Attorney Generals reach $9 million settlement with Hyundai and Kia over car thefts
RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — The office of Attorney General Jeff Jackson announced in a press release that Jackson and 35 other bipartisan attorneys general reached a settlement with Hyundai and Kia.
The companies sold millions of vehicles across the country that didn’t have industry-standard, anti-theft technology leading to an increase in car thefts between 2020 and 2023.
“Hyundai and Kia could have made their cars harder to steal from the outset – but they chose not to,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson. “This settlement means they’re going to take steps to address the crimes caused by their mistake and repay customers for what they’ve lost.”
According to the press release, Hyundai and Kia have agreed to equip all future vehicles sold with industry standard, engine immobilizer anti-theft technology, offer free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to owners or lessees of eligible vehicles, pay up to $4.5 million in restitution to eligible consumers whose cars were damaged by thieves on or after April, 29, 2025, and pay up to $4.5 million to the states to defray the costs of the investigation.
