A bug in Hyundai and Kia cars makes them an easy target for car thieves: these cars are stolen more often than others

Thieves are looking for Kia and Hyundai cars all over the country. Law enforcement officers say that this is due to a flaw, because of which the car is very easy to steal. Writes about it Business Insider.

Photo: IStock

Some Kia models made between 2011 and 2021 and Hyundai models made between 2016 and 2021 have an issue that makes them easy to steal.

According to The Wall Street Journal, these models are easier to steal because they use traditional keys. Cars don't have a chip that prevents them from starting when there is no smart key in the car.

Officials from the Cook County Sheriff's Office warned people of an increase in thefts. Since July 1, they have received 642 Kia and Hyundai theft reports, up from 74 a year earlier.

“This increase is believed to be due to the proliferation of videos on social media demonstrating how to start these vehicles without a key,” the press release said. “Thieves are targeting cars that require a physical key, not a start button.”

According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch, there's a trend on Tik Tok and YouTube to teach people how to break into these cars with a screwdriver and a USB charging cable.

The viral videos came from a group called the Kia Boyz from Milwaukee. The city's police chief, Jeffrey Norman, said he first noticed the trend in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Law enforcement officers took action: increased their presence, warned people and handed out devices to help protect cars from theft. In Milwaukee and Cook County, Illinois, law enforcement officers are handing out car stickers that allow investigators to see the location of the car.

Kia and Hyundai car thefts in Milwaukee were down 22% and 36%, respectively, by the end of August, according to police data obtained by the Wall Street Journal. On the contrary, in the first eight months of 2021, there were 183% more thefts than a year earlier.

In August, the St. Louis Police Department received 393 reports of theft and attempted theft of Hyundai vehicles and 269 reports of theft of Kia vehicles. This is 77% of all stolen cars this month.

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City Councilor Sheena Hamilton blamed the automakers for endangering the city and argued that the auto companies would be sued if they didn't help solve the problem.

“The malfunctioning Kia and Hyundai vehicles have created a public safety crisis in the city, endangering the health, safety and tranquility of everyone who lives, works or visits the city,” Hamilton said. “Your companies have a responsibility to mitigate the public unrest that your negligence has created for the city and its residents.”

Automakers offer steering wheel locks

Representatives from Hyundai Motor America and Kia America have raised concerns about car theft. Both stressed that both companies' vehicles "meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards."

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“In order to assist customers with older vehicles without an immobilizer, Hyundai has supported and will continue to support local police departments to make steering wheel locks available to Hyundai owners,” a company spokesperson said.

He said that the factory has a security kit that will protect against theft. It will be available from October 1st.

“Although no car can be protected from theft, criminals are looking for cars equipped exclusively with a steel key,” a spokesman for Kia Insider said.

He noticed that the company provided steering wheel locks free of charge to law enforcement in cities heavily affected by theft.

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