The federal court overseeing this case authorized the Notice to inform you about a class action settlement in a lawsuit known as In re: ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 2:19-ml-02905-JAK. The case is pending before the Honorable John A. Kronstadt in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.

Plaintiffs Larae Angel, Bobbi Jo Birk-LaBarge, John Colbert, Brian Collins, Gerson Damens, Bonnie Dellatorre, Dylan DeMoranville, Joseph Fuller, Tina Fuller, Lawrence Graziano, Michael Hernandez, Kinyata Jones, Diana King, Richard Kintzel, Carl Paul Maurilus, Kenneth Ogorek, Burton Reckles, Dan Sutterfield, Amanda Swanson, and Lore Van Houten (together, the “Settlement Class Representatives”) allege that Hyundai and Kia designed and sold vehicles with a defective ZF-TRW ACU. The ZF-TRW ACU is an electrical component that controls the functions of various safety features, including airbags.

The Settlement Class Representatives allege the ZF-TRW ACUs in the Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles are vulnerable to an electrical overstress condition that can cause the vehicles’ airbags and other passenger safety systems to malfunction during a collision, which may result in airbag non-deployment or other safety failures. See FAQ 2 below for a list of the Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles.

No party has been found liable for any claims alleged in the lawsuit. The Settling Defendants deny all claims and allegations of wrongdoing in the lawsuit. The Court has not decided who is right. Instead, the Parties have agreed to this Settlement to avoid the costs, risk, and delays associated with continuing this complex and time-consuming litigation.

The Notice explains the litigation, the Settlement, and your legal rights and options under it. If you have any questions, please contact the Settlement Notice Administrator at 1-866-287-0740 or HKinfo@ACUSettlement.com

The Class consists of all persons or entities who or which, on April 14, 2025, own or lease, or previously owned or leased, Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles that were originally sold or leased in the United States or any of its territories or possessions.

To check whether you have a Hyundai or Kia Class Vehicle, please enter your Vehicle Identification Number (“VIN”) in the VIN lookup tool.

If you do not know your VIN, please check the driver’s side dashboard and/or driver’s side door post, which will contain the 17-digit VIN for your vehicle. You should take a photo of the VIN with your phone so you have easy access to the number when you’re filing a claim.

Eligibility will be determined by VIN. The Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles are the:

• 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata;
• 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid;
• 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona;
• 2022-2023 Hyundai Kona N;
• 2019-2021 Hyundai Veloster;
• 2010-2013 Kia Forte;
• 2010-2013 Kia Forte Koup;
• 2011-2020 Kia Optima;
• 2011-2016 Kia Optima Hybrid; and
• 2011-2012, 2014 Kia Sedona.

If you are not sure whether you are a Class Member, or have any other questions about the Settlement, please contact the Settlement Notice Administrator at 1-866-287-0740 or HKinfo@ACUSettlement.com

The following entities and individuals are excluded from the Settlement Class:

• Hyundai and Kia, their officers, directors, employees, and outside counsel; their affiliates and affiliates’ officers, directors, and employees; their distributors and distributors’ officers and directors; and Hyundai’s and Kia’s Dealers and their officers and directors;
• Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. and Mobis Parts America, LLC, their officers, directors employees, and outside counsel, and their affiliates and affiliates’ officers, directors, and employees;
• Settlement Class Counsel, Plaintiffs’ counsel, and their employees;
• Judicial officers and their immediate family members and associated court staff assigned to this case;
• Persons or entities who previously released their economic loss claims with respect to the issues raised in the Action in an individual settlement with Hyundai and Kia, with Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd. or Mobis Parts America, LLC, or with any of them; and
• Persons or entities who or which timely and properly exclude themselves from the Class.

For more information, please review the Settlement Agreement.

This Settlement will provide $62,100,100 in payments and credits (the “Settlement Amount”). The Settlement Amount will fund numerous Settlement benefits for eligible Class Members.

The Settlement benefits include:

1. Reimbursement for certain reasonable out-of-pocket expenses related to the Recalls;
2. Residual distribution payments of up to $350 for Recalled Vehicles and $150 for Unrecalled Vehicles for Class Members who submitted out-of-pocket claims or filed a claim for a residual payment, including those who own or lease Unrecalled Vehicles;
3. A New Parts Warranty for the new parts installed pursuant to the Recalls to address potential airbag non-deployment due to electrical overstress for ten (10) years from the date of the Preliminary Approval Order.
4. A robust inspection program.
5. An outreach program designed to increase Recall Remedy completion rates; and
6. A future rental car reimbursement, loaner vehicle, and outreach program.

