Kansas To Receive $71K-plus in AG settlement with Hyundai, Kia
As a result of the settlement, Hyundai and Kia will offer free hardware fix for all affected vehicles that will thwart further thefts and protect public safety.
TOPEKA – (Dec. 17, 2025) –Attorney General Kris Kobach announced today that Kansas, along with attorneys general from 34 states, has reached a settlement with automobile manufacturers Hyundai and Kia over their sale of millions of vehicles nationwide that lacked industry-standard, anti-theft technology. This failure resulted in an epidemic of car thefts and joy riding across the country that continues to threaten public safety. Under the settlement, Hyundai and Kia have agreed to:
Equip all future vehicles sold in the United States with industry-standard, engine immobilizer anti-theft technology;
Offer free zinc-reinforced ignition cylinder protectors to owners or lessees of eligible vehicles, including vehicles that previously were only eligible for the companies’ software updates;
Provide up to $4.5 million in restitution to eligible consumers whose cars are damaged by thieves; and
Pay $4.5 million to the states to defray the costs of the investigation.
Kansas will receive $71,427.88 for the costs of the investigation. Significant consumer restitution will allow Kansas consumers to drive a vehicle that will no longer be a target for criminals. Almost 48,000 of these vehicles were sold in Kansas.
Hyundai and Kia chose not include anti-theft “engine-immobilizer” technology in millions of their vehicles sold throughout the United States, including in Kansas. An engine immobilizer prevents thieves from starting a vehicle’s engine without the vehicle’s “smart” key, which stores the vehicle’s electronic security code. Hyundai and Kia were slow to respond to the crisis, waiting until 2023 to launch a service campaign to update the software.
Eligible consumers will have one year from the date of notice from the companies to make an appointment to have the ignition cylinder protector installed at their local Hyundai or Kia authorized dealerships. Attorney General Kobach urges consumers to schedule the installation of the ignition cylinder protector as soon as possible.
In addition, consumers who previously installed the software update on their vehicles (or were scheduled to do so) but nonetheless experienced a theft or attempted theft of their vehicle on or after April 29, 2025, are eligible to file a claim for restitution for certain theft and attempted-theft related expenses. For more information about eligibility and how to submit a claim for compensation from Hyundai or Kia, please visit the following website as soon as possible: