It comes on the heels of a social media trend that shows people how to steal cars using a USB cord. Certain Hyundais and Kias are being targeted because they’re missing a security feature now standard in their vehicles. The security feature security feature is called an immobilizer.
Are thieves stealing Hyundai and Kia vehicles?
Hyundai and Kia both conceded in statements that thieves are stealing some of their vehicles and said they meet federal safety standards. “It is unfortunate that criminals are using social media to target vehicles without engine immobilizers in a coordinated effort,” Kia said.
Why are Hyundai and Kia being recalled?
April 20 (Reuters) – The California attorney general and the attorneys general of 17 other states on Thursday asked a federal regulator to recall Hyundai and Kia vehicles, saying they are more likely to be stolen because they lack safety features that are standard in other cars.
Is the Hyundai Santa Fe too easy to steal?
2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models, such as the Hyundai Santa Fe, are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age. 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 .
Is a Kia Santa Fe a stolen car?
The vehicles in question, 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models, such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson and the Kia Forte and Sportage, when equipped with turn-key ignitions-as opposed to cars that only require a button to be pushed to start-are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age. Many of these vehicles lack …
Which keyless cars are most stolen?
The likes of the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes E-class and Land Rover Discovery were also among the most stolen cars, underscoring the extent to which thieves are targeting high-end luxury vehicles with keyless entry systems.
What are the most stolen cars?
While black cars are stolen frequently, they are also recovered on a regular basis. The most recovered stolen vehicles are the Honda Accord, Toyota Corolla, Ford F250, Honda Civic, and the Toyota Tacoma. This may seem surprising, but gold vehicles are also a very common color of vehicle to be stolen.
Are keyless cars more likely to be stolen?
An insurer last year examined theft claims data and found that cars with keyless technology are twice as likely to be pinched as those without these features, and criminals are becoming increasingly brazen as more are ditching the cover of darkness to steal vehicles in broad daylight.
How does keyless theft work?
Keyless theft (otherwise known as relay theft) is relatively simple; all it requires is two small boxes of electronics, which thieves can use to open your car in as little as 60 seconds. Crooks will typically work in pairs to commit relay theft, with one holding a relay amplifier, and the other a relay transmitter.
Are luxury cars the easiest to steal?
Yikes! There’s a myth out there that luxury cars are the easiest to steal. We’re not sure if this is entirely the case, especially in Canada and the U.S. Compared to the likes of Toyota, Ford, and Chevrolet, the theft numbers do not compare for BMW.
Are Hyundai reliable cars?
According to RepairPal, Hyundai boasts a reliability rating of 4.0 out of 5.0, ranking 4th out of all 32 car brands. In addition, Hyundai ownership is on the inexpensive side, with only $468 annual repair costs of scheduled and unscheduled repairs. That’s way below the $652 average across all vehicle models.
Is Hyundai A reliable brand?
Hyundai is a reliable brand, often ranking at the top of surveys by the top publications. Consumer Reports has placed the brand in 6th place out of 26 automakers. It ranked just behind Honda, yet fared better than Toyota, Lexus and Mazda.
What is the most reliable car brand?
According to RepairPal, Honda is rated 4.0 out of 5.0, making it the best brand among all car brands. According to the automotive industry, Toyota is the second most reliable manufacturer after Mazda, with the Corolla being the most reliable model. Honda, on the other hand, was ranked last in terms of average reliability.
What are the best Hyundai models?
Certainly one of the best Hyundai models is the Elantra, a midsize sedan and one of the best-selling vehicles of the Asian company. RELATED: 10 Cool Facts About Genesis Motors The first Elantra was released in 1990, retiring its predecessor Hyundai Stellar, which at the time was one of the more affordable brand new cars in the market.
Is Kia more reliable than Hyundai?
Hyundai Kia’s Korean sister-brand, Hyundai, makes cars and SUVs tuned a little more toward comfort than sporty performance. This year both brands moved up four places in the reliability rankings.
Can Kia Telluride be stolen?
Why do people steal Kia Telluride models? While the Ford F-150 is the most stolen vehicle in America and the Honda CR-V is the most stolen SUV, there is a rise among people stealing the Kia Telluride. But it isn’t alone. Thieves are also going after other Kia and Hyundai models.
Are Kia Telluride models stolen?
