MIAMI VALLEY — Automakers Kia and Hyundai have agreed to an estimated $200 million class action legal settlement in connection to claims that many of the vehicles produced by the companies are easy to steal.
Hyundai Motor America and Kia America announced Thursday that they entered into a settlement to resolve class action litigation with owners of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles that have been the target of a social media challenge. That challenge led to a surge of car thefts of the impact vehicles.
>> RELATED: Area police still combating Kia, Hyundai thefts linked to social media trend
The settlement, which includes approximately 9 million vehicles, “will provide cash compensation for customers who incurred theft-related vehicle losses or damage not covered by insurance, in addition to reimbursement for insurance deductibles, increased insurance premiums, and other theft-related losses,” a release announcing the settlement stated.
As part of the settlement, a free security software upgrade will automatically be installed “in conjunction with any service or maintenance appointment that brings the owner of an eligible vehicle into the dealership.”
Any customer whose vehicle cannot accommodate the software upgrade will receive up to $300 for the purchase of various anti-theft devices.
In the Miami Valley, police experienced an uptick in stolen cars beginning in July last year, fueled by a TikTok challenge that included videos on how to steal Kia’s and Hyundai’s using a standard USB cord.
The social media craze drove car thefts 500 to 700 stolen vehicles above a typical yearly pace.
The problem forced Dayton and other Montgomery County agencies to form an auto theft suppression task force.
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