Brigette Honaker ย |ย  July 1, 2019

Category: Auto News

kia airbag in steering wheelA recent Kia, Hyundai class action lawsuit claims that the automakers equipped their vehicles with defective airbags that fail to deploy.

Various Kia and Hyundai vehicles allegedly contain defective airbags manufactured by ZF TRW.

The control units for these airbags reportedly fail to deploy airbags in the event of a crash. The Kia class action claims that this can be deadly if a life-saving airbag does not deploy during a collision.

According to the Hyundai class action, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that around 12.3 million vehicles may be equipped with a defective airbag control unit.

Kia, Hyundai vehicles allegedly equipped with the defective airbags include the 2013 Kia Forte, 2013 Kia Forte Koup, 2013-2019 Kia Optima, 2012-2016 Kia Optima Hybrid, 2014 Kia Sedona, 2013-2019 Hyundai Sonata, and 2013-2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid vehicles.

Kia, Hyundai, and ZF TRW reportedly investigated the defective airbag control units between 2011 and 2015, but failed to inform the NHTSA of the issue until late 2015. Consumers were allegedlynot informed of the issue until 2018 when Kia and Hyundai recalled some of their vehicles.

While the automakers have been hesitant in announcing the defect, there have reportedly been several injuries and deaths. The class action points to an Associated Press article that states that there have been at least four deaths resulting from the airbag defect.

Plaintiff Jennifer Johnson says she purchased a 2014 Hyundai Sonata for $18,000 in 2015. Johnson claims that she received no information about the โ€œdefective and potentially dangerous airbag control unitโ€ and has not had the defective component replaced.

Johnson argues that she and other consumers would not have purchased their vehicles if they had known about the defective airbag control unit. As a result, Johnson says Kia and Hyundai car owners have sustained financial injury.

โ€œEach purchaser or lessee of an affected vehicle paid more than they would have if the truth about the ACU defect had been disclosed to them,โ€ the Kia, Hyundai class action lawsuit argues. โ€œMeanwhile, each Defendant profited from the continued installation of defective parts in new vehicles and the delay in recalling their dangerously defective products.โ€

Johnson also argues that the failure to warn consumers was an intentional move designed to help Kia and Hyundai sell more vehicles. This alleged deception caused consumers to pay for defective vehicles and endanger themselves, according to the Kia, Hyundai class action lawsuit.

โ€œZF-TRW apparently conspired with HMA and KMA to conceal a dangerous and potentially deadly defect that already existed in millions of vehicles in order to continue selling defective parts for installation in new vehicles,โ€ the Hyundai class action lawsuit claims.

In her Kia class action, Johnson seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased or leased an affected vehicle. She also seeks to represent a Class of the same consumers from Tennessee.

The Kia, Hyundai class action lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, exemplary damages, punitive damages, statutory penalties, injunctive relief, equitable relief, restitution, disgorgement, court costs, and attorneysโ€™ fees.

Johnson and the proposed Class are represented by Matthew J. Preusch, Lynn Lincoln Sarko, Gretchen Freeman Cappio, and Ryan McDevitt of Keller Rohrback LLP.

The Kia Hyundai Defective Airbags Class Action Lawsuit is Johnson v. Hyundai Motor America Inc., et al., Case No. 8:19-cv-01292, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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181 thoughts onKia, Hyundai Class Action Alleges Defective Airbags

  1. Laquanda Tomika Wray says:

    My 2013 Kia optima was hit by a driver who ran the light and my chest hit the steering wheel my neck hit the back of the head rest and no air bags frontal or side bags did not depoly. I suffer a myocardial infarction due to the chest hitting the steering wheel

    1. Laquanda Tomika Wray says:

      I just want to know why the airbags in the 2013 Kia Optima did not employ and KIA tell lies, they sent me a letter saying that I did not have a car accident and that I was not injured but I was I have pictures of the car accident they Kia just did not want to investigate

  2. Rayne Poitras says:

    Stinger 2022 โ€“ t-boned drivers side. A ford Raptor ran a stop sign and hit the car at over 80/KM/HR.
    My head hit the passenger side window and my knee and elbow were banged up on the door as well.
    Air bags did not deploy.

  3. Ferras. A says:

    I have a 2017 Kia Optima LX, and 3 Days ago I rear ended a car while traveling on a highway. And the entire front of my car is gone, with visible frame damage, radiator and fans pressed into the engine, headlights, bumper, hood pressed in, and the air bags DID NOT DEPLOY. Can anyone guide me to what I need to do?

  4. Tasha Rosendary says:

    I was in an accident 3 years ago. A lady -boned me and I needed 2 passenger doors. The air bag never deployed. I received neck injuries and disc in neck where damaged. Chiropractor wanted to do surgery on my neck and give me shots but I was way too afraid to have and work done near my spinal core. Today the Airbag light is still onโ€ฆ
    ywav2014@gmail.com

  5. S Lewis says:

    2016 Kia Optima.
    Impact on my car was on drivers side at front tire area.
    I believe car will be totaled.
    No airbags deployed. Not steering wheel nor airbags in seats.
    Daughter driving received injuries/concussion and stitches to head.
    Others in car also received injuries.
    Kia should be held responsible!

  6. Earnest Darrisaw says:

    Add me please I have a 2014 Kia Optima hit a deer the airbag donโ€™t kind out

  7. Earnest Darrisaw says:

    2014 KIA optima class action alleges defective airbag I hit a deer in 2019 head on my front was mess up I was go on 58 mile when a hit the deer my airbag light came on after shot the deer The air came out later on It came out Augusta 13 or 14 2019 I hit the deer July 3 2019 it still at the Bobshop to Augusta 3 2019

  8. Robert. Miller says:

    My father was in an accident with a 2012 hyndia accent air bags did not deploy and seatbelts didnโ€™t work properly now my father is in a coma in the hospital staining 170 stitches in his arm a bruised Hart lacerations to the heart bruising of the brain six broken ribs broken sternum internal bleeding Iโ€™m going to sue the balls off this f****** company showing defective s*** people company is a piece of s*** taking my father from me

    1. Jasmine Derbigny says:

      My dad died from a car accident the air bag never came out as well who do I need to contact

    2. Ms Smith says:

      I received a card telling me that the airbags for our 2011 Sonata will not deploy in the event of an accident. The remedy, โ€œnoneโ€ to do nothing until a later date. My husband died due to a head on collision with a semi. Had the airbags and seatbelts worked as they shouldโ€™ve, heโ€™d still be alive today. Airbags never deployed. He survived just over 30 days. Hyundai remedy card received after his death 2019. Wouldโ€™ve been nice to get that remedy with the first post card, prior to his death. Hyundai killed my husband.

  9. Patrick Pendergast says:

    2021 Kia Sportage โ€“ I was t-boned by a young guy who blew through a stop sign. I was going 50 km/hr and I have no idea how fast he was going but he hit me so hard he spun me almost 180 degrees. I hit my head on the handle above the door, which jammed my neck and twisted my back. If there is a law suit against Kia I would like to know about it. Too many stories about air bags not deploying and Iโ€™m convinced that if mine had deployed I wouldnโ€™t have hit my head and would probably not got hurt as bad as I did.

  10. Leeanne yates says:

    I owned a 2015 KIA RIO I was hit on the right hand front spun into a telegraph pole 2 impacts airbags did not deploy and seat belt did not engage my car was written off and i was sent to hospital

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