Hyundai sold vehicles with defective driver monitoring cameras, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Four Hyundai drivers filed a class action lawsuit on Sept. 16, 2026, against Hyundai Motor America and Hyundai Motor Co. in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Helen Ledezma, Clifford Leone, Daniel Toye and Jeffrey Weisbrot claim the in-cabin camera that watches for driver distraction is defective, sounding constant alarms, suddenly braking and eliminating cruise control and other features. 

Which Hyundai models the lawsuit covers

The proposed class action would cover owners and lessees of five Hyundai vehicle lines with the direct driver monitoring system:


  • 2024-2026 Santa Fe

  • 2025-2026 Ioniq 5

  • 2025-2026 Tucson

  • 2025-2026 Santa Cruz

  • 2026 Palisade

How the camera system works

The in-cabin infrared camera is located in the middle of the dashboard and tracks a driver's eyes, face and head position to see if they look away from the road for too long, according to the complaint. When it determines a driver is distracted, the system beeps rapidly and flashes a dashboard alert, the lawsuit claims.

If the system triggers repeated warnings under cruise control, it will initiate an emergency stop and take control of the wheel and brakes, the complaint contends. Drivers cannot switch the camera off in that mode, according to the lawsuit.

However, the proposed class action alleges the system will sometimes trigger the warnings and emergency stop for no reason.

Conditions the drivers blame for false alerts include:


  • Sunglasses, prescription glasses or thick lenses

  • Hats or hair over the eyes

  • Slight head movements

  • Sitting higher or lower than average

  • Hand placement on the wheel

  • Squinting or sun glare

What Hyundai allegedly knew

Hyundai sent a technical service bulletin to service centers in January 2025, acknowledging the camera struggles to find a driver's eyes through certain eyeglasses, in unusual seating positions or at some sun angles, the lawsuit claims. Its guidance reportedly told drivers to change eyewear, adjust the seat or "look at the road and avoid the infrared in-cabin camera." There was no recall.

The complaint includes dozens of driver reports to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration between Oct. 15, 2024 and June 16, 2026. Those reports, warranty claims and dealer feedback informed Hyundai of the defect long before the lawsuit, the filing alleges.

The drivers behind the lawsuit

The dealers did not inform the plaintiffs of the defect before the purchased their vehicles, the complaint claims.

Toye says he needs prescription glasses to drive legally. Removing them stopped the warnings and putting them back on brought the alerts back, the lawsuit alleges. Following repeated service visits, all four plaintiffs' vehicles still had the defect, the proposed class action contends.

The legal claims

The plaintiffs bring several counts for a nationwide class plus California, Florida and New York subclasses:


  • California Unfair Competition Law and Consumer Legal Remedies Act, which bar deceptive business practices and misleading product claims

  • Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and New York General Business Law Sections 349 and 350, which are those states' versions of the California laws

  • Breach of express and implied warranty, which cover a seller's written promises and the unwritten guarantee that a vehicle works as a buyer expects

  • Unjust enrichment, which covers money a company keeps unfairly

They ask the court to declare the system defective, order repairs and award restitution, diminished-value damages and fees.

What this means for Hyundai owners

The proposed classes cover anyone who bought or leased one of the listed models, including drivers who have since sold or traded theirs in. As of this writing, there is no settlement, no claims process and no money available.