The Kia and Hyundai Theta II engine class action settlement provides lifetime warranty coverage on the engine short block — with no mileage limit and no expiration date. If your dealer denied your claim, the settlement gives you the legal grounds to fight back.
The settlement (Case No. 8:18-cv-02223) was filed after millions of Kia and Hyundai owners experienced engine failures due to a manufacturing defect in the Theta II engine. Metal debris from the manufacturing process contaminates the engine oil supply, causing premature bearing wear, engine knock, stalling, and engine fires.
The settlement provides two key protections:
Lifetime Warranty on Engine Short Block
No mileage limit. No expiration date. Covers the engine short block assembly including crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, and bearings.
Reimbursement for Past Repairs
The formal reimbursement claim period has closed, but if you paid for an engine repair that should have been covered, consult a consumer protection attorney about your options.
Click your vehicle for a model-specific recall guide and denial help.
2011–2019
Theta II 2.0L / 2.4L GDI
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2011–2019
Theta II 2.0L / 2.4L GDI
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2011–2019
Theta II 2.0L / 2.4L GDI
View guide
2012–2019
Theta II 2.0L GDI
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2014–2019
Nu 2.0L GDI
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2011–2019
Theta II 2.4L GDI
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2013–2019
Theta II 2.0T / 2.4L GDI
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2011–2019
Theta II 2.4L GDI
View guide
Step 1 — Confirm Your Vehicle Is Covered
Use our free KSDS Checker or call Kia Consumer Affairs at 1-800-333-4542 with your VIN. Confirm your model year and engine code match the settlement criteria.
Step 2 — Document the Failure
Get a written repair order from the dealer listing all diagnostic codes (especially P1326), the technician's findings, and the reason for denial. This is your evidence.
Step 3 — Generate Your Response Letter
Use our AI response generator to create a professional appeal letter that cites Case No. 8:18-cv-02223, the specific settlement warranty provisions, and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Step 4 — Submit to Kia Consumer Affairs
Send your response letter to Kia Consumer Affairs (1-800-333-4542) and the dealership's service manager. Request a written response within 10 business days.
Step 5 — Escalate if Needed
If Kia Consumer Affairs upholds the denial, file a complaint with NHTSA at SaferCar.gov and your state's Attorney General consumer protection office. These filings create a paper trail and often prompt Kia to reconsider.
Step 6 — Legal Options
If all else fails, a consumer protection attorney can pursue your claim under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. Many work on contingency — you pay nothing unless you win. The settlement case number and our response letter give them a strong starting point.