The blanking bleeping lawyers are the only ones getting rich off it. 
Hyundai and Kia Settle Lawsuit Over TikTok Thefts 5/19/2023
Hyundai and Kia Settle Lawsuit Over TikTok Thefts | The Truth About Cars
We’ve been hearing about the ease with which even the most amateur thief can steal older Hyundai and Kia models for a while now. Fixes for the lack of an electronic immobilizer are slow to come, but a group of owners took matters into their own hands with a class-action lawsuit. The issue was recently settled, netting a significant payment from the automakers.
Hagens Berman, one of the law firms handling the case, said that the settlement comes in at more than $200 million, relating to Kia and Hyundai’s “failure to equip 2011-2022 models with an immobilizer, a common anti-theft device in modern cars which prevents most vehicles from being started unless a code is transmitted from the vehicle’s smart key.” The plaintiffs said that the defect allowed thieves to steal the cars in less than 90 seconds and noted that the poorly designed steering column made the process even easier.
While $200 million sounds like – and is – a lot of money, individual owners won’t be getting rich. There are 9 million vehicle owners involved in the lawsuit, so each person will get a little more than $20, but that’s before attorneys’ fees and other costs are taken out of the total. The attorneys said that the settlement would help people who’ve suffered out-of-pocket expenses, but $20 is less than half a tank of fuel for some vehicles, but the good news is that money might not be the real benefit. The automakers agreed to fix the immobilizer issue and will make payments to those that are not eligible.
We’ve been hearing about the ease with which even the most amateur thief can steal older Hyundai and Kia models for a while now. Fixes for the lack of an electronic immobilizer are slow to come, but a group of owners took matters into their own hands with a class-action lawsuit. The issue was recently settled, netting a significant payment from the automakers.
Hagens Berman, one of the law firms handling the case, said that the settlement comes in at more than $200 million, relating to Kia and Hyundai’s “failure to equip 2011-2022 models with an immobilizer, a common anti-theft device in modern cars which prevents most vehicles from being started unless a code is transmitted from the vehicle’s smart key.” The plaintiffs said that the defect allowed thieves to steal the cars in less than 90 seconds and noted that the poorly designed steering column made the process even easier.
While $200 million sounds like – and is – a lot of money, individual owners won’t be getting rich. There are 9 million vehicle owners involved in the lawsuit, so each person will get a little more than $20, but that’s before attorneys’ fees and other costs are taken out of the total. The attorneys said that the settlement would help people who’ve suffered out-of-pocket expenses, but $20 is less than half a tank of fuel for some vehicles, but the good news is that money might not be the real benefit. The automakers agreed to fix the immobilizer issue and will make payments to those that are not eligible.
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Yep and the price of next year's Kias go up to cover the $200 million sucked up by the lawyers . Totally awesome.
. Totally awesome.Anybody else get a letter in the mail from kia saying you can get a free steering wheel lock shipped to them?
For more information on your vehicle’s eligibility for the software upgrade or to learn more about directly obtaining a steering wheel lock, please input your 17-digit VIN:Anybody else get a letter in the mail from kia saying you can get a free steering wheel lock shipped to them?
And if this site says your car is eligible, you’ll have to wait for the letter from Kia because there is a code on the letter you have to submit with your information when you order the steering wheel lock. I got this for my 2011 yesterday and wasn’t going to order it, but it was so easy I went ahead and got it.For more information on your vehicle’s eligibility for the software upgrade or to learn more about directly obtaining a steering wheel lock, please input your 17-digit VIN:
Are 2010 souls not able to be stolen w the USB? My car (that was a 2010) was stolen, the cop didn’t say how but mentioned the USB. The thief totaled it.
And if so why are they only covering 2011-2022?
And if so why are they only covering 2011-2022?
2011 and up are what they agreed to provide something for. Cars without immobilizers date back to the very first motor vehicles over 100 years ago.Are 2010 souls not able to be stolen w the USB? My car (that was a 2010) was stolen, the cop didn’t say how but mentioned the USB. The thief totaled it.
And if so why are they only covering 2011-2022?
Did you know they can all be stolen via USB?
🤡
That's what I thought too Flatsole. While the jury is still out, it sure looks like the information was misleading from KIA. A turn-to-start-steel-key seems to require a key-fob connected to it (is that a switch-key?) in order to get the security software update.2011 and up are what they agreed to provide something for. Cars without immobilizers date back to the very first motor vehicles over 100 years ago.
And Souls model year 2020-21 are the only ones that qualify to get it. 2010-2019 will be offered a club device.
If anyone has any evidence this is not true please share.
I just said something for, I thought they were offering "the club" to whoever they decide isn't eligible for "the patch." You know I'm not worried with da monk in my trunk, but I haven't seen any gen 1 or 2 owners talk about getting a letter for the patch either.That's what I thought too Flatsole. While the jury is still out, it sure looks like the information was misleading from KIA. A turn-to-start-steel-key seems to require a key-fob connected to it (is that a switch-key?) in order to get the security software update.
And Souls model year 2020-21 are the only ones that qualify to get it. 2010-2019 will be offered a club device.
If anyone has any evidence this is not true please share.
Interesting that they settled. I think many of us on this forum were aware that the ignition switches on the 2nd gen Souls were unchipped and only needed a plain key to start the vehicle. Some articles alluded to the Covid imposed lockdown and resultant supply chain maladies were to blame. Clearly this isn't the case since my pre-covid '16 was unchipped.
Pretty sickening that the lawfirm hauls in so much money for successful class action cases. It seems that there should be a cap on the attorneys fees. How does $20 really begin to compensate owners? KIA and Hyundai probably saved hundreds of dollars per vehicle by not having chipped ignitions.
Seems to me that TikTok has a lot of culpability in this, much more so than KIA or Hyundai.
Pretty sickening that the lawfirm hauls in so much money for successful class action cases. It seems that there should be a cap on the attorneys fees. How does $20 really begin to compensate owners? KIA and Hyundai probably saved hundreds of dollars per vehicle by not having chipped ignitions.
Seems to me that TikTok has a lot of culpability in this, much more so than KIA or Hyundai.
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