Hyundai and Kia vehicle owners from the years 2010 to 2023 might receive compensation payments of up to $350.
Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation have reached a settlement agreement worth $62.1 million to resolve claims regarding defective airbag control units installed in various models of their vehicles. The lawsuit, which also includes related parts suppliers, alleges that these units are vulnerable to electrical overstress, potentially causing airbags and other safety features to fail in a collision.
The class action covers owners and lessees (current and former) of several Hyundai and Kia models originally sold or leased in the United States or its territories. These include the 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata, 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona, 2022-2023 Hyundai Kona N, 2019-2021 Hyundai Veloster, 2010-2013 Kia Forte, 2010-2013 Kia Forte Koup, 2011-2020 Kia Optima, 2011-2016 Kia Optima Hybrid, 2011-2012 and 2014 Kia Sedona.
Eligibility for the settlement is determined by Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Eligible claimants may receive up to $350 per vehicle, along with other benefits, depending on their specific circumstances. The settlement also includes provisions for future rental car reimbursement, loaner vehicle, and outreach program for those whose vehicles are identified as unrecalled but may later be implicated.
The deadline to file a claim is March 29, 2027, with the exclusion deadline by August 25, 2025, and a fairness hearing scheduled for September 29, 2025. Payments for approved claims will be issued after final court approval and resolution of any appeals.
Hyundai and Kia deny wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid litigation costs and risks. The settlement resolves a complex dispute that began in 2019 and has involved extensive pretrial motions, discovery, and mediation. It is part of a multidistrict litigation known as In re: ZF‐TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation.
Detailed information, including a full list of covered models and claim instructions, is available on the settlement website or by calling a toll-free number. Current and former owners or lessees of the vehicles, including both recalled and unrecalled models, are eligible to file claims via a dedicated website using a VIN-lookup tool.
This agreement between Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, regarding defective airbag control units, covers numerous vehicle models, including the 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata and its variants, diverse Kia models like the 2010-2013 Kia Forte, and others. Eligible claimants, determined by VIN, may receive up to $350 per vehicle and other benefits depending on their circumstances.
Furthermore, the settlement includes provisions for future rental car reimbursement, loaner vehicles, and an outreach program for unrecalled vehicles that may later be implicated. The settlement website provides all details, including claim instructions.
Be aware that the deadline to file a claim is March 29, 2027, with the exclusion deadline by August 25, 2025, and a fairness hearing scheduled for September 29, 2025. Approved claims will be processed after final court approval and resolution of any appeals.
It is worth mentioning that this settlement is part of a multidistrict litigation known as In re: ZF‐TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, which involves extensive pretrial motions, discovery, and mediation, and that Hyundai and Kia deny wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to avoid litigation costs and risks.
