Settlement
Claims open

Hyundai and Kia airbag settlement

$62,100,100 in payments and credits from Hyundai, Kia and their parts maker Hyundai Mobis. It includes a $10 million credit to Hyundai and Kia for providing loaner vehicles and outreach during any future recall of the unrecalled models. Attorneys' fees and costs come out of the fund. source

In re: ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation (Hyundai-Kia settlement) 路 MDL No. 2905, Case No. 2:19-ml-02905-JAK 路 U.S. District Court for the Central District of California 路 Judge John A. Kronstadt

Where it stands

Claims open: 148 days left to file, until Apr 8, 2027.

The court granted final approval on October 8, 2025, and the settlement site says claims for out-of-pocket reimbursement and residual payments are accepted until April 8, 2027. Payments are issued only after the settlement's Effective Date, which depends on whether the approval is appealed. Official update, Nov 12, 2026

File a claim on the official site
  1. Find the 17-digit VIN on the driver's side dashboard or door post and check it in the VIN lookup tool on the settlement site.
  2. Open the claim form on the official site and enter the Unique ID from your postcard or email notice, if you received one.
  3. Choose reimbursement of out-of-pocket recall expenses (Recalled Vehicles only), the residual payment, or both, and attach receipts or invoices, or a signed affidavit, for any expenses.
  4. Without a Unique ID, be ready to show ownership or lease with a title, registration, purchase or lease agreement, or insurance record showing your name and the VIN.
  5. Submit one claim form per VIN online, or mail it to Hyundai-Kia Airbag Control Unit Settlement, c/o JND Legal Administration, PO Box 91478, Seattle, WA 98111, by April 8, 2027.

MrScandal is not the settlement administrator and does not take claims. The administrator is JND Legal Administration.

Who qualifies

  • People and entities that, on April 14, 2025, owned or leased, or had previously owned or leased, a Hyundai or Kia Class Vehicle originally sold or leased in the United States or its territories. source
  • Class Vehicles: 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata and Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona, 2022-2023 Kona N, 2019-2021 Veloster, 2010-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2020 Kia Optima, 2011-2016 Optima Hybrid, and 2011-2012 and 2014 Kia Sedona. Eligibility is decided by VIN, which can be checked with the lookup tool on the settlement site. source
  • Recalled Vehicles are certain 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrid (NHTSA recall 18V-137) and the 2010-2012 and certain 2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2012 and certain 2013 Optima, 2011 and certain 2012 Optima Hybrid, and 2011-2012 Sedona (NHTSA recall 18V-363). All other Class Vehicles are Unrecalled Vehicles. source
  • Not included: Hyundai, Kia and Mobis and their officers, employees, affiliates and dealers; class counsel; judicial officers on the case; people who already released these claims in an individual settlement; and anyone who opted out by August 25, 2025. source

What each group gets

WhoAmount
Recalled Vehicles, out-of-pocket expensesReimbursement of reasonable unreimbursed costs of getting the recall done: comparable rental car or other transport while waiting for the repair, towing to a dealer, childcare during the repair, unreimbursed costs of repairing the airbag control unit, and lost wages for dropping off or picking up the car. Receipts or invoices are needed, or a signed affidavit if you have none. The Settlement Special Administrator's decision is final.
Recalled Vehicles, residual paymentUp to $350, paid per capita from what is left after reimbursement claims and costs. No out-of-pocket expenses are needed to claim it.
Unrecalled Vehicles, residual paymentUp to $150, paid per capita from the same remaining funds. Owners of Unrecalled Vehicles can claim out-of-pocket expenses only if a recall is issued for their vehicle before the claims period ends.
Recalled Vehicles, warrantyA New Parts Warranty on the parts installed under the recalls, for 10 years from April 14, 2025, covering repair or replacement including labor. It transfers with the vehicle; the recall must be completed to get it.
Paid from the fund before class members$20,093,033 in attorneys' fees and $400,000 in costs (33% of the Settlement Amount in total), and $2,500 to each class representative.

Key dates

  1. Aug 8, 2019 The ZF-TRW airbag control unit lawsuits are combined into one multidistrict litigation in Los Angeles source
  2. May 26, 2022 Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint filed source
  3. Mar 17, 2025 Hyundai-Kia plaintiffs ask the court to preliminarily approve the settlement source
  4. Apr 14, 2025 Preliminary approval order; the class covers owners and lessees as of this date source
  5. Aug 25, 2025 Deadline to opt out or object (passed) source
  6. Sep 29, 2025 Fairness hearing held by Zoom source
  7. Oct 8, 2025 Final approval granted, with $20,093,033 in attorneys' fees and $400,000 in costs source
  8. Apr 8, 2027 Claim deadline source

What the case was about

Compiled by the MrScandal settlements desk from the documents below 路 Desk editor Laima 膾rk拧姆e-Kreicberga 路 Updated Nov 12, 2026

The case is about airbag control units made by ZF-TRW, the electronic module that reads the crash sensors and fires the airbags and seatbelt pretensioners. The class complaint alleged that the units contain a chip, the DS84 ASIC, that is unusually vulnerable to electrical overstress from voltage spikes released in a crash, so the airbags and seatbelts may not work when they are needed. In August 2019 lawsuits against ZF, chipmaker STMicroelectronics and several carmakers, including Hyundai, Kia, Fiat Chrysler, Toyota, Honda and Mitsubishi, were combined into one case before Judge John A. Kronstadt in Los Angeles.

The complaint alleged that the defendants had known about the problem for years, that by 2015 several people had been killed or injured and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration had begun investigating, and that at least nine people had died because of the defect. It said three carmakers had recalled 5.4 million vehicles since September 2016, while two or three times as many affected vehicles were never recalled, and that the recall remedies did not replace the DS84 chip. Plaintiffs argued that buyers overpaid for vehicles that were less safe and worth less than advertised. These are allegations; none was decided in court.

Hyundai recalled certain 2011-2013 Sonatas and 2011-2012 Sonata Hybrids, and Kia recalled certain Forte, Forte Koup, Optima, Optima Hybrid and Sedona models from 2010 to 2013. Later Sonatas, Konas, Velosters and Optimas with the same supplier's unit were not recalled. The court put the Hyundai-Kia class at about 3.7 million vehicles.

Hyundai, Kia and Hyundai Mobis settled for $62.1 million in payments and credits. The settlement agreement says they deny that they committed any violation of law or wrongdoing, and that Hyundai and Kia "firmly believe" the protections added through the recalls, and those already on the unrecalled vehicles, "eliminate any legitimate safety concerns"; the plaintiffs disagree. The court approved the deal on October 8, 2025 and awarded class counsel one third of it. The settlement covers only the claims against Hyundai, Kia and Mobis; the claims against the other carmakers and suppliers in the same litigation are not part of it.

Questions people ask

How much is the Hyundai Kia airbag settlement per person?

Residual payments are up to $350 for a Recalled Vehicle and up to $150 for an Unrecalled Vehicle, shared per capita from what remains after reimbursement claims and costs. Owners of Recalled Vehicles can also be reimbursed for documented out-of-pocket costs of getting the recall done. source

What is the deadline for the Hyundai Kia airbag settlement: March 29 or April 8, 2027?

April 8, 2027. The notice said claims are due within 18 months of final approval and no earlier than March 29, 2027; final approval came on October 8, 2025, and the settlement site now lists April 8, 2027. source

Which cars are in the Hyundai Kia airbag settlement?

2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata and Sonata Hybrid, 2018-2023 Kona, 2022-2023 Kona N, 2019-2021 Veloster, 2010-2013 Kia Forte and Forte Koup, 2011-2020 Optima, 2011-2016 Optima Hybrid, and 2011-2012 and 2014 Sedona sold or leased in the U.S. The VIN lookup on the settlement site confirms a specific car. source

My car was never recalled. Can I still get money?

Yes. Every class member can claim the residual payment, up to $150 for an Unrecalled Vehicle, without any out-of-pocket expenses. Reimbursement of expenses is only for Recalled Vehicles. source

When will Hyundai Kia airbag settlement payments be sent?

After the Effective Date. The administrator says that date depends on whether the final approval is appealed, and residual payments are worked out after all reimbursement claims are paid. source

I sold my Hyundai or Kia. Am I still eligible?

Yes, if you owned or leased a Class Vehicle at any point up to April 14, 2025. The class includes former owners and lessees. source

Status history

  1. Aug 8, 2019 The multidistrict litigation over ZF-TRW airbag control units is created and sent to the Central District of California. source
  2. Apr 14, 2025 Judge Kronstadt preliminarily approves the Hyundai-Kia settlement and orders notice to the class. source
  3. Sep 29, 2025 Fairness hearing held, moved to the afternoon and to Zoom by court order. source
  4. Oct 8, 2025 Final approval granted, starting the 18-month claims period. source
  5. Nov 12, 2026 The settlement site lists the claim deadline as April 8, 2027; the notice had said no earlier than March 29, 2027. source

Documents

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