Hyundai recalled the following Hyundai Class Vehicles in NHTSA Recall No. 18V-137:

• Certain 2011-2013 Hyundai Sonata; and
• Certain 2011-2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

Kia recalled the following Kia Class Vehicles in NHTSA Recall No. 18V-363:

• 2010-2012 and certain 2013 Kia Forte;
• 2010-2012 and certain 2013 Kia Forte Koup;
• 2011-2012 and certain 2013 Kia Optima;
• 2011 and certain 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid; and
• 2011-2012 Kia Sedona.

If you own(ed) or lease(d) one of these Recalled Vehicles you may seek reimbursement for certain reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that you incurred to complete the Recalls, as follows:

• Unreimbursed rental car expenses for a rental car comparable to your Recalled Vehicle, or other transportation expenses you incurred, while awaiting completion of the Recall Remedy from a Hyundai or Kia Dealer;
• Towing charges to a Hyundai or Kia Dealer for completion of the Recall Remedy;
• Childcare expenses incurred while the Recall Remedy was or is being performed on your Recalled Vehicle by the Hyundai and Kia Dealer;
• Unreimbursed out-of-pocket costs associated with repairing ZF-TRW ACUs; and
• Lost wages resulting from lost time from work directly associated with the drop off and/or pickup of your Recalled Vehicle to/from a Hyundai or Kia Dealer for performance of the Recall Remedy.

You must submit a claim by April 8, 2027 to seek reimbursement for your out-of-pocket expenses. After you submit your claim, the court-appointed Settlement Special Administrator will review your claim to verify your out-of-pocket expenses and determine the reimbursement payment you will be eligible to receive. The Settlement Special Administrator’s decisions regarding claims for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses shall be final and not appealable.

For more information about how to submit a claim, please review FAQ 6 below.

You cannot submit a claim for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses if your Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicle has not been recalled due to the ZF-TRW ACU. Hyundai and Kia have not initiated a ZF-TRW ACU recall for following Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles:

• Certain 2011-2013 and all 2014-2019 Hyundai Sonata;
• Certain 2011-2012 and all 2013-2019 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid;
• 2018-2023 Hyundai Kona;
• 2022-2023 Hyundai Kona N;
• 2019-2021 Hyundai Veloster;
• Certain 2013 Kia Forte;
• Certain 2013 Kia Forte Koup;
• Certain 2013 and all 2014-2020 Kia Optima;
• Certain 2012 and all 2013-2016 Kia Optima Hybrid; and
• 2014 Kia Sedona

If you have one of the above Unrecalled Vehicles, you will become eligible to submit a claim for reimbursement of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses if a recall is issued for the ZF-TRW ACU in your Hyundai or Kia Class Vehicle before the Claims Period expires.

Even if there is no ZF-TRW ACU recall for your Hyundai or Kia Class Vehicle, you may still submit a claim for a residual distribution payment under the Settlement. All Class Members may submit a Residual Distribution claim, regardless of whether their Hyundai or Kia Class Vehicle was recalled.  Please review FAQ 11 for more information.

The claims process is easy to complete and will require supporting documentation to show your out-of-pocket expenses, such as a receipt or invoice, or a signed affidavit if you don’t have a receipt or invoice. To submit your claim, please use the Online Claim Form, input your VIN, and fill out the Claim Form.

If you would prefer to submit your Claim Form and supporting documentation by mail, you can download and print forms from the Important Documents page or request a hardcopy form to be mailed to you by calling 1-866-287-0740. For faster claims processing, you should submit your claim online, rather than by mail.

The Settlement Notice Administrator will issue payments for approved out-of-pocket expenses after the Effective Date.

The “Effective Date” will depend on whether there is an appeal of the Court's decision to grant Final Approval to the Settlement.

Please check this website for updates on Settlement payments.

You may submit a claim for out-of-pocket expenses for each Recalled Vehicle you own(ed) or lease(d), as long your out-of-pocket expenses are not duplicative.

For example, if you have two Recalled Vehicles you may submit a separate claim for the expenses you incurred to complete the Recall for each vehicle, but you may not seek reimbursement twice for the same out-of-pocket expense.

Class Members must submit their claims for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses within 18 months of the Final Approval Order. 

The claims deadline is April 8, 2027.

After all out-of-pocket expense payments and other settlement costs have been paid, the remaining funds will be distributed on a per capita basis to each Class Member who (a) submitted out-of-pocket claims, or (b) submitted a claim only for a residual distribution payment.

All Class Members may submit a claim for a residual distribution payment, regardless of whether their Hyundai or Kia Class Vehicle was included in the Recalls.

Residual payments shall be up to $350 for Recalled Vehicles and $150 for Unrecalled Vehicles, unless the Parties agree to higher caps and jointly recommend the higher amount to the Settlement Special Administrator for approval.

If there are any funds remaining in the Settlement Fund after making the payments described in Out-of-Pocket Process section above, and if it is not feasible and/or economically reasonable to distribute the remaining funds to Class Members who submitted claims for a residual distribution payment, then the balance shall be distributed cy pres.

See FAQ 16 below for more information regarding cy pres distribution.

The Settling Defendants shall institute a Settlement Inspection Program to inspect Hyundai and Kia Class Vehicles when (1) a Hyundai or Kia Class Vehicle was involved in a moderate or severe frontal crash and (2) Hyundai or Kia was notified that a ZF-TRW ACU, seatbelt pretensioner, and/or airbag did not deploy as intended.

For more information, please review the Settlement Inspection Program Protocol that is attached as Exhibit 3 to the Settlement Agreement. 

The Settling Defendants will provide a warranty for the new parts installed pursuant to the Recalls (the “New Parts Warranty”). The New Parts Warranty will last for 10 years. The 10-year period of the New Parts Warranty begins on April 14, 2025.

The New Parts Warranty will cover repairs or replacement (including parts and labor) that become necessary due to a defect in a new part installed pursuant to the Recalls. For example, if a problem with a part installed pursuant to the Recalls causes the airbag warning light to illuminate, the New Parts Warranty shall cover the repair or replacement of that part.

A Class Member’s rights under the New Parts Warranty are transferred with the vehicle, which means that the coverage follows the vehicle if it is sold to another owner. Inoperable or junkyard vehicles with a scrapped, rebuilt, or flood-damaged title, vehicles with altered mileage, racing or similarly modified vehicles intended for non-street use or vehicles that are dismantled, crushed, or fire damaged, are not eligible for the New Parts Warranty.

If the ZF-TRW ACUs in Unrecalled Vehicles are recalled in the future, Hyundai and Kia shall extend the New Parts Warranty’s coverage for the parts installed pursuant to that future ZF-TRW ACU recall.

Hyundai and Kia will implement an outreach program designed to increase Recall Remedy completion rates for Recalled Vehicles (the “Outreach Program”).

The Outreach Program is intended to be a program that will adjust and change its methods of outreach as is necessary to achieve its goal of maximizing completion of the Recall Remedy.

The goal of the Outreach Program is to maximize the completion of the Recall Remedy. To do so, Hyundai and Kia will implement various methods of outreach to encourage owners of Recalled Vehicles to complete the Recall, and will evaluate and modify these outreach methods as needed.

The budget for the Outreach Program is $3,500,000. To the extent the Outreach Program expenditures are less than $3,500,000, Hyundai and Kia will deposit the difference into the Settlement Fund for distribution with the residual payments.

Subject to dealer availability, Hyundai and Kia shall provide loaner vehicles to Class Members who, after the Effective Date, seek a Recall Remedy from a Hyundai and Kia Dealer during the Claims Period and request a courtesy loaner vehicle while the Recall Remedy is being performed. Class Members may alternatively submit a claim for reimbursement from the Settlement Fund for reasonable rental car costs if the Class Member does not receive a loaner vehicle.

If there is a ZF-TRW ACU recall for Unrecalled Vehicles, Class Members of such Unrecalled Vehicles may request a courtesy loaner vehicle while the Recall Remedy is being performed or alternatively may submit a claim for reimbursement of reasonable rental car costs from the Settlement Fund during the Claims Period. Hyundai and Kia shall also provide outreach related to any such recalls for the Unrecalled Vehicles.

Hyundai and Kia shall collectively receive a credit of $10,000,000 against the Settlement Amount for providing Future Loaner Vehicles and Future Outreach Programs.

