- Owners of Hyundai Genesis have complained about premature oxidation of the clear coat and paint, leading to weakening and peeling.
- The class-action lawsuit filed in New York alleges that Hyundai ignored reports of the issue and now seeks monetary compensation.
- Similar cases of white paint peeling off Hyundai vehicles have been reported online.
Hyundai is facing a class-action lawsuit in New York over alleged paint damages on Genesis models. Owners report that the clear coat and paint on their Hyundai Genesis prematurely oxidize, weaken, and peel off, despite the vehicle’s premium positioning.
Issues with the paint typically arise two or three years after the model’s production date. Premature oxidation causes the paint to fade, change color, and peel. On cream and white-colored Hyundai Genesis models, the exterior paint reportedly takes on a yellow or orange hue.
More: Class-Action Lawsuit Claims Chevrolet And GMC Trucks And SUVs Were Made With Defective Paint
The lawsuit suggests that repair estimates for the damage range from $200 to $1,800, depending on severity, with some owners opting to live with it to avoid costs. It also claims that those reporting the problem to Hyundai were “ignored”, forcing them to address the damage themselves, with Hyundai “taking little to no responsibility”.
Regarding the affected vehicles, the lawsuit cites the first-gen 2013 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 Sedan as an example. This model was sold in the US from 2008 to 2016, when its second generation was renamed the Genesis G80. Hyundai also sold a Genesis Coupe for the 2010-2016 model years, though it’s unclear if this model had similar defects in the clear coat/paint.
2013 Hyundai Genesis
Owners believe that the problem was “clearly preventable”, as models from other automakers didn’t experience similar issues. As reported by Top Class Actions, they now seek monetary damages, costs and expenses, plus attorney fees and court costs.
The class-action lawsuit, filed by plaintiff Gaetano Russo against Hyundai Motor America, is in the form of a “Personal Property Fraud” lawsuit. Filed on March 15, 2024, the case is pending in U.S. District Courts and New York Eastern District Court.
Hyundai’s White Paint Peeling Off
Interestingly, this is not the first time we hear about paint peeling off on Hyundai vehicles. Owners from India, Australia, US, and other countries have created groups on Facebook in order to complain about the paint issues that appear to be affecting white vehicles a few years after purchase.
The Hyundai Paint Peel / Peeling group currently has 2.3 thousand members, while the Australian Hyundai peeling paint group has over 2 thousand members. Some users post photos of allegedly defective paint on their Hyundai-branded vehicles, including the examples of the i20, i30, Tucson, Santa Fe, Elantra, Sonata, and Genesis. It’s unclear if the problem stems from vehicle exposure to hot climates or is a factory defect.
