Kia and Hyundai have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over a defect that made certain vehicles easier to steal. Kia and Hyundai say the deal could be worth up to $200 million. It provides cash to customers whose vehicle is lost or damaged, as well as reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums and other theft-related losses. The deal provides up to $300 toward the purchase of steering wheel locks and other anti-theft or deterrent devices. And Hyundai decided they had to take responsibility and we had to do something,” said James Barton of Barton Serjak SC, the law firm that first filed the case in June 2021. More than 60 cases have been filed across the country over the same issue. Another statement from the firm said: “Our firm We are pleased that the hard work done and the resources we have expended have raised awareness of the problem and ultimately contributed to this solution. We hope that the fix developed by Kia and Hyundai will be implemented soon. , our company is determined to ensure that all affected owners will be adequately compensated and that this problem will soon be a thing of the past and that justice will be served to all victims. Some models without an immobilizer include the operation of vehicle ignition systems, new upgrades that can be performed at KIA dealers, a long-sounding alarm and a key requirement to start the vehicle. This software update affects approximately four million vehicles nationwide. , manufactured before 2021, requires a regular key, not a fob. A local dealer can fix it in 30 to 40 minutes. Owners will receive a sticker for their car, which is an enhanced warning vehicle to potential thieves. The court still needs to approve the proposed settlement. “What we’re dealing with is a public safety crisis,” Barton said. “(The flaw) made stealing so easy that even middle schoolers were doing it in under a minute.” Barton said the amount people receive in the case depends on how many people file claims. A law firm associated with the case said settlement websites “will be available soon to class members for more information.”
Kia and Hyundai have agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over a defect that made certain vehicles easier to steal.
Kia and Hyundai say the deal could be worth up to $200 million. It will provide cash to customers whose vehicle is lost or damaged, as well as reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums and other theft-related losses.
For customers who can’t afford the free security software upgrades released by Kia and Hyundai, the deal offers up to $300 toward the purchase of aftermarket alarm kits such as steering wheel locks and other anti-theft or deterrent devices.
“The city of Milwaukee was under siege because of the impoundment of stolen vehicles, and when no other companies were willing to take on Kia and Hyundai, we decided we had to do something,” said James Barton of Barton Serjak SC. In a statement, the law firm that originally filed the lawsuit in June 2021.
More than 60 cases have been filed across the country regarding the same issue.
The rest of the company’s statement says:
“We are pleased that the hard work our company has done and the resources we have spent raising awareness of the problem have ultimately contributed to this solution. We hope that the fix developed by Kia and Hyundai will be implemented soon, that all affected owners will act appropriately. Compensation will be provided, and this problem will soon be a thing of the past.” .Our firm is committed to ensuring justice for all victims.
In February, Kia announced a software fix that limits unauthorized operation of vehicle ignition systems on certain models not equipped with immobilizers. New upgrades that can be done at KIA dealers include a longer beeping alarm and key need to start the vehicle.
The software update affects about four million vehicles nationwide manufactured before 2021 that require a regular key, not a fob.
A local dealer can fix it in 30 to 40 minutes. Owners will receive a sticker for their car, alerting potential thieves that the vehicle has been upgraded.
The court still needs to approve the proposed settlement.
“What we’re dealing with is a public safety crisis,” Barton said. “(The flaw) made stealing so easy that even middle schoolers were doing it in under a minute.”
Barton said the amount people receive in the case depends on how many people file claims.
A law firm involved in the case settled Websites “will be available soon to class members for more information.”
