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☆ Hyundai and Kia models topped US auto theft rankings last year
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

In all, six of the top 10 most-stolen vehicles in America last year were Hyundai and Kia models. The list included the Kia Soul, Kia Forte, and Kia Sportage. Certain older Hyundai and Kia models made before 2023 are particularly vulnerable to car thieves. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia, and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. More than 1.1 million Kia vehicles nationwide have had anti-theft software installed, according to Kia.

Persons: Kia, Kia Forte, Kia Sportage, ” Kia, James Bell Organizations: CNN, National Insurance, Hyundai, Kia, Chevrolet Silverado, Silverado, Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Ford, Crime Information Center, Data, Hyundai Motor Group Locations: America, United States

☆ My Kia got stolen thanks to a TikTok trend. Here's what I wish I had known before buying this car.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-20 | by ( Morgan Goldwich | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Morgan Goldwich had her 2015 Kia Optima stolen at the end of 2023. Not your average car theftA viral TikTok dubbed the " Kia Challenge " surfaced in 2021, showing how to hijack vulnerable cars with just a USB cord. Kia and Hyundai models manufactured within a specific period — between 2011 to 2021 for Kias and 2015 to 2021 for Hyundais — lack electronic immobilizers. Insurance companies have taken noteDespite my good fortune in finding my car (if you consider having to pay a $1,000 deductible for damages lucky), I'm now faced with the hurdle of dealing with car insurance . When I was first searching for insurance, before my car got stolen, Progressive denied me on this same basis.

Persons: Morgan Goldwich, Kia Optima, —, I'd, it's, TikTok's, Kias, I'm Organizations: Service, TikTok, Kia Boys, Kia, Hyundai, Insurance, State Locations: Kias, Colorado, Hyundais, Colorado Springs

☆ Car theft surged more than 10% in one year. See the most stolen models.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Graham Rapier | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is the most frequently stolen vehicle in the US, a nonprofit says. The nonprofit said it identified the top stolen cars from 2020 to 2022 based on a review of claims per insured vehicle. As you might expect, pricey cars like the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat, which can cost more than $80,000, topped the list. AdvertisementAdvertisementThieves favor the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat the most, stealing it about 60 times more frequently than the average car, IIHS said, landing it a relative claim frequency of more than 6,000. Here's the full list of the most stolen vehicles, according to IIHS: (as a reference point, the average relative claim frequency across all vehicles is 100):

Persons: IIHS, — Organizations: Dodge, Kia, Hyundai, Service, FBI, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

The lawsuits come after thousands of Hyundai and Kia thefts that use a method popularized on TikTok and other social media channels. The cities suing Kia and Hyundai include New York, Cleveland, San Diego, Milwaukee, Columbus and Seattle. Kia and Hyundai vehicles represent a large share of stolen cars in many U.S. cities, according to data from police and state officials. Many Hyundai and Kia vehicles have no electronic immobilizers, which prevent break-ins and bypassing the ignition. In May, the automakers agreed to a consumer class-action lawsuit settlement worth $200 million over rampant car thefts of the Korean automakers' vehicles.

Persons: Edgar Su, Immobilizers, David Shepardson, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Singapore, REUTERS, Rights, Korean, Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp, Hyundai, Kia, Traffic Safety Administration, Insurance Institute, Highway, Data, Thomson Locations: Singapore, New York, Cleveland, San Diego, Milwaukee, Columbus, Seattle, U.S

☆ Opinion | Kia and Hyundai Helped Enable a Crime Wave. They Should Pay for It.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( Farhad Manjoo | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

The homicide rate has dropped significantly over the last year, based on data from 30 American cities. Police departments and city officials point to this: Millions of Kias and Hyundais are ridiculously easy to steal. But Hyundai and Kia, which come under the same South Korean conglomerate, did not install this basic device in somewhere around nine million cars sold between 2011 and 2022. A couple of years ago, videos showing how to hotwire the vulnerable cars began to pop up online. Without going into details, the hack involves jamming a small object into the car’s starter and turning it as if it were a key.

Persons: Jeff Asher Organizations: Criminal, D.C, Baltimore Sun, Police, Hyundai, Kia Locations: Atlanta, Philadelphia , Washington, Chicago , New Orleans, Buffalo, Durham, N.C, United States

☆ New York City files lawsuit blaming Hyundai, Kia for 'spiraling epidemic' of car thefts after 'Kia boys' viral TikTok thefts cause spike in stolen cars
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

New York City joins a growing list of cities and states taking legal action against Kia and Hyundai. New York City has joined a growing list of cities and states to take legal action against Hyundai and Kia. TikTokers have suggested a "hack" to get a Kia or Hyundai car started without the key. In New York City, the suit cited, Kia thefts increased about 241% between 2021 and 2022. Hyundai thefts similarly increased by 179%.

