If you've ever had blood work, a diagnostic test, or a lab panel ordered through certain healthcare providers on the East Coast, there's a decent chance your information passed through a company called Centers Laboratory — and that company just confirmed hackers had access to its systems for nearly a week last year, walking away with Social Security numbers, driver's license details, and full medical records for over half a million people.
Here's exactly what happened, who's affected, and what to do about it right now.
What This Settlement Is Actually About
Hyundai and Kia agreed to pay $62.1 million to resolve a lawsuit alleging that certain vehicles were equipped with defective ZF-TRW airbag control units. According to the litigation, these units were vulnerable to something called "electrical overstress," which could cause the airbags and other safety systems to fail to deploy properly during a collision. Hyundai and Kia have not admitted any wrongdoing, but agreed to settle rather than continue fighting the case in court.
Which Vehicles Are Covered
The settlement applies to current and former owners or lessees of specific model years of the following vehicles, provided the vehicle was owned or leased in the U.S. as of April 14, 2025:
- Hyundai Sonata
- Hyundai Kona
- Hyundai Veloster
- Kia Forte
- Kia Optima
- Kia Sedona
Both current owners and people who sold or ended a lease on one of these vehicles years ago can still be eligible, as long as they owned or leased it during the qualifying period.
How Much Money You Could Actually Receive
Eligible class members can claim several types of compensation:
- Up to $350 in residual cash payments for vehicles that already received the recall repair
- Up to $150 for vehicles that were eligible but never had the recall repair completed
- Full reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses tied to the recall, including rental car costs, towing charges, childcare expenses, lost wages, and repair costs
In most cases, no receipts or proof of purchase are required to register a basic claim, though documentation strengthens reimbursement claims for specific expenses.
How to Check If Your Vehicle Qualifies
The fastest way to confirm eligibility is through the VIN lookup tool on the official court-authorized settlement website. Your VIN is typically located on the driver's side dashboard, the door post, your vehicle title, registration, or insurance card. The settlement administrator uses your VIN directly to confirm whether your specific vehicle is part of the covered class.
The Claim Deadline
The court granted final approval to this settlement in October 2025, and claims are being accepted now. Different settlement-tracking sources list slightly different final cutoff dates for submissions, so rather than relying on a single date here, confirm the exact current deadline directly on the official settlement site before you file — but the practical takeaway is the same either way: don't wait, since payments only go out to people who submitted a valid claim before that cutoff.
What Happens After You File
Once you submit a claim, payments are processed and issued after the settlement's final approval and any appeal period has passed. Hyundai and Kia have also committed to a separate multi-million dollar outreach program aimed at increasing recall completion rates industry-wide, alongside a new parts warranty and inspection program for previously recalled vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need proof of purchase to file a claim?
No, in most cases you don't need receipts to register for the basic residual payment. Documentation helps if you're seeking reimbursement for specific out-of-pocket expenses like towing or rental costs.
What if I no longer own the vehicle?
Former owners and lessees are still eligible, as long as they owned or leased an included vehicle during the qualifying period as of April 14, 2025.
Is there a cost to file a claim?
No. Filing a claim in a class action settlement is always free. Be cautious of anyone asking for payment to help you "process" a claim.
How do I know my exact vehicle model qualifies?
Use the VIN lookup tool on the official settlement website rather than relying on the general model list alone, since eligibility depends on specific model years and production details tied to your VIN.
If you've ever owned one of these models, checking your VIN takes less time than it took to read this article — and it's the only way to know for certain whether there's a payment waiting for you.
