SANTA ANA, Calif.—A settlement was reached in federal court in Santa Ana of litigation brought by Hyundai and Kia car owners over a security weakness in the vehicles that was promoted on social media platforms, the automakers announced May 18.
Thefts of the cars were driven last summer following a TikTok challenge that outlined a way to bypass security features to make it easier to steal the vehicles.
The agreement could be valued about $200 million, but it depends on how many car owners participate in the settlement, which will offer cash for some customers who have theft-related claims. U.S. District Judge James Selna will consider preliminary approval of the settlement in July….