Legal References & Citations

Complete bibliography of legal sources, settlement documents, recall campaigns, and federal warranty law cited throughout this website and in generated responses.

Settlement Agreements
Class action settlement documents for Kia and Hyundai Theta II engine defects

[1] Kia Theta II Engine Settlement

Case: In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II
Case No.: 8:18-cv-02223-JLS-JDE
Court: United States District Court, Central District of California
Date: Final Approval December 2020
Coverage: Kia vehicles with 2.0L and 2.4L Theta II engines (2011-2019)

[2] Hyundai Theta II Engine Settlement

Case: In re: Hyundai and Kia Engine Litigation II
Case No.: 8:18-cv-02223-JLS-JDE
Court: United States District Court, Central District of California
Date: Final Approval December 2020
Coverage: Hyundai vehicles with 2.0L and 2.4L Theta II engines (2011-2019)

[3] Settlement Agreement Terms

Key Provisions:

  • • Lifetime warranty on engine short block (original owner)
  • • 10 years/100,000 miles extended warranty (subsequent owners)
  • • Free engine replacement for confirmed bearing failure
  • • Reimbursement for past out-of-pocket repairs
  • • Rental car coverage during repairs
  • • KSDS software installation requirement
Federal Warranty Law
Consumer protection statutes governing vehicle warranties

[4] Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

Citation: 15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.
Enacted: 1975
Purpose: Federal consumer protection law governing warranties on consumer products

Key Provisions:

  • • § 2302 - Warranty disclosure requirements
  • • § 2304 - Federal minimum standards for warranties
  • • § 2308 - Implied warranty limitations
  • • § 2310 - Remedies and civil actions
View Full Text

[5] FTC Warranty Regulations

Citation: 16 C.F.R. Part 700
Authority: Federal Trade Commission
Purpose: Regulations implementing the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

View Regulations
NHTSA Recall Campaigns
Official safety recall campaigns for Kia and Hyundai Theta II engines

[6] NHTSA Campaign 20V750

Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America
Campaign Number: 20V750
Date: November 2020
Affected Vehicles: 2013-2015 Sonata, 2015-2016 Veloster, 2011-2013 & 2016 Sonata Hybrid
Issue: Engine bearing wear leading to engine seizure and fire risk
Remedy: KSDS software update and engine inspection/replacement

View NHTSA Report

[7] NHTSA Campaign 21V844

Manufacturer: Kia Motors America
Campaign Number: 21V844
Date: November 2021
Affected Vehicles: 2017-2019 Sportage, 2017-2019 Cadenza
Issue: Connecting rod bearing failure leading to engine damage
Remedy: KSDS software update and engine inspection/replacement

View NHTSA Report

[8] Additional NHTSA Recalls

Multiple additional recall campaigns have been issued for Kia and Hyundai Theta II engines. View the complete list on the NHTSA website.

Search All Recalls
Manufacturer Policy Documents
Internal dealer guidance and warranty policy revisions

[9] Hyundai Dealer Best Practice - KSDS Policy Revision

Title: "Service Campaign T3G & Warranty Extensions TXXC/TXXI – Engine Bearing Inspection / Engine Replacement – Dealer Best Practice"
Revised Publication Date: April 15, 2022
Issuer: Hyundai Motor America
Audience: Authorized Hyundai dealerships

Critical Policy Change:

This document removed KSDS as a prerequisite for engine bearing inspection and replacement when the vehicle exhibits:

  • • Abnormal engine noise
  • • No-crank conditions
  • • No-start conditions

Related to connecting rod bearing wear or damage.

⚠️ This is the "smoking gun" document proving KSDS cannot be used to deny warranty coverage for bearing failures.

How to Use These Citations

When communicating with dealerships or manufacturers about warranty coverage, reference these sources using their citation numbers:

Example Citation in Correspondence:

"According to the Theta II Settlement Agreement [1], vehicles experiencing engine bearing failure are entitled to free engine replacement regardless of KSDS installation status. Furthermore, Hyundai's own Dealer Best Practice guidance [9], revised April 15, 2022, explicitly removed KSDS as a prerequisite for bearing-related warranty claims."

Our AI-powered response generator automatically includes appropriate citations from this bibliography in all generated correspondence.