CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke told you both sides agreed to settle a class action lawsuit for $758 million involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles catching fire without being in wrecks.
The federal judge gave preliminary approval to the deal.
[ ALSO READ: Another local Kia owner says his car caught fire without being in wreck ]
The judge still needs to sign off on the settlement for good. Then, Stoogenke is told, checks could start going out as early as January.
Action 9 will keep you posted so you know exactly how to get your money.
Kia sent Stoogenke the following statement about the settlement:
“Kia Motors America (KMA) was notified that the District Court issued an order preliminarily approving a proposed settlement negotiated between the parties. The conditional approval permits KMA to begin notifying class members regarding the terms of the proposed settlement, so they may evaluate its terms and decide whether it makes sense for them to participate. Any payments to class members will proceed after the court grants final approval within a timeframe set by the court.”
“While each claimant should carefully evaluate the terms of the settlement to see whether it is appropriate for their particular circumstances, we believe that the settlement provides an equitable and meaningful resolution and we are pleased that after a rigorous evaluation, the court concluded that the settlement was “fair, reasonable, and adequate.” This resolution is the latest demonstration of Kia’s commitment to vehicle quality and customer satisfaction. It follows a voluntary recall and a broader product improvement campaign to help prevent engine failure, stalling or fires."
“Owners are encouraged to contact Kia Customer Affairs at 800-333-4542 with any questions or concerns related to this matter."
[ ACTION 9: What Kia, Hyundai settlement means for car owners ]
Carrie Judd told Stoogenke her 2012 Kia Sorento had a non-crash fire recently.
She said she parked it in her father’s driveway and went inside.
“The next thing I know, I could smell smoke so I thought I was burning something and then a car alarm went off so we all went outside and that’s when, of course, my car was on fire,” she said. “It started with a circle of fire just right through the center of the hood and, within minutes, it was coming out from under the hood, under the car.”
No one was hurt.
“It was traumatic,” Judd told Stoogenke. “Flames were shooting and things were popping and you don’t know if it’s going to explode or not. It was very scary.”
Vehicles the settlement covers:
- 2011-2019 Hyundai Sonata
- 2013-2018 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
- 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe
- 2014, 2015, 2018 and 2019 Hyundai Tucson
- 2011-2019 Kia Sportage, Sorento and Optima models with 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter GDI engines
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