It’s time to put on our detective hats to help prevent more Kia Telluride models from being stolen. The Kia Telluride is becoming increasingly popular as a target for thieves, and it’s easy to see why. It’s one incredible SUV with limited availability. Why do people steal Kia Telluride models?
Why did a Hyundai & Kia car get stolen?
The reason why such a simple theft worked was because a shocking amount of Hyundai and Kia models lacked engine immobilizers, which meant they didn’t require a key or keyfob present to start the engine. However, Hyundai made engine immobilizers standard on all models starting in 2021, while Kia made them standard in 2022.
Does the 2022 Kia Telluride have anti-theft updates?
The 2022 Kia Telluride has anti-theft updates to make sure it’s safe from criminals. It’s time to put on our detective hats to help prevent more Kia Telluride models from being stolen. The Kia Telluride is becoming increasingly popular as a target for thieves, and it’s easy to see why. It’s one incredible SUV with limited availability.
Does the Kia Telluride have an ignition disable device?
Telluride models are equipped with an ignition disable device that prevents the vehicle from starting if the correct original manufacturer key isn’t used. It seems like the Kia Telluride, and other models like the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Seltos, Kia Soul, Hyundai Santa Fe, and more were being targeted due to the popularity of exploiting a flaw.
What is a car immobilizer system?
An immobiliser is an anti-theft device that will only allow your car to start if it receives the correct code from the car key. This prevents thieves from being able to bypass your car’s ignition system and driving off with the vehicle.
What Is a Car Immobilizer? A car immobilizer system (also known as an engine immobilizer) is a piece of electronic security technology that is designed to deter and inhibit vehicle theft. Its goal is to keep a car from being hot-wired and stolen by someone who doesn’t have the key to start the engine.
What is an engine immobilizer?
The engine immobilizer is a state-of-the-art anti-theft system. When you insert your key into the ignition switch or bring a Smart Key fob into the vehicle, the key transmits an electronic code to the vehicle.
How does an immobiliser work?
An immobiliser is an electronic security device that has been fitted into a car and prevents the engine from running unless the correct key or key fob is present. Factory fitted immobilisers tend to stop the engine from starting if a thief uses a fake key or tries to hot wire the vehicle.
Does my car need an immobiliser?
If your vehicle was made during or after 1998, it’s most likely to have this installed. How does an immobiliser work? An immobiliser is an electronic security device that has been fitted into a car and prevents the engine from running unless the correct key or key fob is present.
When was the first immobilizer invented?
The world’s first-ever immobilizer was as early as 1919. At the time, the driver needed to connect contacts in a certain order, and if the order was wrong when the car was started, an alarm went off. Today’s immobilizer consists of two key parts: a transponder in the ignition key and a receiver in the car itself.
How are thieves stealing Kias?
According to news reports and at least one class-action lawsuit, the most-affected vehicles are Kias made between 2010 and 2021 and Hyundais produced between 2015 and 2021. Thieves typically break a back window to avoid alarms, expose the steering column, and fit a USB-A cable into a matching plug.
Are Hyundai & Kia cars a target for thieves?
Thieves across the United States are eyeing Hyundai and Kia models as easy targets thanks in part to viral social media posts. Essentially, if it’s a modern car from one of those automakers that doesn’t utilize push-button start, they can fire up the car and drive away in less than a minute.
Can a Kia & Hyundai be stolen?
The immobilizer-free Kias and Hyundais could be stolen in a matter of seconds with just a screwdriver and a charging cord. In 2021, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reported a significant increase in car thefts, the majority of the cars stolen being Kias and Hyundais, and a lot of the suspected thieves being too young to drive.
How many Kias were stolen in 2021?
Back in August of 2021, 58 Chicago residents reported having a Kia or Hyundai stolen. In August 2022 that number was up to 601. St. Louis reports that Kias and Hyundais make up 48% of all vehicles stolen this year. Which Kia and Hyundai cars are at risk?
Did TikTok ‘Kia boys’ steal a Kia?
The theft of Kia and Hyundai vehicles nearly tripled this summer. You may be able to trace this trend back to a TikTok video in which the self-named “Kia Boys” showed would-be ne’er-do-wells how to easily steal certain Kia and Hyundai models.
Are 2023 Kias being stolen?
An average of 6 Kias and Hyundais are being stolen each day in Buffalo in 2023. BUFFALO, N.Y.
How many KIAS have been stolen in 2022?
