Twenty Owners of Hyundai and Kia Receive Minimal Compensation While Lawyers Celebrate with Champagne Over $20 Million | Carscoops

      Affected models include the Hyundai Sonata, Kia Forte, Kia Optima, and Hyundai Kona.

      Hyundai and Kia have reached a settlement in an airbag lawsuit for over $60 million without admitting any fault.

      Twenty plaintiffs will receive $2,500 each as part of the settlement.

      Owners of additional eligible vehicles may claim up to $350 for out-of-pocket repair costs.

      When airbags malfunction, the outcomes can be fatal, and when this occurs across a large number of vehicles, legal action typically follows. This is the current scenario for Hyundai and Kia, as the manufacturers have decided to pay over $60 million to resolve a lengthy class action lawsuit in the United States.

      Despite agreeing to the settlement, both companies deny any wrongdoing. As is common in class action cases, a significant portion of the settlement will be allocated to attorneys representing the plaintiffs rather than going directly to the vehicle owners affected.

      The legal dispute has been ongoing in court for more than six years, during which over 20 individual class action cases were filed against the two automakers, many of which were later consolidated into one.

      The crux of the issue lies in a particular type of airbag control unit, provided by ZF, that may experience electrical overstress. This defect could hinder the deployment of airbags in the event of a crash, posing a serious risk to drivers.

      Which Models Are Included?

      The class action identified models such as the 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata, 2011-2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 2010-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2013 Kia Optima, 2011-2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, and the 2011-2012 Kia Sedona.

      Notably, the settlement allows owners or lessees of a wider range of vehicles to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket repair expenses.

      Who Else is Qualified?

      Consequently, the settlement extends to a larger selection of vehicles beyond those mentioned in the original 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.

      Owners who have repaired recalled vehicles may receive up to $350, while those who have fixed unrecalled vehicles can claim up to $150. It's important to note that you must have owned or leased an eligible model by April 14, 2025.

      How Is the Settlement Allocated?

      Each of the 20 plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit will get $2,500, totaling $50,000. The attorneys representing the plaintiffs will collectively receive $20,493,033 for their work on the case. In total, the settlement will cost Hyundai and Kia $62,100,100.