Owners of popular SUVs and minivans have turned to the courts over a range of alleged defects, from brakes and airbags to starting systems and cameras. Most of the cases below are allegations that have not been proven, and a few have ended in settlements. Here are eleven SUVs and minivans that automakers are being sued over.
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1. Hyundai Palisade: Airbag Recall Dispute
NHTSA recall 26V034000, received in January 2026, says third-row side curtain airbags on 2020-2025 Palisades may deploy improperly in a crash, per the NHTSA recall record. A class action says the recall failed to fix the airbag defect.
Palisade owners with a third-row seat have two things to track here: the recall itself and the lawsuit’s claim that the remedy fell short. Checking a VIN against NHTSA’s recall lookup shows whether the work was done.
2. Mazda CX-90: Brake And Steering Claims
A March 2026 class action claims 2024-2026 CX-90 SUVs contain brake and steering defects, as listed in a ClassAction.org lawsuit report. The suit describes the defects as patently dangerous, though the claims are allegations.
Brakes and steering are core safety systems, so owners of these model years have reason to follow the case. Anyone who has experienced symptoms can document them and raise them with a dealer in writing. Court rulings on such claims can take a long time to arrive.
3. Chevrolet Traverse: Master Cylinder Allegations
An October 2025 lawsuit alleges 2025 Traverse, Colorado, Enclave, Acadia and Canyon models have defective master brake cylinder assemblies, according to a GM master cylinder suit. The claim spans Chevrolet, Buick and GMC vehicles.
The shared-parts angle means the case reaches well beyond the Traverse. Buyers of these 2025 models can watch for developments and ask a dealer whether any brake service bulletins apply. Lawsuit allegations and recall notices are separate tracks, and neither one proves a defect on its own.
4. Honda Odyssey: Starting System Trouble
A July 2026 class action claims 2018-2025 Odyssey minivans have a defective starting system that may strand drivers, according to the Odyssey starting-system lawsuit. The span covers eight model years of the minivan.
Being stranded is an inconvenience at best and a hazard at worst with children aboard. Owners of those years can keep repair records, since documentation is typically what matters if a claim process opens. Until the court acts, the filing remains one side’s account of the problem.
5. Audi Q5: Concealed Subframe Defect
A June 2026 class action alleges 2009-2017 Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles are afflicted with defective subframes that the automaker allegedly concealed, per an Audi subframe lawsuit. The concealment claim is the suit’s allegation, not a finding.
Used-car shoppers have the most at stake, since these are older vehicles that often change hands. A pre-purchase inspection that includes the subframe is a sensible step for any Q5 from those years.
6. Volkswagen Atlas: Water Pump Settlement
A July 2026 settlement ended a class action over an alleged water pump defect in 2018-2022 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport SUVs, according to a VW Atlas settlement report. The case is listed as settled.
Owners of those model years may want to read the settlement terms to see whether a repair or payment applies. A settlement resolves the claim without the court deciding the defect allegation. The listing describes a concluded case, so the claim is no longer pending in the same way.
7. Ford Bronco Sport: Recall Fix Questioned
A May 2026 suit says a Bronco Sport and Maverick battery defect was not adequately fixed by a January 2025 recall, according to a Ford battery recall suit. The claim targets the adequacy of the earlier remedy.
Bronco Sport owners who had the recall work done may still wish to monitor battery performance. Reporting any repeat symptoms to Ford and NHTSA creates a record that can support a complaint. A recall notice alone does not settle whether the repair worked, which is the suit’s central dispute.
8. Nissan Rogue Sport: Cooling Fan Failure Claim
A July 2026 lawsuit claims 2017-2022 Rogue Sport models are afflicted with a faulty radiator cooling fan, per a Nissan Rogue Sport suit. The case concerns a component that helps manage engine temperature.
Owners noticing overheating warnings can have the fan inspected promptly, because heat damage to an engine is costly. Keeping repair invoices is the usual first step if a claim later opens. Court filings of this kind describe what plaintiffs say happened, not what a judge has found.
9. Kia Telluride: Digital Display Defect
A June 2026 class action says certain 2023-2025 Telluride SUVs are plagued by a digital display defect, according to a Kia Telluride display lawsuit. The suit names only certain vehicles within those model years.
Because the claim covers certain units rather than every Telluride, owners should check whether their trim and build date match the suit’s description. Display faults can be reported to a dealer while the warranty is active.
10. Honda HR-V: Front Camera Lawsuit
A July 2026 lawsuit claims 2018-2025 Odyssey, HR-V, Clarity, Civic and Pilot models have a dangerous front camera system defect, as described in a Honda front camera lawsuit. The HR-V is one of five models named.
The multi-model scope suggests a shared camera system is at issue, though the suit’s claims remain allegations. HR-V owners can note any camera glitches and their dates, which helps if a dealer visit is needed.
11. Honda Pilot: Shared Camera Case
The same July 2026 front camera lawsuit names the 2018-2025 Pilot alongside the Odyssey, HR-V, Clarity and Civic, per the Pilot camera lawsuit.
Pilot owners are named in the same case as buyers of the HR-V and the Civic. Anyone shopping for a used model from those years can ask the seller about camera-related repairs. Each additional model named in a suit widens the group of owners who might later be affected.
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