Millions of Hyundai and Kia Cars Were Built Without a Basic Anti-Theft Part — Owners May Be Owed Money

The short version: Hyundai and Kia manufactured millions of vehicles — from model years 2011 through 2022 — without a part called an engine immobilizer. This is a standard anti-theft device that makes it nearly impossible to start a car without the right key. Almost every other automaker had been including it for years. Without it, thieves discovered they could start these cars with nothing more than a USB cable and a pair of pliers. Car thefts skyrocketed. Lawsuits were filed. A court-approved settlement of over $145 million is now in place, and claims are being processed.

This page explains what happened, which vehicles are covered, what kinds of losses are included, and how to check if your car is part of the settlement. If you want to skip to the form, it’s at the bottom of this page.

What the Problem Was — In Plain Terms

When you buy a car from most manufacturers, it comes with a built-in system that makes it very hard to steal without the right key. The system is called an engine immobilizer. It works like this: your key has a tiny chip in it, and when you put the key in the ignition, the car recognizes the chip. If the chip isn’t recognized — meaning someone is trying to use anything other than your actual key — the engine won’t start.

Hyundai and Kia left this device out of millions of vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the federal agency that oversees vehicle safety, had documented thousands of theft complaints related to these vehicles in its public database before the story broke widely.

In 2021 and 2022, videos went viral on social media showing step-by-step how to steal these specific cars using just a USB cable inserted into the steering column. The technique became so widely known that it got a name: the “Kia Boyz challenge.” Theft rates for these vehicles shot up dramatically in cities across the country. Some cities reported that Hyundais and Kias made up the majority of all stolen vehicles during that period.

What the Lawsuit Said

The lawsuits filed on behalf of Hyundai and Kia owners argued that the companies knew — or should have known — that leaving out the engine immobilizer made the vehicles dangerously easy to steal, and that they sold the cars without warning buyers about it. The cases were consolidated into a single federal lawsuit in the Central District of California: In re Kia Hyundai Vehicle Theft Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 8:22-ml-03052-JWH-KES.

Hyundai and Kia denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle. The court granted final approval of the settlement in October 2024.

Which Vehicles Are Covered

The settlement covers owners and lessees of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles built between model years 2011 and 2022 that were not equipped with an engine immobilizer. Not every vehicle from those years is included — it depends on the specific model and whether immobilizer equipment was standard on that trim.

The list below includes the most commonly affected models. Because the full official list is long and detailed, we strongly recommend submitting your information below so a legal team can confirm whether your specific vehicle, trim, and model year qualifies.

Commonly Affected Hyundai Models (2011–2022)

Commonly Affected Kia Models (2011–2022)

This list is not exhaustive. Whether your specific vehicle qualifies depends on trim level and build details. Submit your information to get a definitive answer.

What Kinds of Losses Are Covered

The settlement is designed to compensate people who suffered real harm because their vehicle lacked the immobilizer. This includes:

• Your car was stolen. If your covered vehicle was stolen, you may be eligible for a reimbursement of losses related to the theft.
• Your car was broken into or damaged during a theft attempt. Even if the thief didn’t succeed in driving away, damage to windows, steering columns, or ignitions from a theft attempt may be covered.
• You paid for security upgrades out of pocket. If you bought a steering wheel lock, alarm, or other device specifically because your car was at risk, those costs may be reimbursable.
• You paid higher insurance premiums. Some owners saw their insurance rates go up when insurers flagged these vehicles as high-theft risks. The settlement includes provisions for this type of loss.

Claims are still being processed. If you owned or leased a covered vehicle at any point during the period when these thefts were happening, submitting your information is the right first step.

What Hyundai and Kia Are Doing About It

Both companies have released a free software update for many affected vehicles that makes them harder to steal. The update is available at Hyundai and Kia dealerships. However, the update does not fully replicate what a hardware immobilizer does, and not all affected models are eligible for the software fix. Accepting the software update does not affect your right to participate in the settlement.

Common Questions

My car was never actually stolen. Can I still have a claim?

Possibly, yes. The settlement covers more than just theft losses. If you paid for anti-theft devices, experienced a theft attempt, or paid higher insurance rates because of the vehicle’s known vulnerability, you may still qualify. Submit your information and let a legal team determine what applies to your situation.

I sold the car already. Am I still eligible?

If you owned or leased a covered vehicle during the relevant period, you may still be eligible even if you no longer own it. Previous owners are included in the settlement class.

Does this cost anything?

The case check is completely free. If you proceed with a claim, there is no fee unless your case results in a recovery. If it doesn’t, you owe nothing.

How do I know for sure if my car qualifies?

The fastest way is to submit your vehicle’s year, make, and model through the form on this page. A legal team will check it against the official settlement vehicle list and reach out with confirmation.