Hyundai Proximity Key Defect Lawyers

Our law firm began investigating Hyundai’s keyless ignition system after getting reports from Hyundai Equus and Hyundai Genesis owners about similar dangerous rollaway incidents. The following Hyundai models offer a keyless, push-start ignition:

• Hyundai Equus
• Hyundai Genesis
• Hyundai Santa Fe
• Hyundai Elantra
• Hyundai Sonata
• Hyundai Azera
• Hyundai Veloster
• Hyundai Tuscon

If you or a loved one owns any of the above model Hyundai vehicles and have experienced a roll away incident, please fill out the contact form below to find out how we can help.

About Keyless Ignition Systems (Push-Button Start)

A keyless system permits starting a car without a physical key being inserted into an ignition. Instead, a small device known as a “key fob” transmits a code to a computer in the vehicle when the fob is within a certain close range. When the coded signal matches the code embedded in the vehicle’s computer, a number of systems within the car are activated, including the starter system. This allows the car to be started by simply pressing a button on the dashboard while the key fob is left in a pocket or a purse. The vehicle is usually shut down by pushing the same button.

Over the past five or six years keyless ignitions have been offered as standard or optional equipment on cars in every price range. Hyundai features the “Proximity Key” on many models. Toyota offers the “Smart Key” system and Lexus offers “Smart Access.” The Ford Motor Company calls its system “Intelligent Access” and Nissan named theirs “Intelligent Key.” BMW has “Comfort Access.” Audi uses “Advanced Key.” The General Motors system is “Passive Entry Passive Start.” Mercedes offers “Keyless Go” in most of its models. Volkswagon selected the acronym “KESSY” for Keyless Entry & Keyless Start. Hundreds of thousands of keyless cars are rolling off the assembly lines each year.

As more and more keyless systems hit the streets, parking lots and garages of the United States, however, more and more fatal accidents and injury-causing incidents are being reported which are directly attributable to keyless start systems.

Our attorney services firm is investigating Hyundai for its violation, or at a minimum circumvention, of important federal government motor vehicle safety design regulations designed to protect the public. In fact, though the dangers associated with push button starters are specific and well known, auto manufacturers are intentionally ignoring the risks as more and more cars are delivered to unsuspecting consumers.

The provisions of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114 are intended to prevent vehicle theft and the unintended rolling of unoccupied vehicles. Two specific provisions of Standard 114 are commonly known to all drivers. One requires that an automatic transmission vehicle must be placed in the “park” position before the key can be removed from the vehicle. This prevents vehicles from accidentally being left in “drive” and rolling after the driver exits. The other provision requires that a vehicle cannot be operated after the key is removed from the starting system. These are both common sense and effective solutions to common safety hazards.

In contrast, most smart key system designs allow an engine to run indefinitely after the key fob is removed from the vehicle and leaves the transmittal range. The car can be driven until is runs out of gas, provided it is not shut down. Likewise, a car can be shut down while still in the “drive” position and the key fob removed from the range of the vehicle, making the vehicle susceptible to unintended rolling.

A growing number of reports and complaints to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that this is a growing problem which requires substantial and immediate industry-wide corrective action by manufacturers or intervention by the federal government.

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