Hyundai & Kia offering anti-theft kits for older model vehicles, facing dozens of lawsuits over absence of immobilizers - Repairer Driven News (2023)

FAQs

How much are people getting from the Hyundai settlement? ›

for model year 2011 and 2012 Class Vehicles – $2,000; for model year 2013 and 2014 Class Vehicles – $1,500; for model year 2015 and 2016 Class Vehicles – $1,000; for model year 2017, 2018, and 2019 Class Vehicles – $500.

Statistics further suggest that models of Hyundai and Kia manufactured from 2011 to 2021 are most at risk because these cars lack an engine immobilizer and can be operated with a traditional mechanical key.

A city release states that from 2021 to 2022, thefts of Kia and Hyundai cars increased by 363% and 503%, respectively. The lawsuit alleges that Kia and Hyundai knew of the public safety concerns from the spike in thefts of their vehicles and that neither company took meaningful steps to address the problem.

Hyundai and Kia wouldn't provide the model years that don't have the immobilizers but Forbes reports models affected include 2016-2021 Hyundai Accent, Elantra, Elantra GT, Sonata, Veloster, Venue, Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Santa Fe XL and Palisade as well as 2011-2021 Kias that use a key to start the ...

Kia dealerships will provide a free loaner vehicle of comparable value if requested, until repairs are completed. If no loaner vehicle is available, Kia will provide full reimbursement of reasonable rental car expenses up to $40 per day.

At A Glance

This Alert Affects: Anyone who purchased or leased a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai. What's Going On? A lawsuit has been filed alleging that a defect in Kia and Hyundai vehicles makes them easy to operate without a key.

Ford Full-Size Pickup

Topping the list of the most stolen cars in America in 2020 is the 2006 Ford F-150. This is the second year the pickup has topped the listing, with over 44,014 units stolen in 2020, 13% higher than in 2019.

Typically, luxury vehicles and sports cars rank highest on the “most-stolen” list, but Hyundai and Kia thefts have been on the rise, rivaling pricier models in recent years.

To file a new claim online, please visit Kia's website at https://ksupport.kiausa.com/ConsumerAffairs/Request/NewRequestThetaClass. You will be asked to provide contact information, information about your Class Vehicle including the VIN and mileage.

The list of affected Hyundai models includes certain 2016-21 model year Accent, Elantra, Elantra GT, Sonata, Veloster, Venue, Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Santa Fe XL and Palisade vehicles that use a steel key and do not have an engine immobilizer.

How long does it take to get a settlement from a stolen car? ›

Once liability has been admitted and enough evidence has been produced for the claim to be quantified, your insurer should settle the claim within three months.

Kia vehicles from model year 2011 to 2021 and Hyundai vehicles from model year 2016 to 2021 are especially vulnerable due to the absence of anti-theft devices that have long been standard for other automakers.

Hyundai has released a glass break sensor security kit that targets the method of entry used by thieves to break into these vehicles. These kits are available for purchase and installation at Hyundai dealerships and Compustar authorized installers across the country.

If the head of your key is contained in a plastic housing, or you have a fob with buttons to remotely lock and unlock the doors, your car has an immobilizer. Cars with push-button starts are not affected.

You can bypass the immobilizer by placing the key in the keyhole hence deactivating the car's immobilizer to remote start. The added security with Mobokey allows the security to be activated as soon as the phone moves away from the car, so you don't have to worry about car security.

The majority of Kia vehicles in the United States are equipped with a key fob and “push-button-to-start” system, making them more difficult to steal. All 2022 Kia models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the model year or as a running change.

In that instance, the class action suit alleged problems with Kia Optimas made from 2011 to 2014, the Kia Sportage of 2011 to 2014, and the 2012 to 2014 Kia Sorento. Those vehicles were equipped with 2.0- and 2.4-liter Theta II engines with direct injection (GDI in H/K speak).

One of the dangers of joining a class action lawsuit is that you lose the right to file an individual lawsuit if the class action case fails. In addition, you cannot reject a settlement offer to which the class representatives have agreed.

It is extremely rare for class actions to actually proceed to trial – the vast majority are settled, while the rest may remain pending or tangled up in litigation for years. To win a class action lawsuit, therefore, you need to hire the best attorney and put pressure on the company to settle as quickly as possible.

In most cases, it is a good idea to join the class action if you believe you suffered injuries or financial losses caused by the defendant. We do recommend you give us a call and discuss your situation with one of our class action lawsuit attorneys before you make a decision, however.

Why do you wrap car keys in aluminum foil? ›

Prevent car theft by wrapping your car key fob in foil. Yes, that's right — a piece of tinfoil can stop your car from getting stolen. Key fobs might be convenient, but there's a security risk associated with them. Thieves can use devices that will amplify fob signals to cars or copy the code to get into a vehicle.

Where do you put your car keys at night? Putting the keys near you at night, rather than the front door, is best. Keyless fobs should be placed into an RFID/Faraday box.

BMW 3-Series

BMW's sporty compact luxury sedan is the least stolen ride in America, according to HLDI, with a relative claim frequency of just 4. The average among all vehicles is 100. The all-wheel-drive 3 Series is a bit more popular among car thieves with a relative claim frequency of 21.

The average time it takes to process a settlement check is between one and six weeks. However, it can take several months for you to receive just compensation. If you hire one of the experienced attorneys from Morgan & Morgan, you should not have to wait six weeks to receive your settlement check.

There are a number of reasons why you may choose not to participate in a class action: If your losses were significantly more than other members of the class. If the facts of your case were different and you are concerned that the class action might not address all your interests.

In general, yes – class action lawsuits are worth it. For Class Members who are able to recover benefits from a class action settlement, all it takes is filling out a claim form and potentially providing documentation. This can allow them to recover up to thousands of dollars in compensation.

The Car Finder feature is accessed through the MyHyundai with Bluelink Mobile App. This feature allows you to locate your vehicle on a map if your GPS signal is within a 1-mile radius of your vehicle, and gives you the ability to save your vehicle's location for future reference.

What are the three most stolen cars? ›

The top 10 most stolen vehicles of 2020

2004 Chevrolet full size pick-up. 2000 Honda Civic. 1997 Honda Accord. 2019 Toyota Camry.

With Blue Link®, you can locate your stolen car even sooner. Blue Link® has the ability to provide local law enforcement with your car's exact location and can even immobilize the engine until it's been recovered.

According to a national survey, it takes just under 11 months on average to receive a settlement from your car accident case.

On average, the typical settlement can take up to six weeks for processing after the case is settled. This is due to a number of factors and may vary from one case to another. This is just an average on how long it will take to get paid after your case is finished but varies depending on a number of factors.

It could take an insurance company 1-2 weeks to respond to your demand letter and any further letters. The whole process could take months, depending on how many rounds of offers and counteroffers are involved. Once you've accepted a settlement, it could take a few weeks to a month before your payment arrives.

What do the Settlements provide? Defendants will collectively pay $40 million to settle the claims against them.

Class action lawsuit settlements are not divided evenly. Some plaintiffs will be awarded a larger percent while others receive smaller settlements. There are legitimate reasons for class members receiving smaller payouts.

Around half of settlement payments were between $50 and $300. Some eligible group members who only repaid small amounts, may have got less than $10 as a settlement payment. People who paid back more, or were without their money for longer, got larger payments.