Kia, Hyundai To Pay Millions: Free Repairs For Vulnerable Cars

A major legal settlement will provide free repairs to millions of Hyundai and Kia owners in the United States. The two automakers have agreed to resolve a case brought by dozens of state governments. The lawsuit concerned a lack of standard anti-theft technology in many vehicles. This issue gained national attention after a viral social media trend showed how to steal certain models. Thieves exploited the fact that many cars lacked electronic immobilizers. This basic security feature prevents a vehicle from starting without the correct key. Under the settlement, eligible owners will receive a free software upgrade. For models that cannot accept the upgrade, the companies will provide a free steering wheel lock device. Owners of affected Hyundai models from 2011-2022 and Kia models from 2011-2021 should watch for official notifications. The settlement program is expected to launch in the coming months.