New Mexico joins $9M multistate settlement with Hyundai, Kia over vehicle theft vulnerabilities
New Mexico will receive a share of a $9 million settlement with Hyundai and Kia that mandates free anti-theft hardware and restitution for eligible vehicle owners.
The settlement requires free anti-theft hardware for affected vehicles and compensation for some consumers whose cars were stolen or damaged.
Organ Mountain News report
ALBUQUERQUE - New Mexico has joined a multistate settlement securing up to $9 million from Hyundai and Kia over the companies’ failure to install standard anti-theft technology in millions of vehicles, a lapse that officials say contributed to a surge in car thefts nationwide.
Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced the agreement, reached with a bipartisan coalition of 35 attorneys general, which also requires Hyundai and Kia to provide free hardware upgrades designed to prevent further thefts.
Under the settlement, the automakers will make zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors available at no cost to owners and lessees of eligible vehicles, including models that previously qualified only for software updates. The companies will also equip all future vehicles sold in the United States with industry-standard engine immobilizer technology.
The agreement allocates up to $4.5 million in restitution for eligible consumers whose vehicles were stolen or damaged and another $4.5 million in penalties paid to participating states to cover investigative costs.
State officials said Hyundai and Kia omitted engine immobilizers from many vehicles sold in the United States, including New Mexico, making them vulnerable to theft methods that spread widely online. According to one report cited by the states, only 26% of Hyundai and Kia vehicles sold in the U.S. in 2015 included immobilizers, compared with 96% of vehicles sold by other manufacturers.
Consumers will have one year from the date they receive notice from Hyundai or Kia to schedule installation of the ignition cylinder protector at an authorized dealership. State officials urge eligible vehicle owners to make appointments as soon as possible.
Consumers whose vehicles were stolen or targeted after April 29, 2025, despite having received or being scheduled for a software update, may also be eligible to file claims for certain theft-related expenses.
More information and claim details are available at HKMultistateImmobilizerSettlement.com for Hyundai owners and through Kia customer care at customercare.kiausa.com or by calling 800-333-4542.
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