Hyundai Class Action Lawsuit Over Alleged Driver Monitoring Defect

Four plaintiffs have brought a proposed class action against Hyundai, alleging that certain vehicles ship with a defective direct driver monitoring system (DDMS) that renders them unsafe.

At issue is the "forward attention warning" feature, which uses a dashboard-mounted infrared camera to watch the driver and alert them if they seem distracted. According to the lawsuit, the camera frequently malfunctions, misinterprets ordinary driver behavior, and causes false alarms along with sudden braking. The complaint says the system mistakenly flags distraction over things like sunglasses, eyeglasses, hats, sun glare, minor head movements, seat height, or hand placement on the wheel.

Plaintiffs further allege Hyundai was already aware of the defect, citing a technical service bulletin the company sent to its service centers in January 2025 acknowledging the issue. Rather than fixing the system, Hyundai reportedly advised drivers to try different glasses, adjust their seats, and "look at the road." The lawsuit claims Hyundai has not issued a recall, provided a free repair or replacement, or reimbursed owners for related expenses.

The vehicles named in the suit are: - 2024-2026 Hyundai Santa Fe - 2025-2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 - 2025-2026 Hyundai Tucson - 2025-2026 Hyundai Santa Cruz - 2026 Hyundai Palisade

The legal claims include violations of California's Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act, breach of express and implied warranty, and unjust enrichment.