Open for claimsAuto defectHyundai and Kia airbag control unit settlement
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Eligible current and former owners or lessees of certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles can submit a claim by April 8, 2027. The settlement offers reimbursement of qualifying recall expenses and possible residual payments of up to $350 for recalled vehicles or $150 for unrecalled vehicles. Residual payments depend on remaining funds and are not guaranteed.
The class includes people and entities who owned or leased an eligible vehicle on or before April 14, 2025. Vehicles must have been distributed for sale or lease in the United States, including its territories and possessions. The administrator checks the vehicle identification number (VIN) and ownership eligibility.
The $62.1 million settlement value includes payments and credits, rather than an entirely cash fund for claimants. It resolves allegations concerning ZF-TRW airbag control units that could be affected by electrical overstress. Hyundai, Kia and the other settling defendants deny wrongdoing. The court granted final approval on October 8, 2025.
Key facts
- Total settlement value
- $62.1 million in payments and credits
- Potential residual payment
- Up to $350 recalled / $150 unrecalled, if funds remain
- Expense reimbursement
- Verified, reasonable, unreimbursed recall expenses
- Claim deadline
- April 8, 2027
- Ownership cutoff
- Owned or leased on or before April 14, 2025
- Covered market
- Vehicles distributed for sale or lease in the U.S., territories and possessions
- Final approval
- October 8, 2025
- Case
- In re: ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, No. 2:19-ml-02905-JAK-JPR (C.D. Cal.)
Official settlement administrator: JND Legal Administration
Evidence for key facts
These excerpts record what official sources said when checked. Open a fact to see its source and supporting passage. Follow the source for the latest information.
Claim statusChecked
You must complete a Claim Form by April 8, 2027 to seek any monetary compensation under this class action Settlement.
Amended claim formPage 1, filing instructions
Claim statusChecked
For the reasons stated in this Order, the Motion is GRANTED.
October 8, 2025 final approval orderPage 25, conclusion; dated October 8, 2025; final approval grant on page 19
Who qualifiesChecked
all persons or entities who or which, on the date of the Preliminary Approval Order, own or lease, or previously owned or leased, Subject Vehicles distributed for sale or lease in the United States or any of its territories or possessions.
Settlement agreement with amended vehicle exhibitSection II.A.7, PDF page 9; amended Exhibit 2 page 56 lists eligible vehicles
Who qualifiesChecked
Did you own or lease the vehicle on or before April 14, 2025?
Amended claim formPage 3, ownership type; a No response is explicitly ineligible
Who qualifiesChecked
2011 and certain 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid; and
Amended claim formPage 3, current recalled vehicle list; consistent with amended agreement Exhibit 2
Payment and benefitsChecked
“Settlement Amount” means the total sum of $62,100,100.90. The Settlement Amount includes the $10,000,000.00 credit set forth in Section III.H.3 and the $3,500,000 budget set forth in Section III.G.
Settlement agreement with amended vehicle exhibitSection II.A.41, PDF page 14
Payment and benefitsChecked
The funds that remain after all out-of-pocket expense payments and all other payments listed in Section III.A.3 have been made shall be distributed on a per capita basis to all Class Members who submitted out-of-pocket claims and to all Class Members who registered for a residual payment only. Residual payments shall be up to $350.00 for Recalled Vehicles and $150.00 for Unrecalled Vehicles unless Plaintiffs and Hyundai and Kia agree to higher caps and jointly recommend the higher amount to the Settlement Special Administrator for approval.
Settlement agreement with amended vehicle exhibitSection III.C.1, PDF page 20
Payment and benefitsChecked
The Settlement Special Administrator will confirm the Recall Remedy has been performed on the Subject Vehicle for each Out-of-Pocket Claim by assessing any repair orders or invoices submitted by the claimant in support of the claim, or by way of any confirmatory data that may be available to the Settlement Special Administrator.
Claims Review ProtocolPage 4, Step 6; eligible expense categories in footnote 7, pages 3–4
Proof requirementsChecked
If you seek reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses related to the Recalls (see pages 4-5): please submit copies of documentation to verify your expenses.
