Kia, Hyundai Invest Millions to Stop ‘Kia Boyz’ Thefts
▼ Summary
– Kia and Hyundai will provide free repairs, including a zinc sleeve for the ignition, for roughly 9 million cars (2011-2022 models) lacking anti-theft tech as part of a settlement with U.S. states.
– The settlement, which could cost up to $500 million for repairs, also includes restitution for owners whose cars were stolen or damaged.
– The automakers have pledged to include engine immobilizers, a standard anti-theft device, in all their future vehicles.
– The thefts surged due to the lack of immobilizers, fueled by viral social media videos showing how to steal the cars with a USB cable.
– This follows a prior $200 million class-action settlement and a software update, with the new agreement expanding free physical repairs to millions more vehicles.
In a major move to address a persistent security flaw, Kia and Hyundai are committing hundreds of millions of dollars to provide free anti-theft repairs for millions of vehicles. This action stems from a new settlement with numerous U.S. states, targeting models sold between 2011 and 2022 that lack essential anti-theft technology. The core issue involves the absence of an engine immobilizer, a standard security feature in most modern vehicles that prevents the engine from starting without the correct key. This omission created a vulnerability that was widely exploited, leading to a dramatic surge in thefts.
The automakers will install a simple but effective zinc sleeve around the ignition cylinder of roughly 9 million eligible cars. This physical barrier is designed to thwart the viral “Kia Boyz” method, where thieves used a common USB cable to bypass the ignition and start the car. The repair program, which could cost up to $500 million, is a direct response to the social media-fueled “Kia Challenge” that showcased the easy theft technique, resulting in a national spike in stolen vehicles and associated accidents.
Beyond the hardware fix, the companies have also agreed to provide several million dollars in restitution to owners whose cars were previously damaged or stolen. Furthermore, they have made a binding commitment that all future vehicles will include an engine immobilizer as standard equipment. This settlement expands on previous efforts, including a $200 million class-action lawsuit settlement in 2023 and a subsequent software update. While that software patch helped reduce theft rates, it did not eliminate the problem entirely. The new agreement makes the physical ignition sleeve available free of charge to a much broader range of vehicles, including those that could not receive the earlier software fix.
Officials involved in the case have highlighted the serious consequences of the original design decision. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, whose 2023 investigation led to this week’s settlement, described the chain of events as a “crisis” that originated in corporate boardrooms, spread rapidly across the internet, and culminated in real-world tragedies, including fatal crashes involving stolen cars. This comprehensive settlement aims to finally close a dangerous chapter for affected vehicle owners and restore confidence in the brands’ security standards.
(Source: The Verge)
