Hyundai Kona Lemon Law

Two unsuccessful repairs for a transmission defect that affects drivability strongly supports a lemon law claim under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. Clutch slippage is a substantial impairment to the use and safety of your Kona. If a third repair attempt also fails, the presumption that your vehicle is a lemon becomes very strong, and Hyundai would need to offer a repurchase or replacement.

Yes, even if Hyundai replaced the engine under a recall or extended warranty, a single catastrophic failure such as engine seizure may be sufficient for a lemon law claim if it created a serious safety risk. Under the Song-Beverly Act, a defect that could cause death or serious bodily injury may only need one repair attempt to qualify. Consult a lemon law attorney to evaluate whether the engine seizure constitutes such a safety risk.

The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act covers both purchased and leased vehicles in California. As the lessee, you have the same rights to a refund of lease payments and a release from the lease if your Kona qualifies as a lemon. Hyundai is also responsible for reimbursing any down payment, security deposit, and other charges paid at lease signing.

Under the Song-Beverly Act, the defect must have first occurred during the warranty period, but you generally have up to four years from the time you discovered or should have discovered the defect to file a civil lawsuit. It is important to report any issues to the dealer while the warranty is still active to establish a record. Prompt action is recommended because delays can weaken your claim and make evidence harder to gather.