Kia, Hyundai Theft-Prone Car Suits Sent to California Courtroom

Kia and Hyundai drivers’ suits alleging that a lack of anti-theft features makes their cars easy to steal will proceed together in the US District Court for the Central District of California, where the automakers are headquartered.

Combining the lawsuits will promote efficiency and prevent inconsistent rulings, the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation said Tuesday.

The suits against Kia America, Inc., Hyundai Motor America Inc., and Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. share common facts and legal issues, the panel said.

There were 16 pending cases in 14 districts when a group of drivers asked the panel to ...