Kia, Hyundai Offer Owners Security Kits, Locks After Targeted Car Thefts (2023)

FAQs

What is Kia doing to prevent thefts? ›

ST. LOUIS – As the number of stolen Kia and Hyundai vehicles has increased, new technology is trying to deter thieves before they steal your vehicle. With just a press of a button, a new device called the “Bluetooth Interrupter” stops thieves in their tracks.

“In response to increasing thefts targeting our vehicles without push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices in the United States, Hyundai Motor America has made engine immobilizers standard on all vehicles produced as of November 2021.

All Hyundai and Kia vehicles after Nov. 1, 2021 come standard with the anti-theft immobilizer, so many 2022 models and all 2023 units are safe from the brazen thefts.

If you have a 2016-2021 Hyundai or 2011-2021 Kia model that is started by a key, consider taking the following preventive measures: Purchase a steering wheel lock. These are relatively inexpensive and are an excellent visual deterrent to thieves. Purchase a security kit recently released by Hyundai.

At A Glance

This Alert Affects: Anyone who purchased or leased a 2011-2021 Kia or Hyundai. What's Going On? A lawsuit has been filed alleging that a defect in Kia and Hyundai vehicles makes them easy to operate without a key.

for model year 2011 and 2012 Class Vehicles – $2,000; for model year 2013 and 2014 Class Vehicles – $1,500; for model year 2015 and 2016 Class Vehicles – $1,000; for model year 2017, 2018, and 2019 Class Vehicles – $500.

To file a new claim online, please visit Kia's website at https://ksupport.kiausa.com/ConsumerAffairs/Request/NewRequestThetaClass. You will be asked to provide contact information, information about your Class Vehicle including the VIN and mileage.

With Blue Link®, you can locate your stolen car even sooner. Blue Link® has the ability to provide local law enforcement with your car's exact location and can even immobilize the engine until it's been recovered.

Topping the list of the most stolen cars in America in 2020 is the 2006 Ford F-150. This is the second year the pickup has topped the listing, with over 44,014 units stolen in 2020, 13% higher than in 2019. Pickup trucks are clearly a favorite amongst thieves, especially given their power, reliability and versatility.

If your Kia has been stolen, you can use the UVO app to remotely immobilize your stolen vehicle and track its location. Using the app you can set time, area, idle time, valet alert parameters, and speed limits for your Kia.

How do I know if my Hyundai has an immobilizer? ›

If the head of your key is contained in a plastic housing, or you have a fob with buttons to remotely lock and unlock the doors, your car has an immobilizer.

For example, if you can't find your vehicle in a parking lot, the UVO link connected to the Kia Smart Key System will locate the vehicle quickly for you.

The Car Finder feature is accessed through the MyHyundai with Bluelink Mobile App. This feature allows you to locate your vehicle on a map if your GPS signal is within a 1-mile radius of your vehicle, and gives you the ability to save your vehicle's location for future reference.

You can read your car's handbook to see if it has a factory-installed immobilizer. This book should have all of the information on your vehicle, including whether or not it is equipped with an immobilizer.

Engine immobilizers are now standard on all Kia vehicles, according to a statement by the automaker and the company says it has been developing and testing security software for vehicles not originally equipped with an immobilize.

One of the dangers of joining a class action lawsuit is that you lose the right to file an individual lawsuit if the class action case fails. In addition, you cannot reject a settlement offer to which the class representatives have agreed.

You Own a Kia or a Hyundai

Thefts of Kia's and Hyundai's have skyrocketed because of the Kia challenge. If you own a Kia manufactured between 2011 and 2021 or Hyundai's manufactured between 2015 and 2021, you may see an increase in your rates.

It is extremely rare for class actions to actually proceed to trial – the vast majority are settled, while the rest may remain pending or tangled up in litigation for years. To win a class action lawsuit, therefore, you need to hire the best attorney and put pressure on the company to settle as quickly as possible.

Kia dealerships will provide a free loaner vehicle of comparable value if requested, until repairs are completed. If no loaner vehicle is available, Kia will provide full reimbursement of reasonable rental car expenses up to $40 per day.

Joining a class action can be good if you don't have time to fight a case, but You can count on a significantly reduced settlement after a much longer period of time. We're sure you've heard people talking about how much a class action lawsuit is needed for a particular legal problem.

Is Kia engine settlement real? ›

Hyundai and Kia have settled a class action lawsuit involving defects that caused, or could cause, engine failures and fires in several model year Santa Fe, Soul, Sportage, Sonata Hybrid, Sorento, Optima, Tucson, Elantra, Veloster, and Forte models.

