Class Action Lawsuit Kia: Open Claims and 2026 Status

Case	In re: ZF-TRW Airbag Control Units Products Liability Litigation, Case No. 2:19-ml-02905-JAK (Hyundai-Kia settlement)
Status	Open, accepting claims
Claim deadline	April 8, 2027
Estimated payout	Residual payment of up to $350 for recalled vehicles or up to $150 for unrecalled vehicles, split per capita from what is left of the $62.1 million fund, plus reimbursement of recall-related out-of-pocket costs (receipts or a signed affidavit)
Proof required	No
How to file	File at the official settlement website

Kia America settlement facts, last verified October 31, 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.

Two settlements still pay. Of every class action lawsuit Kia owners have been part of, only the window regulator deal (claims due November 23, 2026, up to $400 per repair) and the $62.1 million airbag control unit deal (claims due April 8, 2027, up to $350 with no receipts for the base payment) accept new claims today. The $145 million theft settlement is approved but unpaid, and the engine cases stopped taking cash claims years ago.

The Open Class Action Lawsuit Kia Owners Can Still Claim

We list the window regulator claim first because its deadline lands about four and a half months before the airbag one. Owners who qualify for both need two separate submissions.

Window regulator: submit a claim by November 23, 2026

Le Beau v. Kia America (No. 8:22-cv-01545) covers owners and lessees of 2016 to 2017 Optimas and 2017 Sportages whose power windows failed. Reimbursement drops with mileage at failure: 100% up to $400 under 35,000 miles, then 80% (up to $320), 60% (up to $240), 45% (up to $180), and 40% (up to $160) past 125,000 miles.

No repair receipts? Current owners and those who still lease can take a $40 service card for a Kia dealership instead, with proof of ownership such as a registration. The deadline to object or submit a request for exclusion passed on October 23, 2026, and the final approval hearing is January 7, 2027. Class members file the claim form at KiaWindowRegulatorSettlement.com; benefits go out only after final approval and any appeals.

Airbag control unit: deadline April 8, 2027

Plaintiffs allege the ZF-TRW airbag control unit, the module that decides when airbags fire, can suffer electrical overstress in a crash and fail to deploy them. Hyundai and Kia deny it but settled, and the court approved the deal on October 8, 2025.

You don’t need any expenses to get paid. Anyone who owned or leased a class vehicle on or before April 14, 2025 can claim the residual payment, which splits what’s left of the fund per capita after reimbursements, capped at $350 for recalled vehicles and $150 for unrecalled ones. Recall costs like rentals, towing, or lost wages are reimbursed separately with receipts or a signed affidavit. The official settlement site has a VIN lookup.

Match Your Model and Year to the Right Settlement

The Optima appears in five separate cases, so older sedan owners often qualify for more than one.

Model	Open now	Closed, frozen, or pending
Optima	Airbag ACU (2011 to 2020); window regulator (2016 to 2017)	Immobilizer (2011 to 2020, frozen); Engine I (2011 to 2019); ABS module (2013 to 2015)
Optima Hybrid	Airbag ACU (2011 to 2016)	Engine II (certain years)
Forte, Forte Koup	Airbag ACU (2010 to 2013)	Immobilizer (Forte 2014 to 2021); Engine II
Sedona	Airbag ACU (2011, 2012, 2014)	Immobilizer (2011 to 2021); ABS module (2006 to 2010)
Sportage	Window regulator (2017)	Immobilizer (2011 to 2022); Engine I (2011 to 2019); Engine II; ABS module
Sorento	None	Immobilizer (2011 to 2022); Engine I (2012 to 2019); Engine II; ABS module
Soul, Rio, K5, Seltos	None	Immobilizer (Soul 2020 to 2022, Rio 2012 to 2021, K5 and Seltos 2021 to 2022); Engine II (Soul)
Cadenza, K900, Stinger	None	ABS module
Telluride, EV6, EV9	None	New 2026 lawsuits, no settlement

Each settlement confirms eligibility by VIN. Some years include only certain VINs.

Every immobilizer-case model may also qualify for the separate multistate theft fund if it was stolen or broken into on or after April 29, 2025, after the free software upgrade. Our Hyundai class action page covers that fund, since both automakers share it.