Persons: Kia, Kias, Louis, Hyundais, TikTokers Organizations: Kia, Hyundai, Morning, Progressive, European Union, America, New York Police Department, Mercedes, Apple Locations: York City, New York City, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, Columbus, St, Seattle, New York, Canada

REUTERS/Kim Hong-JiNEW YORK, June 6 (Reuters) - New York City on Tuesday sued Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) and Kia Corp (000270.KS), accusing the South Korean automakers of negligence and creating a public nuisance by selling vehicles that are too easy to steal. The most populous U.S. city joined several other major cities that have sued Hyundai and Kia over the thefts, including Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego and Seattle. In contrast, the city said thefts of BMW, Ford, Honda, Mercedes, Nissan and Toyota vehicles have fallen this year. Last month, Hyundai and Kia reached a $200 million settlement of a consumer class action over the thefts. The case is City of New York v Hyundai Motor America et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Persons: Kim Hong, Hyundais, Kias, Kia, Jonathan Stempel, Chris Reese, Jamie Freed Organizations: Hyundai Motors, REUTERS, Tuesday, Hyundai Motor, Kia Corp, South Korean, Hyundai, Kia, BMW, Ford, Honda, Nissan, Toyota, Court, Southern District of, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, New York City, U.S, Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, San Diego, Seattle, Manhattan, New York, of New York, Southern District, Southern District of New York

☆ 'Public nuisance': New York sues Hyundai and Kia, alleging their cars are easy to steal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-07 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Hyundai Motor Co. vehicles are displayed at the company's Motorstudio showroom in Goyang, South Korea, on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are being sued for causing a "public nuisance," according to a complaint filed in Manhattan federal court. A viral TikTok challenge started in 2021 and spurred a rise in thefts of Hyundai and Kia cars. New York accused the two companies of enabling "this spiraling epidemic" of car thefts. "Making sure cars are not easy to steal protects both property and the public by keeping dangerous drivers in stolen vehicles off the roads," it said.

Organizations: Hyundai, Co, South Korean, Kia, Chicago, CNBC, of, National, Traffic, Administration Locations: Goyang, South Korea, Manhattan, New York City, Angeles, U.S, Southern, of New York . New York

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - Hyundai Motor (005380.KS) and Kia Corp (000270.KS) agreed to a consumer class-action lawsuit settlement worth $200 million over rampant car thefts of the Korean automakers' vehicles, lawyers for the owners and the automakers said on Thursday. In February, the Korean automakers said they would offer software upgrades to 8.3 million U.S. vehicles without anti-theft immobilizers to help curb increasing car thefts using a method popularized on TikTok and other social media channels. The settlement covers about 9 million U.S. owners and includes up to $145 million for out-of-pocket losses for consumers who had cars stolen, lawyers for the owners said. The consumer settlement covers owners of 2011 through 2022 model year Hyundai or Kia vehicles with a traditional "insert-and-turn" steel key ignition system. Other related expenses including car rental, taxi or other transportation costs not covered by insurance are also included by the settlement.

☆ NYC to give out 500 Apple AirTags for residents to put in their cars to combat car theft
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Laura Ly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Some Kia, Hyundai, and Honda models are getting stolen in New York City so often that the Mayor is giving out Apple AirTags to help residents track their vehicles. The city plans to distribute 500 AirTags to residents to place in their cars to combat car thefts in target neighborhoods, New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced at a press conference on Sunday. Adams made the announcement in a Bronx neighborhood that has seen over 200 car thefts this year alone – the highest of any precinct in the city. The Hyundai and Kia vehicles in question include the Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson, and the Kia Forte and Sportage, with 2015-2019 model years. So far this year, the NYPD has recorded thefts of 966 Kia and Hyundai cars – marking an increase of 819 cars since last year, Chell said.

☆ Tiktok-inspired 'Kia Boys' car thefts could be a $600 million problem, according to a new court document
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Jack Newsham | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

In cities across the country, thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles have skyrocketed. Now some drivers are trying to get Kia and Hyundai to pay the tab, saying the security features were illegally lax. And recently, auto insurers made a preliminary estimate of the total cost: $500 million to $600 million. But actually installing the updates in a reported 3.8 million Kias and 4.5 million Hyundais is another story, and state regulators have urged the carmakers to recall the impacted vehicles. She said Hyundai and Kia should move quickly to get a handle on the case and win back public trust.

