Minnesota Man Files Lawsuit Because His New Car Didn’t Have The ‘New Car’ Smell

“New Car” smell ranks ahead of fresh cookies on this list of the best smells from thetoptens.com. I don’t know if I’d go that far, but the smell of a new car is really nice. Unfortunately, one Minnesota man didn’t get that scented satisfaction, and so after his complaints went unanswered, he decided to take legal action. Richard Stucki from Victoria, Minnesota has filed a class-action lawsuit against Hyundai.
Court documents say, “Shortly after purchasing or leasing their Palisade, Plaintiffs and Class Members began smelling a strong foul odor, emanating from inside the vehicle… Some owners cannot drive their vehicles because the smell is so strong it makes them or their passengers nauseous. Other owners, while able to drive the vehicle, have experienced the inconvenience or even embarrassment of driving a brand-new car that smells, variously described as rotten seaweed, garbage, garlic, rotten produce, or, in some descriptions, like “****”.”

Stucki told businessinsider.com, “I have been in customer service my entire career, including more than 20 years at a car dealership. I know what good and responsible customer service looks like. Hyundai has failed to respond to our concerns and repeated calls. We have no other recourse, and we are not the only ones who have been affected by this issue.”

The vehicle at the center of this lawsuit is the 2020 Hyundai Palisade.

Stucki is being represented by the Minneapolis law firm Hellmuth and Johnson. They say “despite knowing and being made aware of the widespread odor issues, Hyundai has failed or refused to provide any permanent solutions to consumers, or remedy the issue by replacing defective components.”