Why the $145 Million Theft Payout Is Still on Hold

One objector is still fighting the deal. The case (MDL 3052, Central District of California) covers 2011 to 2022 models sold without an engine immobilizer, the chip that stops a car from starting without its key. Judge James V. Selna granted final approval on October 1, 2024, claims closed April 28, 2025, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed on January 8, 2026.

That objector petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on May 26, 2026. On October 6, 2026, the Court sent the petition back for form corrections and allowed 60 days to refile, according to class counsel. Until that runs out or the Court rules, there’s no effective date of the settlement and no payment date. Class members entitled to compensation will be paid under the settlement agreement: up to 60% of Black Book value for a total loss, the greater of $3,375 or 33% of Black Book value for damage, and up to $375 for an insurance deductible. Hyundai owners share this fund, so see our Hyundai page for the same timeline.

When we update this page, the immobilizer case is the one we recheck first, because its status turns on a court filing rather than a calendar date.

Kia Engine Settlement Warranties That Outlived the Claim Deadlines

New cash claims are over, but the extended engine warranties still run. Both cases allege connecting rod bearing failures that can cause engine seizure, stalling, and engine fire:

Engine I: 2011 to 2019 Optima, 2012 to 2019 Sorento, and 2011 to 2019 Sportage with 2.0L or 2.4L GDI engines. Claims were due August 9, 2021. Installing the Knock Sensor Detection System software adds a lifetime warranty.
Engine II: Theta II MPI, Nu GDI, and Gamma GDI engines in 2010 to 2020 Optima Hybrid, Sorento, Sportage, Forte, Forte Koup, and Soul. Most benefits were due April 5, 2024.

Here’s the gap that trips people up: a missed cash deadline doesn’t void the warranty. If a dealer denies an Engine II warranty replacement after an engine failure, you can take it to BBB National Programs arbitration. The ABS module (HECU) settlement closed July 7, 2023, but its warranty covers qualifying repairs for 12 years from original delivery. Our GM class action page and Toyota settlements page cover similar warranty extensions.

Lawsuits Against Kia With No Settlement Yet

These are allegations only, with no certified class and no claim form. An ICCU suit filed September 23, 2026 in Washington says two recalls didn’t fix power loss in the 2022 to 2024 EV6 and 2024 EV9. Telluride suits filed in May and June 2026 in California allege blank instrument clusters (2023 to 2025) and battery drain (2020 to 2026 models). If any settles, notice goes to registered owners; our guide on how to join a class action explains the process, and our Jeep class action page tracks a similar mix of open and early-stage cases.

Questions Owners Ask About These Cases

Is there a class action lawsuit Kia owners can join today?

Yes, two. As of October 31, 2026, the window regulator settlement takes claims until November 23, 2026, and the airbag control unit settlement until April 8, 2027. Each Kia vehicle is confirmed by VIN.

Is the Kia lawsuit still going on?

The immobilizer settlement is approved but unpaid while an objector’s Supreme Court petition, returned for corrections on October 6, 2026, remains unresolved. The 2026 EV and Telluride suits are in early stages.

How can I file a claim with Kia?

You file with the court-appointed settlement administrator, not with the automaker or a dealer. Each case has its own website, and a claim in one doesn’t carry over to another.

Are these settlement payments taxable?

Repair reimbursements usually replace money you spent, so they’re rarely income. Our page on whether settlements are taxable covers the exceptions.

Your Claim Order Before November 23

Find your VIN on the registration or the lower windshield, and keep it handy for every lookup.
If you drive a 2016 to 2017 Optima or 2017 Sportage, file the window regulator claim first, since it closes first.
Run the same VIN through the airbag lookup; former owners who bought or leased before April 14, 2025 count too.
Save each confirmation number and screenshot it, because administrators match questions to that number.

If your car isn’t on either list, check our settlement deadlines list each month, since any new class action lawsuit Kia settles will open its own claim window there.

This page is general information about cases involving Kia, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a licensed attorney.

Class Action Lawsuit Kia: Open Claims, Deadlines, and Payout Status