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Typically, the person who steals the car receives the majority of the blame for the actual crime. That is no longer the case for Hyundai and Kia, however, as state officials, clients, and attorneys are urging the business associates to take action.
The action comes after a spate of vehicle thefts involving each brand that were sparked by widely popular social media challenges on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms. These challenges typically used the hashtag “Kia Boys.” Usually, the vehicles are employed for fast thrill rides or other criminal activities. The tendency is growing throughout the United States, despite the claims made by social media firms that they remove such content because it violates their regulations.
The majority of the cars being targeted are specific 2010–2021 Kia and Hyundai models with traditional mechanical keys and no key-fob or push-start system. All vehicles produced after 2022, according to the two Korean businesses, are equipped with the technology.
The automakers are currently dealing with multiple class-action lawsuits in various states.
In December of last year, there was the first indication that there might be an issue for Hyundai and Kia. At that time, we announced that both manufacturers had started collaborating with Milwaukee police to offer free steering wheel locks to deter theft of automobiles without immobilizers.
Then, in July, we informed you that the Minnesota Police Department had noted an increase in Kia thefts of more than 1,300% from the previous year. At same time, thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles were also reported to have increased in Grand Rapids, St. Louis, Memphis, Cincinnati, and Columbus. Milwaukee even went so far as to claim that the rise in thefts was “directly caused” by the Korean automakers.
By August, St. Petersburg, Florida police had also noted a rise and had even gone so far as to tweet about the problem. The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that the rash of thefts has sparked a number of lawsuits that claim these cars are just too simple to steal. Hyundai, for its part, claims that beginning in October, a security upgrade will be available for purchase at its dealers.
At least one federal action has been filed against the Korean automakers, and Ken McClain, the lead attorney on 13 claims against Kia and Hyundai, told CBS Chicago that “Kia and Hyundai have known for a long time that their refusal to add an immobilizer put their automobiles at a disadvantage.”
While no automobile can be rendered theft-proof, according to a statement from Kia to the WSJ, thieves are only interested in cars with a steel key and a “turn-to-start” ignition system.
The statement continued, “The majority of Kia vehicles sold in the United States come with a key fob and ‘push-button-to-start’ system, making them harder to steal.
The two Korean manufacturers told CNBC that they are distributing steering wheel locks in an effort to remedy the issue; Hyundai added that it will start selling a “security kit” in October.
In This Article...
Hyundai and Kia vehicles are being stolen quickly by thieves across America.
Some Hyundai and Kia models can be stolen in as little as a minute, and it happens all over the nation.
Why it matters: Owners are currently forced to use a traditional steering wheel lock in order to secure their vehicles due to the widespread issue, which is thought to be caused by design defects in the cars.
- Hyundai advises clients that they must pay for a specialist security kit if they wish to protect their vehicle.
- Starting on October 1, Hyundai automobiles will be able to purchase the equipment—a “starter interrupt and siren” that “targets the technique of entry criminals are using”—for an undisclosed price.
- According to Kia, a security kit is not currently available.
The ignition is made visible when a window is broken and a portion of the steering column’s cover is removed. They use a flathead screwdriver or USB plug to start the car after breaking the ignition cylinder.
- The technique is compatible with Hyundai and Kia vehicles from 2016 to 2021 that employ steel keys rather than push-button start and a fob. According to the automakers, they are focusing on vehicles lacking engine immobilizers, which prevent a vehicle from starting without the proper smart key being present.
- Hussein predicts that damage could cost $2,000–$3,000. He adds that it might take some time to get the car returned because some parts are on backorder as a result of the increasing demand.
The mystery: Authorities connect some of the thefts to a pattern highlighted in a popular Milwaukee-based YouTube video that features interviews with “Kia Boys” members. They show how swiftly they allegedly take the autos.
- According to the Detroit police department, 111 Kias were taken in July and 22 in the first nine days of August. This is an increase from 23 in June and 11 or less in each of the other months of 2022.
- 156 Kia and Hyundai thefts have been reported by Charlotte, North Carolina, police since June 20, a 346% rise from 35 instances during the same period last year.
- Seven of the top 10 most stolen cars in Wisconsin, according to the NICB’s 2021 Hot Wheels report, were Kias or Hyundais. But according to the 2020 study, none of those cars were in the top 10 in the state.
According to court documents and legal firms, automakers are currently facing lawsuits all throughout the country, including two-plaintiff class-action litigation in Iowa, a class-action in Wisconsin, and two class-action actions focusing on Ohio theft victims.
- Automobile owners claim that design flaws that make the vehicles simple to steal are not disclosed. Currently, despite acknowledging the issue, the firms “refuse to remedy them” or “compensate consumers,” according to the Iowa lawsuit.
- All of Hyundai’s vehicles “meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards,” the automaker added. All of the new cars being made have immobilizers, which make them harder to steal.
- The senior editor of VOX ATL in Atlanta asked, “Who on Earth would have believed that a dad-ride like a Kia Soul would have been targeted by teenagers?”
