Kia and Hyundai settle lawsuit over theft protection with Arizona, other states

PHOENIX — Hyundai and Kia will offer a free hardware fix for vehicles that lack industry-standard anti-theft technology, thanks to a recent settlement, officials announced Tuesday.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said the car manufacturers have agreed to equip all future vehicles sold in the U.S. with industry-standard engine immobilizer technology designed to thwart theft.

They agreed to this as well as a list of other stimulations after they were taken to court by Mayes, along with 34 other attorneys general, according to her office. They sued because the companies sold millions of vehicles that lacked the anti-theft technology to Americans.

“Hyundai and Kia sold vehicles without basic, industry-standard anti-theft protections and Arizonans paid the price through increased thefts, damaged vehicles and serious risks to public safety,” Mayes said in the announcement.

Other actions the companies must take include:

• Offering free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to owners or lessees of eligible vehicles, including vehicles that previously were only eligible for the software updates.
• Giving up to $4.5 million in restitution to eligible consumers whose cars have been damaged by thieves.
• Paying $4.5 million to the states due to the investigation-related expenses.

“This settlement forces these companies to fix the problem, make consumers whole where possible and ensure this never happens again,” Mayes said.

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