Hyundai and Kia’s updated software designed to prevent the theft of their vehicles, which was unveiled three months ago, has failed to solve the problem.
Despite efforts by the company to fix the security gap, which made 8.3 million vehicles easier targets for thieves, the number of Hyundai and Kia thefts in the US is increasing.
Police in Minneapolis, Cleveland, St. Louis, New York, Seattle, Atlanta, Grand Rapids, and Denver have reported substantial increases in Hyundai and Kia theft reports year-over-year through April. Videos on TikTok and other social media sites that show how to start and steal Kia and Hyundai models using only a screwdriver and a USB cable have helped the thefts to spread across the country since late 2021.
The most recent nationwide data on Hyundai and Kia thefts will not be publicly available until later this year. Some cities have reported that 60% or more of their auto theft reports now involve Hyundais or Kias.
The company has said they are accelerating the distribution of the anti-theft software but safety authorities have criticized their slow rollout.
The trend of rising thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles is concerning because these automakers have been widely regarded as having advanced security systems compared to other brands. However, criminals have managed to find ways to bypass these systems, indicating that security is still a significant challenge for the industry. The thieves’ ability to defeat the advanced security measures shows that there is still room for improvement.
The rise in vehicle thefts is a significant concern for Kia and Hyundai and the industry as a whole. It poses a threat to customer safety and security, as well as the automakers’ reputation. It also has significant economic consequences, as the cost of replacing stolen vehicles and repairing damaged ones is high.
Automakers and the industry as a whole must continue to invest in advanced security measures and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to address this problem. Additionally, customers should take steps to secure their vehicles, such as using steering wheel locks, car alarms, and GPS trackers. However, unless people are closely following the news, they may not know about the theft issue, which the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration alluded to in addressing this issue, according to the Associated Press.
Ultimately, the vehicle theft issue presents a public safety crisis, as the Minneapolis Police chief explained in talking about how the thefts are overwhelming communities. “Juveniles are joyriding in these stolen models, and when they are caught by police, he said, they’re rarely held accountable for their behavior” by the courts and youth corrections systems. Such cases may eventually lead to more severe crimes.
Source: Associated Press
Hyundai
Kia