The average time it takes to process a settlement check is between one and six weeks. However, it can take several months for you to receive just compensation. If you hire one of the experienced attorneys from Morgan & Morgan, you should not have to wait six weeks to receive your settlement check.

There are a number of reasons why you may choose not to participate in a class action: If your losses were significantly more than other members of the class. If the facts of your case were different and you are concerned that the class action might not address all your interests.

Class action lawsuit settlements are not divided evenly. Some plaintiffs will be awarded a larger percent while others receive smaller settlements. There are legitimate reasons for class members receiving smaller payouts.

Kia vehicles from model year 2011 to 2021 and Hyundai vehicles from model year 2016 to 2021 are especially vulnerable due to the absence of anti-theft devices that have long been standard for other automakers.

Use a GPS bug detector to scan the inside and outside of your car. They can detect hidden cameras, audio devices, or GPS transmitters–but only if the bug or tracking device is currently transmitting. To use a bug detector, move the instrument slowly around your car.

As a matter of fact, independent statistics indicate that about 70% of car dealerships in the United States already have their vehicles installed with GPS trackers.

The method works on 2011-2021 Kias and 2016-2021 Hyundais that use a steel key, not a fob and push-button start. They are targeting cars that lack engine immobilizers — devices that don't allow the car to start without the correct smart key present, per the automakers.

Affected Hyundai models include certain 2016-21 examples of the Accent, Elantra, Elantra GT, Kona, Palisade, Santa Fe, Sante Fe Sport, Santa Fe XL, Sonata, Tucson, Veloster and Venue. All affected vehicles both use a steel key and lack an engine immobilizer.

Tesla Model S and Model X

The Model S remains not only one of the best electric vehicles on the market but also one of the safest in 2022. A Tesla Model S's owner can track the car's location using a smartphone, perhaps the biggest deterrent to theft.

What is the Kia owners portal? ›

Once signed up, you can see maintenance milestones, book appointments at your preferred dealer, make car payments (if financed by Kia Finance), access vehicle remote connectivity features (if equipped and eligible), digital owner's manuals and more from your connected devices to get info quickly and on demand.

We're talking about certain 2016-2021 Accent, Elantra, Elantra GT, Sonata, Veloster, Venue, Kona, Tucson, Santa Fe, Santa Fe Sport, Santa Fe XL and Palisade models with a physical ignition key and no engine immobilizer. Those with push-button start are not affected.

The truth is that you can file a lawsuit for just about any theft.

Huge Spikes in Car Thefts

All 2011 to 2021 Kia vehicles and 2015 to 2021 Hyundai vehicles (like the 2016 Accent pictured at top) equipped with standard key ignitions that lack an engine immobilizer are vulnerable to theft. Vehicles with a push-button start are not affected.

Any vehicle that has both keyless theft and keyless entry is more vulnerable to theft than a vehicle without either. A large number of new cars have keyless entry either as standard or as an optional extra, and there are thousands of used vehicles already on the road with this technology.

Stolen Vehicle Recovery (SVR) is a Connectivity-based service available for eligible owners through the Kia Connect Ultimate package. Eligible customers can avail this feature by reaching out to the Kia Connect call center and requesting assistance with a stolen vehicle.

Dealer Price $289.97 Your Price $198.00.

Press [Blue Link] > [Location Sharing] > [Menu] > [Delete] on the home screen.

“All 2022 models and trims have an immobilizer applied either at the beginning of the year or as a running change, and all Kia vehicles meet or exceed Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

To deactivate the immobilizer system

Change the ENGINE START/STOP button to the ON position.

Why are thieves targeting Kia cars? ›

The "Kia Boyz" challenge, as its called, has thieves targeting certain models of 2010-2021 vehicles by makers Kia and Hyundai that use a mechanical key for access instead of a key fob or push-to-start access. The thieves are reportedly taking advantage of a design flaw in those vehicles.

Kia vehicles from model year 2011 to 2021 and Hyundai vehicles from model year 2016 to 2021 are especially vulnerable due to the absence of anti-theft devices that have long been standard for other automakers.

And the automakers say they're not to blame for any of it. Thieves have learned how to steal the cars using USB cords in ignitions built without immobilizers, which prevent engines from starting without computer chips in keys. In St. Louis County alone, almost 1,000 Kias and Hyundais have been stolen so far this year.