (DDMS), contain a defect. This defect allegedly causes the system to malfunction by misinterpreting normal driver actions, such as wearing sunglasses, using eyeglasses, or slight head movements, leading to frequent false alarms and sudden braking that make the vehicles unsafe to operate.

The plaintiffs assert that Hyundai was aware of the FAW system defect, citing a technical service bulletin from January 2025 that acknowledged the issue. They contend that the proposed remedy—which advised drivers to wear different eyewear or adjust seating—was inadequate. Consequently, the plaintiffs claim they have suffered damages due to receiving a vehicle with an undisclosed safety defect, asserting claims under California’s Unfair Competition Law, Consumers Legal Remedies Act, breach of warranty, and unjust enrichment.

The lawsuit seeks to represent current and former owners and lessees of specific model years, including the 2024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2025-2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5, 2025-2026 Hyundai Tucson, 2025-2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz, and 2026 Hyundai Palisade. The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from Singleton Schreiber LLP.