If there are any Settlement funds that remain after paying all eligible claims and other settlement costs, and making all residual distribution payments (as described in FAQ 8, FAQ 9, FAQ 10, and FAQ 11 above), and if it is not feasible and/or economically reasonable to distribute the remaining funds to Class Members who submitted claims, then the remaining balance shall be distributed “cy pres,” which means it is paid to charitable causes that indirectly benefit the Class.

The cy pres recipient(s) in this case, if any, is subject to the agreement of the Parties and Court approval. Please check this website after April 8, 2027 for updates about any cy pres distribution.

In a class action, one or more people called “class representatives” sue on behalf of other people who have similar claims. All these people are known as a “Class” or “Class Members.” When a class action is settled, the Court resolves the issues in the lawsuit for all Class Members, except for those who request to be excluded from (or “opt out” of) the Class. Opting out means that you will not receive benefits under the Settlement. The opt out process is described in FAQ 21 and FAQ 22 below.

If the Settlement becomes final and you do not exclude yourself, you will release the Settling Defendants and the Released Parties from liability and will not be able to sue them about the issues in the lawsuit.

Under the Settlement, you are not releasing and are expressly reserving all rights relating to claims for personal injury, wrongful death, or actual physical property damage arising from an incident involving a Hyundai or Kia Class Vehicle, including the deployment or non-deployment of an airbag.

The Settlement Agreement at Section VII describes the released claims in necessary legal terminology, so read it carefully. 

You can talk to one of the lawyers listed in FAQ 23 below for free or you can, of course, talk to your own lawyer at your own expense if you have questions about the released claims or what they mean.

If you are a Class Member and choose to do nothing, you will not receive certain benefits provided under this Settlement. You will also be bound by all terms of the Settlement, which means you will not be able to start a lawsuit, continue with a lawsuit, or be part of any other lawsuit against the Settling Defendants and the Released Parties about the legal issues in this case.

The deadline to exclude yourself from the Settlement was August 25, 2025 and has passed.

No. If you did not timely submit your request for exclusion or failed to include the required information in your request for exclusion, you will remain a Class Member and will not be able to sue the Settling Defendants and/or the Released Parties about the claims that the Settlement resolves.

If you did not exclude yourself from the Settlement, you will be bound like all other Class Members by the Court’s orders and judgments in this class action lawsuit, even if you do not file a claim.

You will not get money or any other benefits from the Settlement if you excluded yourself. If you excluded yourself from the Settlement, do not send in a Claim Form asking for benefits from the Settlement.

The Court has appointed lawyers from the law firms Baron & Budd, P.C. and Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP to represent you and other Class Members. These lawyers are called “Co-Lead Counsel.” Their contact information is as follows:

If you want to be represented by your own lawyer, you may hire one at your own expense.

The Court awarded the attorneys representing the Class 33% percent of the Settlement Amount (i.e., $20,493,033.30) to compensate them for their attorneys’ fees and costs in litigating this case and securing this nationwide Settlement for the Class. The  Court also awarded each of the Settlement Class Representatives a service award of $2,500 each for their work in this litigation.

The deadline to object to the Settlement was August 25, 2025 and has passed.

Excluding yourself is telling the Court that you do not want to be part of the Class and do not want to receive any benefits under the Settlement or release any of the claims resolved by the Settlement. If you exclude yourself, you have no basis to object because the Settlement no longer affects you.

Objecting is telling the Court that you do not like something about the Settlement, the requested fees, costs, and/or Settlement Class Representative Service Awards. You may object only if you stay in the Class. You do not need to submit a claim to object, but if you object, you must still submit a claim to receive compensation under the Settlement.

The Court held Fairness Hearing on September 29, 2025 at 1:30 p.m. PDT, via Zoom webinar. At this hearing, the Court considered whether the Settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate, and whether to approve the request for attorneys’ fees, costs, and the request for Settlement Class Representative service awards. The Court also considered any objections submitted. The Court granted Final Approval on October 8, 2025.

No, you did not have to come to the hearing. Class Counsel answered any questions the Court may have had.

The Notice summarizes the Settlement. More details are in the Settlement Agreement. You can get a copy of the Settlement Agreement and other documents and information about the Settlement on the Important Documents page. You can also call the toll-free number, 1-866-287-0740 or write the Settlement Notice Administrator at:

Hyundai-Kia Airbag Control Unit Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91478
Seattle, WA 98111
HKinfo@ACUSettlement.com