Amended claim formPage 1, documentation; page 4 describes supporting records and possible alternative proof
Proof requirementsChecked
if you provide the Unique ID from your Postcard or Email Notice on this Claim Form, you do not need to provide further documentation at this time;
Amended claim formPage 1, residual-only claims; remaining paragraph permits requests for ownership documentation if no ID or unverifiable information
Claim deadlineChecked
Under the current schedule, your electronic claim must be submitted by April 8, 2027. If you submit a paper Claim Form, it must be postmarked or emailed no later than April 8, 2027
Amended claim formPage 1, claim submission; no exact cutoff time or timezone stated
Claim deadlineChecked
the deadline to submit a Registration/Claim Form is April 8, 2027, which is eighteen (18) months from the date of the Final Approval Order of the Settlement Agreement.
Claims Review ProtocolPage 1, Step 1
Proof requirementsChecked
Please enter the Unique ID and PIN from the Postcard or Email Notice you received to file your Claim.
Live official online claim entryHidden internal browser live entry; no credentials entered; see local portal-browser-check.json
Payment and benefitsChecked
The Out-of-Pocket Claims Process shall be used to pay for Class Members’ reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the Recalls, unless and until the balance of the Settlement Fund falls below $10,000,000.00.
Settlement agreement with amended vehicle exhibitSection III.B.1, PDF page 18
Who qualifies
- You must be a person or entity who owned or leased an eligible vehicle on April 14, 2025, or had previously owned or leased it by that date. Selling the vehicle does not automatically exclude a former owner. The vehicle must have been distributed for sale or lease in the United States, its territories or possessions.
- Listed Hyundai models are 2011–2019 Sonata, 2011–2019 Sonata Hybrid, 2018–2023 Kona, 2022–2023 Kona N and 2019–2021 Veloster. Listed Kia models are 2010–2013 Forte and Forte Koup, 2011–2020 Optima, 2011–2016 Optima Hybrid, and 2011–2012 or 2014 Sedona. Model and year alone do not establish eligibility: check your VIN on the official site.
- Recall expense reimbursement currently applies to certain 2011–2013 Sonata, certain 2011–2012 Sonata Hybrid, 2010–2012 and certain 2013 Forte or Forte Koup, 2011–2012 and certain 2013 Optima, 2011 and certain 2012 Optima Hybrid, and 2011–2012 Sedona vehicles. The administrator verifies recall status and completion of the recall remedy.
- Eligible owners of unrecalled class vehicles may register for residual payments. Their vehicles would need to become subject to a qualifying recall before the claims period ends to qualify for recall expense reimbursement.
- Excluded are Hyundai, Kia and specified officers, directors, employees, outside counsel, affiliates, distributors and dealers; the Mobis defendants and specified personnel and affiliates; settlement and plaintiffs’ counsel and employees; assigned judicial officers, their immediate families and associated court staff; people or entities who individually released these economic-loss claims; and valid opt-outs. Read the official class definition for the exact exclusions.
How to file a Hyundai or Kia airbag settlement claim
- 1
Check your VIN and ownership
Use the official settlement website’s VIN lookup to confirm your vehicle is included. Gather your notice, if you received one, and records showing you owned or leased the vehicle on or before April 14, 2025.
- 2
Choose the benefits you are claiming
You may seek qualifying recall expense reimbursement, register only for a possible residual payment, or both. Expense claimants may also qualify for a residual payment without filing a separate residual-only claim.
- 3
Gather expense and ownership records
For recall expenses, include receipts, invoices, statements or other supporting evidence. Lost wages and childcare need reliable documentation. For a residual-only claim with a verified notice ID, additional documents may not be needed at filing, but the administrator can request ownership or lease proof.
- 4
Complete one form per VIN
The official online portal asks for the Unique ID and PIN from your postcard or email notice. Call 1-866-287-0740 if you do not have them. The official downloadable claim form also permits filing without a Unique ID, subject to verification. Complete the requested information and certification.
