Hybrids and EVs promise lower running costs, but owners have gone to court over battery, charging, electrical and drive faults. The claims below are mostly allegations or settlements rather than court findings of fault. Here are eleven hybrids and EVs at the center of owner lawsuits.
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1. Chevrolet Bolt: Battery Fire Settlement
NHTSA recall 21V-560 says the high-voltage battery in 2017-2019 Bolt EVs may catch fire when charged to full or near-full capacity, per the NHTSA recall data. A $150M settlement over the battery defect was preliminarily approved in 2024.
The Bolt case shows a recall and a settlement running in parallel. Owners of affected years can confirm through a VIN lookup that the battery recall work was completed. Recall status can change, so a fresh lookup is better than relying on older notices.
2. Hyundai Sonata Plug-in Hybrid: Payouts Per Day
A November 2026 settlement offers payouts for each day without the car due to high-voltage battery failure in the Sonata Plug-In Hybrid, according to a Sonata hybrid settlement report. The listing also mentions disputed lifetime warranty coverage.
Per-day compensation may matter to owners who lost weeks to repairs. Reading the settlement’s eligibility and claim steps early avoids missing a deadline. Settlement terms vary, so the notice itself is the reliable source on who qualifies.
3. Land Rover Range Rover: Converter Defect Claim
A July 2026 class action claims certain Land Rover and Range Rover mild hybrid SUVs have defective DC/DC converters, per a Range Rover converter lawsuit. The suit names certain vehicles rather than the full lineup.
The converter manages electrical power flow, so a fault can ripple through other systems. Owners can ask a dealer whether their vehicle falls inside the lawsuit’s description. Lawsuit descriptions are summaries, and the full complaint contains the details plaintiffs rely on.
4. Cadillac Lyriq: Completely Inoperable
An April 2026 suit alleges an electrical system defect can leave Lyriq EVs completely inoperable, as described in a Cadillac Lyriq electrical lawsuit. The claim concerns the whole vehicle losing function.
A car that cannot move is a problem for any driver and a stranding risk for road trips. Lyriq owners can log each incident with dates, which supports warranty claims. The suit is a set of allegations, and the automaker has the chance to respond in court.
5. Honda Prologue: Front Axle Allegation
A March 2026 class action says 2024-2026 Prologue EVs are equipped with defective front drive axles, according to a Prologue axle lawsuit. The vehicle is a recent entry in Honda’s electric lineup.
Because the model is new, much of the fleet may still be under warranty. Owners hearing clicking or vibration from the front end can have it checked while coverage applies. Axle complaints are easiest to pursue when a dealer has recorded the symptoms.
6. Volvo XC40 Recharge: Unintended Acceleration
A July 2025 suit claims 2020-2024 XC40 Recharge EVs are prone to unintended acceleration and lurching due to a powertrain control defect, per a XC40 Recharge acceleration suit. The allegation is that the control software or hardware misbehaves.
Unexpected surges are a safety concern in traffic. Owners who notice lurching can report it to NHTSA as well as the dealer, since complaint records feed regulatory reviews. The claim has not been decided, so the cause remains the plaintiffs’ allegation.
7. Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring: Plug-In Battery Fires
An April 2025 suit says lithium-ion batteries in Ford Escape and Lincoln Corsair Grand Touring plug-in hybrids can catch fire or explode, according to a Corsair plug-in battery lawsuit. The listing groups the Escape with the Corsair.
Fire claims about plug-in hybrids deserve attention from owners who charge in garages. Checking VINs for open recalls is a quick, free step. Plug-in hybrids pair a combustion engine with a battery, which is why both appear in the claim.
8. Audi e-tron: Power Loss And Fire
A January 2025 suit alleges a battery defect in Audi e-tron SUV EVs can cause power loss or fire while driving, as reported in an Audi e-tron battery lawsuit. The case focuses on the high-voltage pack.
Losing power at speed is a risk beyond the fire allegation itself. Used e-tron shoppers can request service history and any battery-related repair records. The suit is an allegation of a defect, and no court finding is described in the listing.
9. Porsche Taycan: Undisclosed Battery Defect
A December 2024 suit alleges an undisclosed lithium-ion battery defect in 2020-2024 Taycan EVs, per a Taycan battery lawsuit. The key word is undisclosed, meaning the claim is about what buyers were told.
Premium EV buyers pay for confidence in the battery, so disclosure claims carry weight. Owners can review warranty terms for the pack, which are separate from the lawsuit. Whether the claim holds up is a matter for the court rather than the filing.
10. Ford Mustang Mach-E: Trapped By Door Latches
A February 2025 suit says Mach-E electronic door latches are useless if the vehicle’s battery dies, trapping occupants, according to a Mach-E door latch lawsuit. The claim concerns having no easy way out.
Owners can learn where the manual release is and show passengers, since that knowledge matters in an emergency. The suit frames a battery-failure scenario in which occupants cannot get out, and the automaker may dispute that account in court.
11. Nissan Leaf: Dismissed Fast-Charge Suit
A September 2025 suit alleged Leaf EVs have a fire-risk defect during Level 3 fast charging, and the listing marks it as dismissed, per a Leaf fast-charging lawsuit. The case is included for context.
A dismissal means the claim did not proceed, not that every concern disappears. Leaf owners who fast charge often can follow Nissan’s charging guidance in the owner’s manual. Dismissed cases still show what drew owners’ attention, even when they end without a ruling.
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