In Buffalo, New York, where a Kia joyride last fall killed four teenagers, Kia thefts went from 55 in 2020 to 275 in 2022, and there were 141 Hyundai thefts, according to the Buffalo News. In Washington, DC, 31 percent of all 393 vehicle thefts in a roughly three-week period in January involved Kias and Hyundais, city police told DC News Now.
Are KIAs and Hyundais easy to steal?
Kias and Hyundais built between 2011 and 2022 are unusually easy to steal. As a result, thefts are spiking. The companies are under pressure to do more to prevent thefts.
What’s going on with Hyundai & Kia thefts in Los Angeles?
As we’ve previously reported, the Cook County Sheriff’s Department has seen a 936% increase in Hyundai and Kia thefts, while they’ve shot up 85% in Los Angeles. The problem has gotten so bad, cities are trying to sue the automakers and groups have pushed social media companies to remove ‘how to’ videos.
Does Kia have a free anti-theft software upgrade?
Both Kia and Hyundai told Insider that in response to the thefts, the companies have introduced a free anti-theft-software upgrade, as Hyundai noted, “to prevent the vehicles from starting during a method of theft popularized on TikTok and other social media.”
What is Kia doing about stolen cars?
Hyundai and Kia Launch Service Campaign to Prevent Theft of Millions of Vehicles Targeted by Social Media Challenge. Hyundai and Kia have developed theft deterrent software for millions of their vehicles that lack an immobilizer and will provide it FREE of charge to vehicle owners.
How much will Hyundai & Kia pay for stolen cars?
The two automakers have agreed to pay an expected $200 million as compensation for customers who had their cars stolen or damaged in ways not covered by insurance. The money will also reimburse Hyundai and Kia owners for any losses due to paying insurance deductibles, higher insurance premiums, or other theft-related losses.
Does the Kia challenge crank up car thefts?
The Kia Challenge social media trend has cranked up car thefts on certain models of Hyundai and Kia models. Hyundai and Kia have issued an update to help protect affected key-to-start vehicles from 2011 to 2022 model years. The update includes a software solution to help stop thieves from taking these cars.
Is Kia a theft-proof car?
Kia acknowledged that “no car can be made completely theft-proof,” but the company is concerned about rising thefts in certain areas. Local media reports show that 66% of all cars stolen in Milwaukee in 2021 were Kias or Hyundais. Older Kia Sportages are targeted in the thefts. Kia The Hyundai Accent is a low-cost vehicle prime for the taking.
Are Hyundai and Kia car thefts on the rise?
Fox 9 , out of St. Paul, Minnesota, also reported an uptick in Hyundai and Kia car thefts. The Twin Cities is experiencing similar spikes in theft, with many occurring in broad daylight and right in front of vehicle owners’ residences. Additionally, Forest Park police in the Cincinnati area have issued official warnings to Hyundai and Kia owners.
Is Kia giving free steering wheel lock?
Hyundai has joined sister company Kia in offering free steering wheel locks to owners of some cars concerned about a spike in thefts. The company will reimburse owners who have paid for a lock out of their own pocket, Bloomberg reports.
Do Hyundai and Kia owners get free steering wheel locks?
Some Hyundai and Kia vehicle owners are able to receive free steering wheel locks as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to combat a recent spate of vehicle break-ins.
Does Milwaukee offer free steering wheel locks?
After a dramatic increase in car thefts in Milwaukee began impacting mostly Kia and Hyundai owners, the two car companies will provide free steering wheel locks to owners for the rest of the year through the Milwaukee Police Department.
Can thieves break into KIA & Hyundai cars en masse?
Thieves have been able to break into certain Kia and Hyundai models en masse, using USBs to start the car. After the trend first took hold over the summer, Hyundai began reimbursing car owners for purchases of steering wheel locks, as well as providing locks to police departments to give away across the country, according to Bloomberg.
Can you jump the steering wheel on a Hyundai?
While the car could still be jumped, the steering wheel is inoperable. The steering wheel lock is available free of charge and will ship directly to owners if they place orders by Dec. 1, 2024. Hyundai has offered similar devices. Copyright 2023 WDRB Media.
Which models have Kia and Hyundai thefts?
Affected vehicles include 2017-2020 Hyundai Elantras, 2015-2019 Hyundai Sonatas, and 2020-2021 Hyundai Venues. Hyundai and Kia have partnered with local law enforcement to provide free steering wheel locks to consumers with affected vehicles.