☆ So many Kias and Hyundais are being stolen using just a screwdriver and a USB cord that 17 state attorneys general are calling for a recall on millions of vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A group of state attorneys general is asking the federal government to recall millions of Hyundai and Kia vehicles. They cite a string of thefts in the last few years, which seem to be inspired by TikTok videos. It is unacceptable that families and communities should be forced to shoulder the cost of Kia's and Hyundai's failures." At least eight deaths and several injuries have been attributed to accidents involving stolen Kias or Hyundais, the letter states. The company also said it has shipped over 47,000 steering wheel locks to thousands of Kia owners, as well as to hundreds of local law enforcement agencies for them to distribute.

CNN —A coalition of attorneys general for 17 states and the District of Columbia on Thursday called for a federal recall of Hyundai and Kia vehicles that they say are unsafe and too easy to steal. “Hyundai and Kia announced that they will initiate voluntary service campaigns to offer software updates for certain vehicles with this starting-system vulnerability. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia, and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. “The bottom line is, Kia’s and Hyundai’s failure to install standard safety features on many of their vehicles have put vehicle owners and the public at risk,” Attorney General Bonta said. The attorneys general’s letter asserts that the ease of theft of these Hyundai and Kia vehicles constitutes a safety hazard and the vehicles fail to meet federal standards for theft prevention.

☆ California, other states seek recall of Hyundai, Kia vehicles over theft
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Doyinsola Oladipo | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) and Kia Corp (000270.KS) vehicles represent a large share of stolen cars in multiple U.S. cities, according to data from police and state officials. While most cars in recent years have been installed with industry standard anti-theft devices, the Korean automakers have no push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices. Hyundai said its vehicles have engine immobilizers that prevent a vehicle from starting unless the correct key or fob is used, making it compliant with federal anti-theft requirements. "These specific models comply fully with all applicable federal standards, a recall is neither appropriate nor necessary under federal law," said Kia in a statement. U.S. theft claims were nearly twice as common for Hyundai and Kia vehicles compared with all other manufacturers among 2015-2019 model-year vehicles, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Highway Loss Data Institute said last year.

☆ Hyundai and Kia thefts trend reached New York City
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —Spikes in car thefts of certain Hyundai and Kia models, a trend that began in the American midwest and was spread by how-to videos on social media, has reached America’s biggest city. About 100 of these particularly vulnerable Hyundai and Kia vehicles were stolen in the month of December alone in New York City, according to New York City Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell. Joy rides on Tik TokThese models became the subject of a viral social media trend in which thieves filmed themselves and others stealing Hyundai and Kia vehicles and taking them for a drive. The New York thefts first began to be noticed in The Bronx, the commissioner said, but soon were also happening in other parts of the city. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia, and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering.

[1/3] The Gateway Arch is seen across from snow covered banks of the Mississippi River during cold weather in St Louis, Missouri, U.S. February 11, 2021. "Big corporations like Kia and Hyundai must be held accountable for endangering our residents and putting profit over people,” said St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones. Many Hyundai and Kia vehicles have no electronic immobilizers, which prevent break-ins and bypassing the ignition. Since May 2022, St. Louis police received more than 4,500 reports of thefts of Kia or Hyundai vehicles. Sixty-one percent of vehicles stolen in St. Louis have been Kias and Hyundais, St. Louis said.

☆ U.S. states urge Hyundai, Kia to do more to tackle theft risk
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-20 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

In Chicago there were over 7,000 thefts of Hyundai and Kia vehicles in 2022 accounting for 10% of Kia and 7% of Hyundai vehicles registered in the city, the letter said. Ellison said in Minneapolis in 2022 Kia and Hyundai vehicle thefts were tied to five homicides and 265 motor vehicle accidents. The free upgrade will be offered for 3.8 million Hyundai and 4.5 million Kia vehicles, the automakers and NHTSA said. Many Hyundai and Kia vehicles have no electronic immobilizers, which prevent break-ins and bypassing the ignition. All Hyundai vehicles produced since November 2021 are equipped with an engine immobilizer as standard equipment.

