- Hyundai and Kia settle airbag lawsuit for over $60 million without admitting fault.
- Twenty plaintiffs will each receive $2,500 in compensation from the settlement.
- Owners of additional eligible cars may claim up to $350 for out-of-pocket repairs.
When airbags fail, the consequences can be deadly, and when they fail in a significant number of vehicles, lawsuits aren’t far behind. That’s the situation Hyundai and Kia now find themselves in, as the automakers have agreed to pay over $60 million to settle a long-running class action lawsuit in the United States.
Despite agreeing to the settlement, both companies deny any wrongdoing. As is often the case with class actions, a hefty slice of the settlement will go to the attorneys representing the plaintiffs, not directly to affected vehicle owners.
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The legal saga has been playing out in court for more than six years. During this time, more than 20 individual class action lawsuits were filed against the two car manufacturers. Many of these class actions were then consolidated into one.
The root of the dispute? A specific type of airbag control unit, supplied by ZF, that may suffer from electrical overstress. In the event of a crash, this defect could prevent the airbags from deploying, a worst-case scenario for anyone behind the wheel.
Which Models Are Covered?
Models named in the class action included the 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata, 2011-2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 2010-2013 Kia Fortes and Forte Koups, 2011-2013 Kia Optima, 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, and 2011-2012 Kia Sedona models.
Interestingly, the settlement allows owners or lessees of an even broader range of models to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket repair expenses.
Who Else is Eligible?
As such, the settlement applies to a broader group of vehicles beyond those named in the initial lawsuit. Eligible models include the 2011–2019 Hyundai Sonata, 2011–2019 Sonata Hybrid, 2018–2023 Hyundai Kona, 2022–2023 Kona N, 2019–2021 Veloster, 2010–2013 Kia Forte, 2010–2013 Forte Koup, 2011–2020 Optima, 2011–2016 Optima Hybrid, and both the 2011–2012 and 2014 Kia Sedona.
Those who have repaired recalled vehicles can receive up to $350, while those who have repaired unrecalled vehicles are eligible for up to $150. Importantly, you must have owned or leased an eligible model on or before April 14, 2025.
How Is the Settlement Divided?
Each of the 20 plaintiffs named in the lawsuit will receive $2,500, totaling $50,000. The lawyers on the side of the plaintiffs will then walk away with a handy $20,493,033 for their involvement in the case. In total, the settlement will cost Hyundai and Kia $62,100,100.
