Hyundai and Kia have resolved a lawsuit concerning airbags, with the initial 20 claimants each receiving a sum of $2,500.
In a significant development, Hyundai and Kia have reached a settlement over a defect in airbag control units (ACUs) supplied by ZF-TRW. The settlement, which requires court approval following a fairness hearing scheduled for September 29, 2025, covers more than a dozen models from both automakers, impacting millions of current and former owners.
The affected vehicles include various models of Hyundai and Kia, ranging from 2010 to 2023. For Hyundai, the models include the Sonata, Sonata Hybrid, Kona, Kona N, and Veloster. Kia models affected are the Forte, Forte Koup, Optima, Optima Hybrid, and Sedona.
The defect could cause the airbag control units to fail during a crash due to electrical overstress. This settlement provides a 10-year warranty on new airbag control units installed under the recall, limited to failure from electrical overstress. Consumers may file reimbursement or residual payment claims by March 2027.
In a positive move for affected customers, lawyers representing them will receive over $20.4 million as part of the settlement. Furthermore, the settlement awards $2,500 to each of the 20 original plaintiffs.
It is important to note that this settlement comes as part of litigation over defective ZF-TRW airbag control units and covers a broader group of models than those initially named in the lawsuit. This means that reimbursements for repairs of recalled and unrecalled vehicles within these model ranges are also covered.
Other automakers named in the suit, including Toyota and Mitsubishi, have previously settled similar claims. Consumers who believe they are eligible for this settlement may visit acusettlement.com for information and to submit a claim form.
The settlement agreement includes a broader list of models, encompassing vehicles manufactured between 2010 and 2023. If approved, claim forms must be submitted by March 29, 2027. Residual payments of up to $350 are offered for owners of recalled vehicles, and $150 for unrecalled ones.
The settlement was first reported by CarComplaints.com. It is important to note that the deal admits no wrongdoing by Hyundai and Kia. Consumers may receive reimbursement for "reasonable" out-of-pocket repair costs tied to recalled vehicles.
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- The settlement, applicable to both Hyundai and Kia, extends to various business sectors, including the finance industry, considering the immediate impact on millions of current and former vehicle owners.
- The finance industry is expected to experience a significant surge in business due to the residual payments of up to $350 for owners of recalled models and $150 for unrecalled ones, as part of the Hyundai and Kia ACUs settlement.
