Hyundai, Kia to Provide Free Antitheft Repairs for 9M Vehicles

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced a nationwide settlement on Tuesday requiring automakers Hyundai and Kia to provide free antitheft repairs to millions of their vehicles, following a multistate investigation into the cars' vulnerability to theft.

The agreement, led by Ellison and involving 35 states including California, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, addresses the lack of standard engine immobilizer technology in certain Hyundai and Kia models sold in the United States. These devices prevent engines from starting without the proper key fob signal, a feature the companies included in vehicles sold in Mexico and Canada but omitted widely in the U.S. market. Under the terms, Hyundai and Kia will install a zinc sleeve on eligible vehicles to reinforce the ignition cylinder and deter thieves from breaking it open. The repair program could cost the companies more than $500 million, Ellison said. Additionally, they must equip all future U.S.-sold vehicles with engine immobilizers and provide up to $4.5 million in restitution to owners whose cars were damaged during thefts.

The affected vehicles span model years 2011 to 2022, with approximately 9 million units...