☆ Kia and Hyundai Thefts Are Soaring — and It's TikTok's Fault
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Britta Lokting | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Lebeau-Chorn and Jenkins are just two victims of an unprecedented surge in car thefts that has swept across US cities in the past two years. The situation has become so critical that two major auto-insurance companies, State Farm and Progressive, have stopped insuring vulnerable Kia and Hyundai models. Safety shortcutsThe TikTok video that sparked the challenge — a how-to reportedly created by user @robbierayyy — exposed a security flaw in Kia models from 2011 to 2021 and Hyundai models from 2015 to 2021. All Kia vehicles are subject to and comply fully with rigorous testing rules and regulations outlined in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards." In Illinois last month, three 13-year-olds were arrested after being seen in a stolen Kia that hit and killed a 71-year-old man.

☆ Kia and Hyundai are rolling out software upgrades for models targeted by a viral challenge that taught people how to steal them
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Kia and Hyundai are rolling out a free anti-theft software upgrade for models targeted by thieves. Eligible car owners are being notified by Kia and Hyundai about how to get the free upgrades. Car owners can deactivate the "ignition kill" feature by unlocking their car with the key fob. Car thefts in Denver have risen by 160% since 2018, and most of the thefts are Kia and Hyundai cars, Denver7 reported. Theft rates for some Kia and Hyundai models are so high that State Farm and Progressive temporarily stopped writing insurance policies for some of the models in some cities last month.

☆ Hyundai and Kia roll out free software patch to keep some cars from getting stolen
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

The vehicles in question, 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models with turn-key ignitions — as opposed to push-button start — are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age. The two South Korean automakers have come up with a software patch to fix the problem, the automakers and NHTSA said Tuesday. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia, and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. The patch will be installed free of charge on vulnerable models, with software that requires an actual key in the ignition to turn the vehicle on. Hyundai will begin providing the software immediately for the most popular — and most frequently stolen — vulnerable models.

☆ Hyundai, Kia offer software upgrade to 8.3 mln U.S. vehicles to prevent thefts
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The free upgrade will be offered for 3.8 million Hyundai and 4.5 million Kia vehicles in the United States, the automakers and NHTSA said. USA Today reported last month that two major insurance companies had stopped offering new policies for Hyundai and Kia vehicles at high risk of theft. Many 2015-19 model year Hyundai and affiliate Kia vehicles have no electronic immobilizers, which prevent break-ins and bypassing the ignition. The initial Hyundai upgrade will cover more than 1 million 2017-2020 Elantra, 2015-2019 Sonata and 2020-2021 Venue model year vehicles. All Hyundai vehicles produced since November 2021 are equipped with an engine immobilizer as standard equipment.

☆ Some Kia and Hyundai models get stolen so often that State Farm and Progressive said they'll no longer insure them in some cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Britney Nguyen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

State Farm and Progressive are temporarily not writing new policies for some Hyundai and Kia cars, per reports. Since 2018, car thefts in Colorado rose by 160%, with Kia and Hyundai cars making up most of the thefts, Denver7 reported. Stolen car claims were almost twice as high for Kia and Hyundai models from 2015 to 2019, according to a report from the Highway Loss Data Institute. Some of the car models use traditional keys and don't have electronic immobilizers in them, meaning people can start the car without a key present. During the pandemic, a trend on TikTok and YouTube went viral teaching people how to hijack some Kia and Hyundai models with a screwdriver and USB charging cord.

☆ Some auto insurers are refusing to cover some Hyundai and Kia models
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-27 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Progressive and State Farm, two of America’s largest auto insurers, are refusing to write policies in certain cities for some older Hyundai and Kia models that have been deemed too easy to steal, according to one of the insurance companies and media reports. The insurance companies did not tell CNN which cities or states were involved. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. Engine immobilizers are now standard on all Kia vehicles, according to a statement by the automaker and the company says it has been developing and testing security software for vehicles not originally equipped with an immobilize. Hyundai said it is providing free steering wheel locks to some police departments around the country to give local residents who have easily stolen Hyundai models.

☆ Kia, Hyundais are easy targets for thieves, insurance data confirms
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In fact, 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of similar age. Hyundai and Kia operate as separate companies in the United States, but Hyundai Motor Group owns a large stake in Kia and various Hyundai and Kia models share much of their engineering. Some videos posted on TikTok showed allegedly stolen Hyundai and Kia vehicles being driven recklessly and even crashing. HLDI’s estimates of theft frequency are based on the number of a given model on the road and the frequency of vehicle theft claims. Kia pointed out the majority of Kia vehicles in the United States have push-button start systems that make theft more difficult.

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