$4.5M Hyundai, Kia Settlement Offers Financial, Repair Benefits to Owners of Stolen Vehicles

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As part of a deal with 34 states and the District of Columbia, Hyundai and Kia have agreed to a $4.5 million settlement offering financial and repair benefits to individuals affected by the sale of vehicles that apparently lacked industry-standard theft technology.

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The Hyundai and Kia multistate immobilizer settlement covers all individuals who own or lease an eligible Hyundai or Kia vehicle and have experienced a theft or theft attempt after getting anti-theft software installed or while having an appointment scheduled for installation.

The court-approved website for the Hyundai/Kia settlement can be found at HKMultiStateImmobilizerSettlement.com.

To receive benefits from the deal, eligible class members must file a claim form online or by mail by March 31, 2027.

According to the settlement website, the deal covers Hyundai and Kia models not equipped with engine immobilizers, including:

• •2018-2022 Hyundai Accent;
• •2011-2022 Hyundai Elantra;
• •2013-2020 Hyundai Elantra GT;
• •2013-2014 Genesis Coupe;
• •2018-2022 Hyundai Kona;
• •2020-2021 Hyundai Palisade;
• •2013-2022 Hyundai Santa Fe;
• •2013-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport;
• •2019 Hyundai Santa Fe XL;
• •2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata;
• •2011-2022 Hyundai Tucson;
• •2012-2017 Hyundai Veloster;
• •2019-2021 Hyundai Venue;
• •2014-2021 Kia Forte;
• •2021-2022 Kia K5;
• •2011-2020 Kia Optima;
• •2012-2021 Kia Rio;
• •2011-2021 Kia Sedona;
• •2021-2022 Kia Seltos;
• •2011-2022 Kia Sorento;
• •2020-2022 Kia Soul; and
• •2011-2022 Kia Sportage.

To submit a Hyundai/Kia settlement claim form online or check a vehicle’s eligibility, settlement class members can visit this page and enter their vehicle identification number (VIN), which the settlement website says is located “on a small placard on the top of the dashboard and is visible through the driver’s side corner of the windshield or on a decal inside the driver side door jamb.” The VIN also appears on the vehicle’s title, registration card and likely on the vehicle insurance card, the site adds.

Alternatively, class members may download a PDF claim form here for Kia owners and here for Hyundai owners, fill it out and return it by mail to the settlement administrator.

Per the settlement website, consumers who experienced theft of a qualifying Hyundai or Kia vehicle are eligible to receive up to $4,500 for a total loss or $2,250 for a partial loss.

Consumers who experienced an attempted theft of a qualifying vehicle are eligible to receive up to $375 for reasonable expenses incurred in response to the incident, the site relays.

The website notes that to qualify, a theft or attempted theft must have occurred on or after April 29, 2025 but before March 31, 2027 or the date the vehicle received a free zinc sleeve installation, whichever is earlier.

“Funds are limited and will be disbursed on a rolling basis until the limited fund is exhausted,” the site stresses. “Once the funds are exhausted, no further claims will be paid, so please do not wait to submit your claim.”

A total loss has occurred when the qualifying vehicle has been wrecked, destroyed or damaged so severely by the theft that it would be impractical and prohibitively expensive to repair the car, settlement documents relay. The documents add that class members who have experienced a theft and are unable to recover the vehicle within three months are also covered under this category.

Settlement documents define a partial loss as any uncompensated damage to an eligible Hyundai or Kia vehicle that does not qualify as a total loss.

The Hyundai/Kia settlement claim form shares that class members seeking reimbursement after experiencing theft must provide documentation establishing proof of vehicle ownership, proof of a qualifying theft and proof of a total or partial loss.

The website says that on top of reimbursement benefits, the deal provides class members with the opportunity to bring their vehicle to any authorized Hyundai or Kia dealership for free installation of a zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector as a theft-prevention measure. Vehicles must be brought in for installation before the claim deadline of March 31, 2027.

The Hyundai/Kia vehicle theft settlement was reached in the wake of a viral TikTok “challenge” involving users demonstrating how easy it was to steal certain Hyundai and Kia models. The Attorneys General of Vermont, 33 other states and the District of Columbia claimed that the vehicles at issue lacked critical anti-theft components, such as engine immobilizers and zinc sleeves.

Did you know that some class action settlements require no proof to submit a claim? Check out the latest class action settlements.