The Hyundai dual clutch transmission class action settlement, approved in Wylie v. Hyundai Motor America on March 2, 2020, gave owners and lessees of certain Hyundai vehicles with the 7-speed EcoShift dual clutch transmission three main forms of relief: reimbursement for out-of-pocket repairs tied to the transmission, cash or vehicle-rebate compensation for repeated dealer visits, and a payment for owners who had already sold or traded in their car because of the shifting problems. Hyundai denied any defect and settled to end the litigation.1Hyundai DCT Settlement. DCT Settlement Agreement
What Owners Could Recover
The settlement laid out four benefits for class members.
- Reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket costs for qualifying DCT-related repairs.
- Monetary compensation or a vehicle rebate certificate for owners who made repeated dealer visits for DCT-related symptoms.
- A “Customer Satisfaction Program” payment for owners who sold or traded in their vehicle because of transmission complaints. The amount was based on the difference between the purchase price and the sale price, adjusted by a mileage table.
- An informational brochure from Hyundai explaining how the DCT operates and its limitations.
These terms came from the settlement agreement posted on Hyundai’s dedicated settlement website.1Hyundai DCT Settlement. DCT Settlement Agreement
Which Vehicles Were Covered
The class covered Hyundai vehicles equipped with the 7-speed EcoShift dual clutch transmission. A technical service bulletin tied to the settlement identified the covered models as the 2015–2017 Sonata Eco, 2016–2017 Tucson, and 2016–2017 Veloster.2NHTSA. Hyundai DCT Technical Service Bulletin The original complaint also referenced the Elantra among affected models.3Top Class Actions. Hyundai Class Action Says DCT Transmissions Defective
What the Lawsuit Alleged
Nicholas and Shawna Wylie filed the case on November 22, 2016, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.4ClassAction.org. Wylie v. Hyundai Complaint The complaint targeted the 7-speed DCT and its transmission control module, alleging a design defect that caused hesitation on acceleration, failure to shift, stalling, and loss of power, particularly in high ambient temperatures. One driver cited in the complaint reported that their RPMs shot up on the highway while the car would not accelerate at all.5CarComplaints.com. Hyundai Dual Clutch Transmission DCT Lawsuit Plaintiffs said Hyundai had known about the problem since at least 2015.3Top Class Actions. Hyundai Class Action Says DCT Transmissions Defective
How to File a Claim and What Happened If It Was Denied
Class members had to print a claim form from the settlement website and email it, with supporting documentation, to the claims administrator. Processing was estimated at four to six weeks, and qualifying claimants were notified by email.6Hyundai DCT Settlement. DCT Settlement Claim Submission
If the administrator denied a claim, the class member could request binding arbitration through BBB National Programs, which ran an independent dispute resolution process for the settlement. The arbitrator could only decide whether the claimant qualified for compensation under the settlement’s own terms, and the decision was final and binding on both sides.7BBB National Programs. Hyundai Dual Clutch Transmission Class Action Dispute Resolution
Attorneys’ Fees and Named Plaintiff Awards
Hyundai agreed not to oppose class counsel’s request for up to $2 million in attorneys’ fees and expenses, plus incentive awards of $5,000 per vehicle for the named plaintiffs.1Hyundai DCT Settlement. DCT Settlement Agreement Judge David O. Carter granted the fee motion at the March 2, 2020 fairness hearing, but the exact amount awarded sits inside a sealed fee-sharing agreement and is not public.8CourtListener. Nicholas Wylie v. Hyundai Motor America Docket The court entered final judgment dismissing all claims against Hyundai with prejudice and without costs to any party.9Justia. Wylie v. Hyundai Motor America, Final Judgment
Related Hyundai Transmission Actions
Two other Hyundai transmission programs sit outside this settlement and are not part of the Wylie relief. In May 2020, Hyundai issued Service Campaign T4Q, which directed dealers to replace the DCT on certain 2019 Elantra GT, Elantra Sport, and Kona vehicles before retail delivery and whenever an affected vehicle came in for service.10NHTSA. Hyundai TSB 20-01-021H-1, Campaign T4Q In late 2022, Hyundai’s Recall 236 (NHTSA Campaign 22V746) covered 53,142 vehicles with a newer 8-speed dual clutch transmission across the 2021–2022 Santa Fe, Sonata, and Veloster N, and the 2022 Santa Cruz, Elantra N, and Kona N, addressing a high-pressure electric oil pump fault that could cut drive power.11Hyundai OEM DTC. Recall 236 – Loss of Drive Power Owners of those vehicles should look to the recall remedy rather than the Wylie settlement.