HARRISBURG, PA — Hyundai and Kia will provide free hardware fixes to owners of millions of vehicles nationwide under a multistate settlement announced by Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday, resolving claims that the automakers sold cars without industry-standard anti-theft technology and left consumers exposed to a wave of thefts.
Pennsylvania joined 34 other states in the agreement, which requires Hyundai and Kia to bring future U.S. vehicles up to industry anti-theft standards and to retrofit eligible existing vehicles at no cost. The settlement also establishes up to $4.5 million in nationwide restitution for consumers whose vehicles were stolen or damaged and another $4.5 million to cover states’ investigative costs.
State officials said the absence of engine immobilizer technology in millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles made them easy targets for thieves, contributing to widespread car thefts and joyriding incidents that strained law enforcement and threatened public safety.
“This settlement is a big step towards offering peace of mind to Pennsylvanians who should not have to worry about losing their vehicles when they are locked up,” Sunday said. He urged affected owners to schedule the free service as soon as possible.
Under the agreement, Hyundai and Kia will install a zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protector on eligible vehicles. Owners and lessees will have one year from the date they receive notice from the companies to make an appointment at an authorized dealership.
The settlement mandates that the automakers equip all future vehicles sold in the United States with engine immobilizer anti-theft technology, which prevents a vehicle from starting without a programmed smart key containing the electronic security code. It also expands eligibility for the free hardware fix to vehicles that previously qualified only for software updates.
Attorneys general said thieves exploited a simple method to access ignition cylinders and start affected vehicles without a key, and that the companies were slow to address the vulnerability.
Consumers who previously installed the software update, or were scheduled to do so, but still experienced a theft or attempted theft on or after April 29, 2025, may file claims for certain theft-related expenses. Details on eligibility and claims are available at HKMultistateimmobilizersettlement.com.
Connecticut, Minnesota, and New Hampshire served as co-leaders in the settlement, joined by attorneys general from more than 30 states and jurisdictions, including California, New Jersey, New York, and Washington.
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