- Thousands and thousands of Hyundai and Kia automobiles might be simply stolen—and hundreds have—on account of a call to not set up engine immobilizers after they have been constructed.
- Widespread TikTok movies challenged folks to attempt to steal a automotive like this, which has led to all types of authorized and monetary hassle for automobile homeowners and the 2 automakers.
- 4 million Hyundai automobiles—affected Elantras, Sonatas, and Venues—can get a brand new software program repair that introduces a workaround immobilizer beginning in the present day. Different affected Hyundais and Kias will get their flip within the coming months.
Thousands and thousands of Hyundai homeowners are about to pay a go to to their native Hyundai dealership because of a bunch of TikTok movies.
The backstory, for those who do not recall, is that somebody found out that some older Kia and Hyundai fashions constructed with a regular key ignition, so not a push-button begin, have been extremely simple to steal and created a TikTok “Kia Problem” encouraging others to strive it. The problem began in Milwaukee earlier than spreading to different components of the U.S. and forcing Hyundai and Kia to reply.
Hyundai began putting in an engine immobilizer in all of its automobiles in November 2021. The corporate’s first huge answer for present homeowners was a $170 safety equipment with an alarm and one essential element that the 2 automakers did not initially construct into the vehicles: a kill swap. The Metropolis of Seattle sued the automakers earlier this 12 months, accusing them of failing to put in enough anti-theft know-how, particularly that immobilizer, within the affected automobiles. Kia didn’t provide the safety equipment however did be part of Hyundai in offering steering wheel locks for free of charge to any affected homeowners in partnership with native legislation enforcement companies.
At the moment, Kia and Hyundai introduced a free, software-based repair for his or her thief magnets. Kia stated the brand new enhanced safety software program will “limit the unauthorized operation of car ignition methods on sure fashions not outfitted with an immobilizer.” For its half, Hyundai stated the improve makes it so {that a} key fob is required to deactivate the kill swap. With out the repair, the automotive might be yours as soon as you’ve got smashed the home windows. Hyundai stated the repair would take sellers lower than an hour to put in. As a bonus to these potential window smashers, every mounted automobile “will probably be affixed with window decals to alert would-be thieves that the automobile is provided with enhanced anti-theft know-how,” Hyundai stated.
2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport.
Not all 2011 to 2022 mannequin 12 months Hyundais with out an engine immobilizer will be capable of accommodate the software program improve. We hope the homeowners of those automobiles get pleasure from their steering wheel locks.
Kia stated its software program could be obtainable within the subsequent few months. Kia homeowners ought to go to the Kia Proprietor’s Portal or name 800–333–4542 to see if their automobile is eligible for the repair.
Hyundai has a two-phase launch schedule for the brand new software program repair, beginning with the 2017-2020 mannequin 12 months Elantra, 2015 to 2019 Sonata, and 2020 and 2021 Venue (that is a 2020 Venue pictured at prime). Hyundai stated this class of its best-selling fashions contains virtually 4 million automobiles. The repair for these automobiles is out there beginning in the present day. Software program for different affected fashions will probably be obtainable in June. Hyundai homeowners ought to go to the Hyundai Anti-Theft web site (fairly a reputation) to arrange a restore, and the automaker can be reaching out to affected homeowners.