- “It’s [because it’s] popular on social media and simple to do Lamborghinis are a little more difficult to steal.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the fact that Hyundai Motor Group, not Hyundai Motor Co., is the parent corporation of the two brands.
Because of this flaw, Hyundais and Kias are simple targets for theft. Nearly half the automobiles in one community have been stolen, and authorities claim social media is encouraging the thieves.
- A fault with some Kia and Hyundai keys is making the vehicles targets for thieves across the US.
- According to the police, social media challenges on Tik Tok and YouTube motivate criminals to steal the vehicles.
- Steering-wheel locks are one remedy that both Kia and Hyundai are offering in response to the issue.
The reason why Kia and Hyundai cars are being targeted by thieves across the nation, according to law enforcement, is that social media challenges are drawing attention to a flaw in the vehicles.
Some Hyundai cars produced between 2016 and 2021 and some Kia models produced between 2011 and 2021 have a critical flaw that makes them simple targets for theft.
These models, according to The Wall Street Journal, are simpler to steal since they utilize conventional keys and lack a chip that would prohibit them from starting without a key.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office issued a news statement alerting the public about the increase in thefts. The sheriff’s office has received 642 reports of thefts of Kia and Hyundai since July 1, compared to 74 the previous year.
According to the press release, “the increases are thought to be related to the dissemination of videos on social media that illustrate how to start these automobiles without a key.” “Theft appears to be focusing on unoccupied automobiles that need a physical key, not a starter button,” said the police.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch revealed that a trend on Tik Tok and YouTube is instructing individuals how to break into these cars using a screwdriver and a USB charging cord.
The Milwaukee-based “Kia Boyz” group that created the popular videos. Police Chief Jeffrey Norman of the city told the Journal that he first saw the pattern there in 2020, during the pandemic-related closures.
In response, law enforcement increased its visibility, issued warnings, and distributed tools to help secure the cars from theft. Law enforcement authorities are dispensing stickers for vehicles in Cook County, Illinois, and Milwaukee that will enable investigators to follow and halt the vehicles.
The thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in Milwaukee decreased by 22% and 36%, respectively, through the end of August, according to police data obtained by the Wall Street Journal. The publication noted that thefts were 183% greater in the first eight months of 2021 than they were a year earlier.
According to the Post-Dispatch, the St. Louis Police Department received 393 reports of theft and attempted theft for Hyundai vehicles in August and 269 for Kia vehicles. Dan Isom, interim director of public safety, further stated that Hyundai and Kia vehicles accounted for nearly 77% of all the vehicles stolen in that month.
In a letter, city counselor Sheena Hamilton accused the two automakers of putting the city in danger and warned to sue them if they did not do something to address the issue.
Hamilton said in the letter that “Kia and Hyundai’s defective automobiles have generated a public safety catastrophe in the city, endangering the health, safety, and tranquility of all those who live, work, or visit the city.” Your businesses are accountable for reducing the public nuisance your carelessness has caused for the city and its citizens.
A viral video demonstrates how to steal certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles.
The films gave rise to the “Kia Challenge,” which has since taken up across the nation and involves young guys posting footage of themselves committing criminal auto theft.
The issue only affects Hyundai goods manufactured from 2016 to 2021 and Kia products manufactured between 2011 and 2021 that employ a plain metal key to start the car. This exploit does not apply to vehicles with push-button starters and coded key fobs.
Since 1910, when keys were initially added to cars as a security measure, this method of car theft has generally been well-known. Simply explained, any tool that can turn the ignition switch to the “On” position will work to start the vehicle if a burglar can break the lock on the keyway.
Several kids are seen in a video stealing. Kia, take off running on the highway in Minnesota
The nation is in uproar after a popular TikTok video by the infamous “Kia Boys” that demonstrates how burglars may steal vehicles using a USB cord.
Hyundai has a fresh strategy to combat the recent wave of car thefts motivated by social media.
Videos posted online demonstrating how simple it is to start various Hyundai and Kia models with only the tip of a USB wire have sparked thousands of thefts across the nation, with even minors caught snatching cars for joyrides.
A 2021 Kia Forte was stolen from a parking lot in St. Paul, Minnesota, only last Saturday by a gang of four teenagers, ages 14 to 17, who then led police on a highway chase with patrol cars and a helicopter in pursuit.
The trio attempted to escape on foot before being caught after the car crashed as the driver tried to avoid a stop stick that had been placed in the road.
The problem is caused by some vehicles made before the 2022 model year not having an immobilizer system, primarily 2011–2021 Kias and 2015–2021 Hyundais with mechanical key ignitions.
The starter is disabled if the alarm is activated by the Firstech/Compustar security package, which “targets the mode of entry thieves are utilizing to access these vehicles.”
Starting on October 1, Hyundai will sell a security system for the impacted vehicles in dealerships.
Starting on October 1st, Hyundai will start selling and installing the equipment at its dealers for an unspecified cost.