Hyundai, Kia flaws a ticking theft time bomb
A national phenomenon involving the mass theft of certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles has apparently hit home.
The Lowell Police Department recently sent out a warning to residents about a significant increase in motor-vehicle thefts in the city targeting certain models of Kias and Hyundais with known security flaws.
Lowell Police Superintendent Greg Hudon stated in a press release last Friday that from Oct. 1 to April 17, his department has documented and investigated 70 incidents relating to the thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles. February and March saw a dramatic uptick, with 19 incidents in February and 22 in March. Thirteen percent of them occurred in parking garages.
Vulnerable Kia models include Forte, Optima, K5, Rio, Sedona, Sorento, Soul and Sportage manufactured from 2011 to 2021, and Hyundai models of Elantra, Sonata, Venue, Kona, Veloster, Accent, Palisade, Genesis Coupe, Santa Fe and Tucson manufactured from 2016 to 2021.
The Hyundai Santa Fe and Tucson and the Kia Forte and Sportage equipped with turnkey ignitions — as opposed to cars that only require a button press to start — are roughly twice as likely to be stolen as other vehicles of a similar age.
The cars are susceptible to theft due to improperly functioning engine immobilizer devices.
According to Highway Loss Data Institute, an industry group that tracks insurance statistics, electronic immobilizers rely on a computer chip in the car and another in the key that communicates to confirm that the key is authentic and really belongs to that vehicle.
As previously stated, thefts of these Kia and Hyundai models have reached epidemic proportions over the last few years.
A CNN report in January indicated that affected Hyundai and Kia models saw a 10fold increase in thefts in just the past three years, a wildly dramatic increase, thanks in part to a series of social media posts — especially on Tiktok — showing how to steal the vehicles.
Insurance claims covering vulnerable Hyundais and Kias increased more than 1000% from the first half of 2020 to the first half of 2023, according to data from the HLDI.
In the first half of 2020, roughly 1 out of every 1,000 insured Hyundais and Kias were reported stolen, roughly the same average as other makes of cars. But by the first half of 2023, that figure had risen to 11.2 per 1,000, while the theft rate for all other vehicle makes remained about the same.
During the first half of 2023, Hyundai and Kia theft claims were also more than seven times higher than for cars from other manufacturers, according to the HLDI.
Vandalism claims also have soared for these Hyundais and Kias, peaking at three times the rate of other vehicles on the market in the first half of 2023, the HLDI said. The spike was likely the result of failed theft attempts, it added.
The issue has become so prevalent that some auto insurers in certain markets have simply refused to cover these older Hyundai and Kia models, something insurers don’t often do.
Within Lowell’s confines, certain sections of the city have experienced an inordinate number of vehicle break-ins.
“I keep seeing thefts pop up in my district,” City Councilor Kim Scott told the newspaper. She urged residents to be vigilant and practice prevention such as installing the manufacturer security update or a steering wheel anti-theft device.
Scott represents District 5, which includes the neighborhoods of South Lowell, Sacred Heart, The Grove, Ayers City and parts of Back Central and the Lower Highlands.
Lowell Police have urged owners of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in those model years to contact their local dealership to see if they qualify for a free security software update to help keep their vehicles secure.
“These safety upgrades can often be done at little or no cost to the owner. If you are affected by this security threat, please contact your dealership to have the security issue corrected,” Hudon said.
Authorities have been using social media to warn residents about the issue for months, but the thefts have continued.
If you own a Kia or Hyundai manufactured during the listed time frames, contact your local dealership to see if your model needs this software upgrade. Vehicle owners can also contact Kia at (800) 333-4542 and Hyundai at (800) 633-5151 for more information on the software update.
For more information on the free Kia software upgrades, visit Kiatheftsettlement.com/ home.
In the meantime, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers the following common-sense tips to help prevent vehicle theft:
• Take your vehicle’s key with you; do not leave it in or on your vehicle.
• Close and lock all windows and doors when you park.
• Park in well-lit areas if possible.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle, especially if they can be seen from the outside.
For more information on preventing vehicle thefts from the NHTSA, visit nhtsa.gov/vehicle-safety/vehicle-theft-prevention.
Kia and Hyundai owners, it’s time to act, not procrastinate. Your mode of transportation may depend on it.