A 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 โdefective 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.
โEach 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. โMeanwhile, 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.
โZF-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.
ย
Read More Lawsuit & Settlement News:
Penฬafiel Mineral Spring Water Contains Arsenic, Class Action Says
Who Qualifies for the New Jersey Catholic Church Compensation Fund?
Yankee Candle Class Action Says Customersโ Info Sold
Regions Bank Customers May Have Paid Too Much in the Early Mortgage Payoff Process
ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
Top Class Actions is a Proud Member of the American Bar Association
LEGAL INFORMATION IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE
Top Class Actions Legal Statement
ยฉ2008 โ 2024 Top Class Actionsยฎ LLC
Various Trademarks held by their respective owners
This website is not intended for viewing or usage by European Union citizens.
181 thoughts onKia, Hyundai Class Action Alleges Defective Airbags
please add me
i have both a KIA & Hyundai
I own a Hyundai, please add me!
Please keep me informed as our we own a 2014 Sonata. Thank you.
I have a 2014 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid Limited.
How do I know if the airbag is good & please add me to lawsuit.
We purchased a 2017 Sonata Hybrid in February 2017 and have had problems regularly that it will not start and has been in the shop more than it should be. It only has about 6,000 miles on it now in July 2019. Now I read about the airbag problem. Please tell me how to become part of the class action suit. The dealership where we bought the car wonโt even let us on the property anymore since it has been in their shop so much. They even were going to call the police the last time we were there. Hyundai Corporate Customer Service has given us no help at all. All they say is that they donโt have an โexpertโ on hybrid cards available (Hyundai of Bedford, OH). We now have to take our car about 15 miles one way to get it serviced and worked on. Thank you and warn people about Hyundai of Bedford, OH.
Please add me I own a 2015 Hyundai Sonata I drove for my sales job as a result, I have over 141,000 miles on it and I have had fender benders and the airbag never deployed. Maybe I didnโt hit hard enough?
Paid $31,000? Still owe $14,000 on it.
April H. Louisiana
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid (Blue Drive)
Please add me
I have a 2017 sonata how do I become a part of this lawsuit I was never informed about the airbags.
I live in Indiana. In December 2018, I purchased a new 2018 Hyundai Sonata from Oxmoor Hyundai in Louisville, Kentucky.
I have a 2018 Hyundai Sonata. I bought it on 12/26/2018. I now have 4,000 miles on it. Last month the dealership performed the computer software upgrade. Today I got a message: A possible condition with your Engine Control System has been detected with your 2018 SONATA (5NPE34AF7JH626088) on 03/30/2019 at 04:24 pm EST. A full system check is recommended to be done when convenient. The car feels like it is going to die. Is this a common problem?
UPDATE
04/01/2019
Well I just got back in from taking my 2018 Hyundai Sonata to the dealership. They informed me after running some test they were going to have to replace the wiring harness. Thatโll take about a week before they get it. In the mean time they gave me a rental from enterprise which was a 2018 Hyundai Elantra .
UPDATE
04/30/2019
Received a phone call from the service department at Louisville Oxmoor Hyundai about my 2018 Hyundai Sonata. They told me that they replaced the wiring harness and my car was ready to be picked up. I will pick it up tomorrow morning May 1, 2018.
UPDATE
05/01/2019
Returned the Hyundai Elantra rental to Enterprise provided to me by Louisville Oxmoor Hyundai while they replaced the wiring harness in my 2018 Hyundai Sonata.
Enterprise billed Louisville Oxmoor Hyundai $1,050.00 for the thirty day car rental.
My Sonata was ready to roll. I was informed that they had just about cleared the backup of Hyundais that needed the wiring harness replaced after the 953 computer software upgrade, limp-mode episode. They had to replace one engine so far.
My Sonata seems to be running fineโฆโฆ..so farโฆโฆ
Please add me I bought. a 2013 sonata Turbo it was new just a left over in2014.I never was told about the airbags