Are 2015-2019 Hyundai & Kia models more likely to be stolen?
In fact, 2015-2019 Hyundai and Kia models are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of similar age. The reason is many of these vehicles lack some basic auto theft prevention technology included in most other vehicles, even in those years, according to the HLDI.
Do Hyundai & KIAS have theft immobilizers?
The cars lack theft immobilizers, whereby computer chips in car keys and steering columns must recognize each other before the engines will start About 8.3 million Hyundais and Kias dating to the 2011 model year can be stolen easily by using just a screwdriver and a USB cord, creating an auto-theft outbreak across the U.S.
How many Hyundai & Kia thefts are there in New York?
In New York, the Hyundai-Kia theft problem has grown so worrisome that the city held a news conference last month to offer owners devices that can track their vehicles if they’re stolen. Police there reported 966 Hyundai and Kia thefts as of April 30 ‒ nearly seven times the number in the same period of 2022.
Which Hyundai cars are targeted by thieves?
Thieves have targeted lower-trim versions of certain Hyundai Motor Group vehicles, such as Hyundai’s Elantra and Santa Fe, and Kia’s Soul, Seltos and Forte vehicles, according to the HLDI.. In recent years, videos posted to social media have explained how to break into the cars and take them for joyrides.
Does my car have an immobilizer?
You can read your car’s handbook to see if it has a factory-installed immobilizer. This book should have all of the information on your vehicle, including whether or not it is equipped with an immobilizer. If you buy a used automobile, it’s possible that the immobilizer was disabled or removed by a former owner.
Do I need a car immobiliser?
Car immobilisers have been compulsory on all cars made since 1998. If an immobiliser was fitted after this date and at the time of manufacture, it makes it a ‘factory-fitted immobiliser’. If you have purchased a brand new car since 1998, chances are you will have an immobiliser fitted.
How do I know if my car has an immobiliser?
However, if your car was made before that date and you want to check if it has an immobiliser, the easiest way to check is to contact your car’s manufacturer or consult your owner’s manual. Alternatively, you can get your car checked out by a qualified mechanic, who should be able to tell you if it has an immobiliser or not.
Should I buy an aftermarket immobiliser or a factory-fitted car?
Cars with a factory-fitted immobiliser are more secure and usually cheaper to insure, but fitting an aftermarket immobiliser can also lower the cost of your insurance premiums.
What is a Kia immobilizer?
With the immobilizer system, whenever you insert your ignition key into the ignition switch and turn it to ON, it checks and determines and verifies if the ignition key is valid or not. If the key is valid, the engine will start. If the key is invalid, the engine will not start.
What is the Immobilizer or anti-theft system on a Kia?
The immobilizer or anti-theft system verifies that the key used to turn the engine on is the correct one. If the key is not the correct one, this system blocks different actions to prevent the car from starting.
How do I activate the immobilizer system?
To activate the immobilizer system: Turn the ignition key to the OFF position. The immobilizer system activates automatically. Without a valid ignition key for your vehicle, the engine will not start. In order to prevent theft of your vehicle, do not leave spare keys anywhere in your vehicle.
What does an immobilizer / anti-theft system do?
The immobilizer or anti-theft system verifies that the key used to turn the engine on is the correct one. If the key is not the correct one, this system blocks different actions to prevent the car from starting. When this system is activated, a warning light will turn on on the dashboard or instrument panel. Here are some examples:
Why is Hyundai and Kia being sued?
The San Diego City Attorney’s Office sued automakers Hyundai and Kia Friday for allegedly failing to equip their vehicles with sufficient anti-theft technology, which the city says contributed to a recent uptick in car thefts throughout San Diego.
Why did KIA and Hyundai settle a class-action lawsuit?
Terry Chea/Associated Press Kia and Hyundai have agreed to pay about $200 million to settle a class-action lawsuit accusing the manufacturers of producing vehicles that have been especially vulnerable to theft, lawyers for the car owners and the manufacturers said on Thursday.
Why are Hyundai & Kia car theft claims so common?
Among 2015-19 vehicles, theft claims were nearly twice as common for Hyundai and Kia vehicles than all other manufacturers. The reason, the institute said, is likely because both companies sell vehicles that don’t have electronic immobilizers to prevent thieves from driving off with the cars.
