Hyundai and Kia Airbag Settlement: Owners Can Claim Up to $350 from $62M Fund

December 20, 2025 — Hyundai and Kia have agreed to pay $62.1 million to settle a class action lawsuit alleging that certain vehicles were equipped with defective airbag control units that could fail during a crash — potentially leaving drivers and passengers unprotected in a collision.

What the Lawsuit Alleges

The lawsuit claims that certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles were equipped with ZF-TRW airbag control units that are vulnerable to electrical overstress. When these units malfunction, the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners may fail to deploy during an accident.

Plaintiffs alleged that these failures increased the severity of injuries in crashes and that the automakers knew about the defects but delayed recalls, leaving millions of drivers at risk.

Hyundai and Kia deny any wrongdoing but agreed to settle to avoid prolonged litigation.

Who's Eligible

You may be eligible if you owned or leased one of the following vehicles as of April 14, 2025:

Hyundai: 2011-2019 Sonata, 2011-2019 Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2023 Kona, 2022-2023 Kona N, 2019-2021 Veloster

Kia: 2010-2013 Forte, 2010-2013 Forte Koup, 2011-2020 Optima, 2011-2016 Optima Hybrid, 2011-2012 and 2014 Sedona

Not sure if your car is covered? Enter your VIN at ACUSettlement.com to check eligibility.

What You Can Claim

The settlement offers several types of compensation:

• Reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses related to the airbag defect — including towing, repairs, rental cars, lost wages, and childcare costs. Documentation required.
• Up to $350 residual payment for recalled vehicles — even without documented expenses
• Up to $150 for unrecalled vehicles
• 10-year warranty on new parts installed during recalls
• Inspection programs for vehicles not yet recalled
• Rental car reimbursement and loaner vehicles during repairs

How to File

Go to ACUSettlement.com to submit a claim online. You can also download a PDF claim form and mail it to:

Hyundai-Kia Airbag Control Unit Settlement, c/o JND Legal Administration, PO Box 91478, Seattle, WA 98111

The deadline to file a claim is March 29, 2027.

What Happens Next

The final approval hearing took place on September 29, 2025. Once all appeals are resolved, payments will be distributed to class members who filed valid claims.

Download ClassyAction to track this case and get notified when payments are being sent.