Hyundai and Kia have agreed to a nationwide settlement to fix millions of vehicles vulnerable to theft due to missing anti-theft technology.
Under the deal led by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, the automakers will offer free repairs to about 9 million vehicles from model years 2011 to 2022, at a cost expected to exceed $500 million.
The settlement, backed by 35 U.S. states, also requires Hyundai and Kia to install engine immobilizers in all future U.S. vehicles and pay up to $4.5 million in restitution to affected owners.
The issue escalated after social media videos showed how certain models could be easily stolen, triggering sharp rises in thefts in several cities.
As part of the fix, the companies will install a zinc sleeve to prevent ignition tampering, with repairs available from early 2026 through early 2027.
Both automakers said the agreement is part of broader efforts to improve vehicle security and work with law enforcement to curb car theft.
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December 12, 2025 15:14 ET Central bank decisions dominated the economic news flow this week led by the Federal Reserve. Trade data from the U.S. also gained attention. The Canadian and Swiss central banks also announced their interest rate decisions. Inflation data from China was in focus as the country released the latest consumer price and producer price data.