Class action lawsuit alleging smart fobs made cars easy to steal gets judge’s green light

A class action lawsuit that alleges car manufacturers are responsible for vehicle theft due to security flaws with smart keys has been approved by the Quebec Superior Court.

A judge authorized the class action on Wednesday.

The lawsuit covers Quebec residents who were victims of a theft of one or more vehicles as of May 2, 2021, that were equipped with an electronic key fob (except for one equipped with Ultra-Wide Band technology), and manufactured or imported in Quebec by one of the defendants.

Several manufacturers are named as defendants in the suit, including Toyota Canada, Honda Canada, Hyundai Canada, and Nissan Canada.

• READ MORE: ‘Smart’ keys: Quebecer seeks class-action lawsuit, saying cars are too easy to steal

In an interview last year, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Jean Rheaume, explained that the smart key technology allows thieves to easily hack the signal sent by the device to gain access to the vehicle.

“I’ve seen a video where it can be done in 30 seconds,” he told CTV News.

The Bouchard Avocats law firm is seeking compensatory damages.

More information about the lawsuit is available on the firm’s website.

• Judgment on a motion for authorization of a class action