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Update:
- A federal judge in California ruled officials from New York, Ohio and Wisconsin can appeal his ruling against Kia and Hyundai’s motion to dismiss negligence claims related to vehicle thefts.
- U.S. District Court Judge James V. Selna denied a motion to stay the case while the 9th District hears those appeals.
- “Beyond their assertion that a stay would ‘save all parties the expense of litigating GE plaintiffs’ claims without the benefit of appellate input,’ defendants do not make a strong enough argument that a stay is warranted pending appeal,” Judge Selna writes in his opinion.
- The multidistrict litigation includes 17 cities and municipalities that claim Hyundai and Kia car thefts take scarce resources from local law enforcement and first responders.
Update:
- Lawsuits from Columbus, Ohio; Milwaukee; and Seattle joined a sprawling multidistrict litigation (MDL) claiming Hyundai and Kia failed to install anti-theft devices in their vehicles.
- The complaints were consolidated into an MDL overseen by a federal judge in California.
- Hyundai and Kia are accused of failing to install engine immobilizers into their vehicles, leaving them vulnerable to theft.
- The cities argue a subsequent rash of vehicle thefts, exacerbated by a TikTok trend showing how to steal the vehicles, forces them to siphon resources from local law enforcement and first responders to address the issue.
- The MDL also includes around 60 consumer lawsuits and complaints from insurers.
Hyundai, Kia car thefts lawsuit overview:
- Who: The city of Cleveland filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America and Kia America Inc.
- Why: Cleveland claims Hyundai and Kia have put public safety at risk by allegedly failing to properly protect their vehicles from being stolen without a key present.
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.
(March 20, 2023)
The city of Cleveland has filed a lawsuit against Hyundai Motor America and Kia America for allegedly failing to ”keep up with the times” by not ensuring the ignitions on their vehicles could not be started without a key present.
Cleveland claims Hyundai and Kia’s alleged failure to properly protect their vehicles’ from theft has led to a “vehicular crime wave” spurred by viral TikTok and news videos showing how easily the Hyundai and Kia vehicles can be stolen.
Hyundai and Kia, meanwhile, made a business decision to forego equipping their vehicles with “common anti-theft technology” in order to reduce their costs and “boost profits,” the Hyundai and Kia lawsuit alleges.
“Hyundai and Kia are nearly unique among automobile manufacturers in failing to install vehicle immobilizers in most of their cars,” the Hyundai and Kia lawsuit states.
Cleveland argues that the rash of vehicle thefts has had a “significant impact” on a number of agencies in its city, including law enforcement operations, emergency services, and public safety.
Kia, Hyundai vehicle thefts problematic for understaffed Cleveland police department, says suit
The vehicular theft issue has also caused problems particularly for the city of Cleveland due to its police department already being under “considerable staffing stress,” the Hyundai and Kia lawsuit alleges.
The city claims the issue with vehicular thefts could be avoided if Hyundai and Kia decided to equip their vehicles with immobilizers, while arguing that the automakers install them in vehicles sold in Canada and Europe since regulations there “expressly require them.”
“It is only in the United States that Hyundai and Kia have decided to trade public safety for profits,” the Hyundai and Kia lawsuit states.
Cleveland claims Hyundai and Kia are guilty of negligence, common law qualified public nuisance, and common law absolute public nuisance.
The city is demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive relief and an order that the alleged conduct constitutes a public nuisance, along with an award of actual and compensatory damages.
Several class action lawsuits were filed against Hyundai and Kia last year by consumers arguing the automakers failed to equip certain vehicles with engine immobilizers that would help prevent theft.
Have you had your Hyundia or Kia vehicle stolen? Let us know in the comments!
The city of Cleveland is represented by Dean Kawamoto, Gretchen Freeman Cappio, Derek W. Loeser, Ryan McDevitt, Alison S. Gaffney, Felicia J. Craick, Zachary Gussin, and Kylie N. Fisher of Keller Rohrback L.L.P.
The Hyundai, Kia car thefts lawsuit is City of Cleveland v. Hyundai Motor America, et al., Case No. 2:23-cv-01713, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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55 thoughts onHyundai, Kia can ask court to consider whether cities can sue over car thefts
My Kia was stolen twice. After the first time I took the car to the dealership and had them to do whatever KIA stated would fix the issue. My car was stolen this morning while locked. I have both keys. I found the car in a ditch totaled. How do I join this lawsuit?
How can i join this lawsuit. I have a 2014 Kia sorento and cannot find liability insurance any cheaper than 600 a month!
Hi, my Hyundai Tucson 2017 was stolen in September 22nd 2022. I would like to join a class action lawsuit, who can I talk about this, thanks.
My 2020 Kia Forte was vandalized on 12/10/22 and they had to wait until April to get the parts to even fix it because so many Kia cars were being vandalized. So when I got my car back I had to pay $1024. Can I be on this lawsuit i just can’t throw money away like this
i FEEL IT IS TERRIBLE THAT tIK tOK ALLOWED SUCH DAMGING INFORMATION EXIST FOR SO LONG. They allowed and enabled criminals to steal. Just like social Media had taken violent events off the Tic Toc website they should not have allowed this type of education of theft exist on their website enabling criminals the knowledge to steal cars of these types. I feel every city that has sold and clients become victims of theft of these cars through the ignition system should be compensated for their damage from both Kia nd Hyundai auto makers but Tic Toc for educating criminals on how to steal these vehicles. Maryland needs to join the list of Hyundai and Kia motors of America in lsuing Tic Tok as well. The list is growing steadily for cities and states around the globe.
We should file a class action against TIKTOK
I had a Hyundai that used to get broken into every other day. Purchased a brand new Hyundai and my insurance was dropped because of theft. I Pau over $200 a month for insurance! Insane!
My Hyundai sonata was broken into multiple times and stolen once in 2022.
Our 2017 Kia Sedona was stolen out of our driveway, the 1st of the year!!! Damages over $5k&over $300, outta pocket for the rental!!! Only way to drive, was how they stole it&on the way back home, My Hubby said police around the corner dealin with another Kia, being stolen!!! WTBux!!! Then was checking to switch from Gieco, to All State… Can’t even do that!!!! This a LOAD of BULL!!!
My 2018 Hynudai Elantra was broken into last night June 26, 2023 in front of my home at 10:30PM. Rear passenger window was smashed and steering column dismantled. They started it with a USB cord. I even had the reccommended security update provided by the Hyundai dealership. The alarm went off once they started the vehicle so they ran away, but my car is still deemed a total loss. Police said there is nothing they can do despite there being full handprints all over the car. Just gave me a case number and said sorry.
Why couldn’t they??? Attempted??? Damaged Property??? RUBBISH!!!
What, why? This is just not right! We the people need to demand more from this bull crap happening to us. I’m sorry – it happened to you. It also happened to me too. I felt so violated, since they went for a speed chase, ruined properties, left drugs in my car & took all my personal belongings out of the inside of my car & trunk, stomped on them, (I believe video taped/recorded the event) & left them in the rain in piles about 30 or so feet away from where they found my car. It triggered PTSD and I went through hell for quite awhile. No restitution has been made but they caught the guy thankfully! I still had to figure out & deal with the rest!
My Kia Soul was stolen out of my driveway on June 1st (4 days AFTER I got a letter from Kia telling me about the social media challenge). They’ve know for a year plus about the problem.
Yeah, the lady didn’t mention NOTHING of the sort, wen we bought ours, last year… I dang sure didn’t know!!! Don’t do Tik Tok or Social Media…