Kia/Hyundai Class Action Update

Back on November 2nd, we announced that a class action lawsuit had been initiated against Kia and Hyundai. The lawsuit was a response to the vehicle manufacturer’s failure to incorporate suitable anti-theft protection in some of their vehicles. The article further stated that a settlement had been proposed but, had yet to be approved by the court. Since the publication of the article, an announcement has been made by the plaintiff’s attorney that the court has granted preliminary approval of the settlement. According to the settlement, owners and lessors will be notified of the settlement no later than March 4, 2024. In addition, those consumers will be able to submit their claims through the U.S. mail, by email, or by using the settlement website. Furthermore, the court will hold a final approval hearing on July 15, 2024. Once the court issues its final approval of the settlement, claims payments will be issued. It should be noted that no action is necessary on the part of owners and lessors at the current time. Claims will be accepted when the settlement website is open. It should be further noted that the article stated that the lawsuit applied to 2011-2021 Kias and 2016-2021 Hyundais. The email notice of preliminary approval states that the settlement applies to 2011-2022 Kias and 2008-2022 Hyundais. Consumers should check with their dealers or with Kia/Hyundai directly to see if their vehicle is included in the lawsuit. Questions about the settlement should be directed to Steve Berman at Hagens, Berman, Sobol, Shapiro LLP, 1301 Second Av., Suite 2000, Seattle, WA 96101. The firm’s telephone number is 206-623-7292 and their website address is http://www.hbsslaw.com.