Korean car-maker racing to introduce fix to curtail spate of US social media-fuelled Hyundai and Kia thefts
Hyundai and Kia will begin rolling out a new software fix to end a plague of copycat-style thefts that use a trick first revealed on social media platform TikTok.
According to US industry journal Automotive News, Kia and Hyundai dealers have been notified a fix is on the way that should finally end the much-publicised ‘Kia/Hyundai Challenge’ that has seen cars from both brands stolen in the US by simply hotwiring them using a USB.
Confirming a “compatibility issue involving vehicles equipped with remote start accessories” had been identified, both brands should have a fix available later this month.
An earlier update made changes to the alarm software that required the key to be in the ignition for the vehicle to be turned on.
Another solution included offering North American owners an aftermarket $US170 anti-theft kit that needed fitting by a Hyundai technician at an additional cost.
Despite the high-profile cases, Automotive News says just nine per cent of Hyundai owners and only 11 per cent of Kia owners had received the earlier update.
No data has been released on the uptake of the anti-theft kit.
The number of thefts is claimed to be growing rapidly in the US.
For example, in the US state of Minneapolis, 1900 Kia and Hyundai cars have been reported as stolen so far in 2023 – 18 times the number of cars stolen from both brands during the 2022 calendar year.
In February, the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that thefts relating to the ‘Kia Challenge’ had resulted in 14 crashes and eight fatalities, with that number expected to grow as the number of thefts continue to rise.
Last year, Hyundai Australia told carsales that it was not aware of any incidents of Hyundai vehicles being stolen using a USB as the fitment of an engine immobiliser on new vehicles has been compulsory since 2001.
An immobiliser on new cars is still not a legal requirement in the US.
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Keyword: Hyundai says TikTok theft fix on way