Hyundai and Kia Car Thefts Jump by More Than 1000% in 3 Years

• Within the final three years, thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles have elevated by greater than 1000% within the US. 
• The development has been linked to viral TikToks exposing a key safety flaw within the vehicles.
• The producers issued software program updates to aim to treatment the scenario, however the thefts have continued.

Thefts of some Kia and Hyundai vehicles have surged within the US lately following a sequence of social media posts that uncovered a key safety flaw within the vehicles.

Within the first half of 2023, theft insurance coverage claims for Kias and Hyundais had been 10 instances greater than within the first half of 2020, CNN reported, citing knowledge from the Freeway Loss Knowledge Institute.

The rise in thefts started after movies went viral on social media exhibiting how some Kia and Hyundai fashions might be hijacked utilizing solely a USB twine, as Enterprise Insider beforehand reported.

Kia fashions from 2011 to 2021 and Hyundai fashions from 2015 to 2021 had been lacking digital immobilizers — an anti-theft machine that makes use of a novel chip in the important thing fob to unlock the automotive.

With out an immobilizer, thieves may simply unscrew the steering column within the vehicles, insert a USB into the ignition, and drive away.

In 2015, 96% of autos from different producers had immobilizers as commonplace, however solely 26% of Kia and Hyundai vehicles did, the Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security (IIHS) mentioned in a report.

The “Kia Problem” movies uncovered this safety flaw to automotive thieves, who posted movies of themselves taking joyrides in stolen autos and who turned referred to as “Kia Boys.”

Hyundai and Kia tried to treatment the scenario early final yr by rolling out free software program updates to greater than 8 million vehicles.

Each firms additionally issued steering wheel locks to affected homeowners, Ars Technica reported.

However, IIHS spokesperson Joe Younger advised International Information that the frequency of theft claims within the US for Kia and Hyundai autos from January to June 2023 was nearly seven instances greater than that for different makes.

Kia and Hyundai didn’t instantly reply to Enterprise Insider’s requests for remark.