- 5
Submit by April 8, 2027
Submit your electronic claim by April 8, 2027. A paper form must be postmarked or emailed no later than that date. Mail it to Hyundai-Kia Airbag Control Unit Settlement, c/o JND Legal Administration, PO Box 91478, Seattle, WA 98111, or email it to HKinfo@ACUSettlement.com. Keep a copy and respond to any requests for supporting information.
What the $62.1 million amount includes
The agreement values the settlement at $62,100,100.90. The final approval order identifies a $48,600,100.90 fund plus $13.5 million in program funding and credits retained by the settling defendants. Court-approved fees, administration and other costs reduce money available for claim payments. The headline settlement value is not an amount divided equally among vehicle owners.
The agreement provides for recall expense reimbursements unless and until the Settlement Fund balance falls below $10 million. Approval of a claim and the applicable settlement conditions determine any payment; no payment is guaranteed by filing alone.
Official filing and VIN tools
The official filing-instructions page links the online portal and the downloadable amended form. The portal is https://hyundaikia.acusettlement.com/ and the VIN lookup is https://hyundaikia.acusettlement.com/lookup. ClaimBee is an independent reference; JND Legal Administration handles notices and claims.
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Frequently asked questions
How much can I receive?
Eligible claimants can receive approved reimbursement of reasonable recall-related expenses. A separate residual payment may be available from money left after reimbursements and other authorized costs: normally up to $350 for a recalled vehicle or $150 for an unrecalled vehicle. Those are caps, not promised amounts. The parties may seek approval for higher caps; actual payments depend on remaining funds and valid claims. The agreement’s expense-reimbursement process operates unless and until the Settlement Fund balance falls below $10 million.
What expenses can be reimbursed?
Covered categories are reasonable unreimbursed rental or transportation costs while awaiting the recall remedy, towing to a dealer for the remedy, childcare during the repair, qualifying ZF-TRW airbag control unit repair costs, and lost wages directly associated with dropping off or collecting the vehicle for the remedy. The administrator verifies recall completion and expenses. Unrelated repairs, buying another vehicle, personal injuries and property damage are not covered by this expense process, and previously reimbursed expenses cannot be claimed again.
Can I file without receipts?
A residual-only claim with a verified notice ID may not require additional documents initially. Without an ID, or if information cannot be verified, the administrator may request ownership or lease records showing your name, VIN and relevant dates. Expense claims require support; a form can initially be submitted without documents, but alternative proof may be required and unverified expenses can be denied. This is not an unconditional no-proof settlement.
What if I do not have a Unique ID or PIN?
The live online claim entry requires both credentials from your notice and directs people without them to call 1-866-287-0740. The downloadable amended form allows the Unique ID field to be left blank. Follow the official paper or email filing instructions and be ready to provide ownership or lease proof.
Why does an older notice mention March 29, 2027?
The original notice used a provisional deadline based on the expected approval schedule. The current amended claim form and Claims Review Protocol expressly state April 8, 2027, which is 18 months after the October 8, 2025 final approval order. Use the administrator’s current deadline and check for later updates.
Are all 2012 Kia Optima Hybrids recalled vehicles?
No. The amended vehicle exhibit and current claim form list 2011 and only certain 2012 Optima Hybrids as recalled. Other eligible 2012 vehicles fall in the unrecalled category. The administrator’s VIN records determine the applicable category and benefits.
When will I be paid?
No guaranteed payment date has been established here. Reimbursement payments depend on approval of the claim and the settlement’s effective-date conditions. Residual payments come from funds left after expense reimbursements and other authorized payments. Final court approval by itself does not establish that all appeals are over or that payment has been scheduled.
What else does the settlement provide?
It includes a qualifying inspection program, outreach, certain prospective loaner or rental benefits, and a warranty for new parts installed through covered recalls. For existing recalls, the warranty runs for 10 years from April 14, 2025. If an unrecalled vehicle is recalled later, coverage for new parts installed through that recall runs for 10 years from the future recall date. Separate conditions and exclusions apply; this does not cover every airbag repair or vehicle expense.
Sources and official records
Consult these records for the official terms and current updates. ClaimBee's summary helps explain the settlement; the administrator and court documents determine the claim requirements and benefits.
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