Kia and Hyundai owners who had their cars stolen can get settlement money
CBSN
Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia have agreed to pay $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit from owners who had their vehicles stolen in a nationwide rash of car thefts.
The lawsuit, filed last August, alleged that Kia and Hyundai sold car models from 2011 to 2022 that did not include immobilizers —a standard feature that prevents the engine from starting unless the key is present. Word of the missing immobilizers sparked a TikTok trend called the "Kia Challenge," in which thieves stole millions Kia and Hyundai vehicles often within 90 seconds, attorneys representing the owners said in a statement.
Up to $145 million from the settlement funds will be used to reimburse owners who had their vehicles stolen or damaged, the attorneys said Thursday.
