In the middle of 2022, the complaint for this class action alleges, “Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen more often than any other make” in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Similarly,” it claims, “in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kia and Hyundai vehicles represented two out of every three vehicles stolen during the first half of 2021.” The complaint alleges that Kia America, Inc. and Hyundai Motor America have been manufacturing many of their vehicles without a device called an immobilizer, which makes stealing them much easier than stealing other kinds of vehicles.
The Nationwide Class for this action is all persons or entities who, within the applicable statute of limitations, bought or leased a vehicle made by Kia America or Hyundai Motor America without an engine mobilizer. A Minnesota class has also been defined, for those in the above class in Minnesota.
The subject vehicles include 2011-2022 Kias and 2015-2022 Hyundais.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 114 (FMVSS 114) requires that vehicles have a starting system that the complaint alleges “prevents: (a) the normal activation of the vehicle’s engine or motor; and (b) either steering, or forward self-mobility, of the vehicle, or both.”
This is normally done through the use of an immobilizer which helps prevent both theft and rollaways. The immobilizer, the complaint alleges, requires that a signal be transmitted from the car’s own smart key in order for the vehicle to start.
The complaint alleges that the vehicles at issue in this case were made without immobilizers. They can therefore be started without the presence of a key, the complaint claims, via the steering column, through the use of a USB cable or another metal object. This is so easy, the complaint alleges, that videos have been posted online with step-by-step instructions on how to steal these vehicles.
The complaint alleges, “Theft or attempted theft of [Kia’s and Hyndai’s] Vehicles is becoming increasingly reported and has risen substantially across the United States generally and Minnesota specifically as knowledge of the defect is now widespread.” All thieves need to do, the complaint alleges, is break a window to gain access to the inside of the vehicle, and they are able to steal it.
The complaint says that the companies “should be or are aware through media and steering wheel replacement part sales that thefts of Vehicles manufactured and sold by them have increased nationwide. Still, it claims, the companies “have not offered to install vehicle immobilizers in the Vehicles” although they have announced that all new vehicles will be made with immobilizers.
According to the complaint, after the vehicles are stolen, consumers are having to pay insurance deductibles and other amounts for repairs.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Automobile
Most Recent Case Event
Kias, Hyundais Manufactured Without Immobilizers Complaint
September 23, 2022
In the middle of 2022, the complaint for this class action alleges, “Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen more often than any other make” in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Similarly,” it claims, “in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kia and Hyundai vehicles represented two out of every three vehicles stolen during the first half of 2021.” The complaint alleges that Kia America, Inc. and Hyundai Motor America have been manufacturing many of their vehicles without a device called an immobilizer, which makes stealing them much easier than stealing other kinds of vehicles.
Kias, Hyundais Manufactured Without Immobilizers ComplaintCase Event History
Kias, Hyundais Manufactured Without Immobilizers Complaint
September 23, 2022
In the middle of 2022, the complaint for this class action alleges, “Kia and Hyundai vehicles were stolen more often than any other make” in Minneapolis, Minnesota. “Similarly,” it claims, “in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kia and Hyundai vehicles represented two out of every three vehicles stolen during the first half of 2021.” The complaint alleges that Kia America, Inc. and Hyundai Motor America have been manufacturing many of their vehicles without a device called an immobilizer, which makes stealing them much easier than stealing other kinds of vehicles.
Kias, Hyundais Manufactured Without Immobilizers Complaint