Hyundai & Kia Are Easy Prey For Thieves, Counted in Most Stolen Cars

According to a group representing the insurance industry, Hyundai & Kia cars are theft at a rate that is almost two times higher than that of the rest of the auto sector because their engines lack "immobilizer" systems, an electronic security feature that prevents the vehicle from being started without the proper key. Viral Videos Showing Theft Hacks After instructional videos appeared on social media, the thefts likely began in the Milwaukee area two years ago and quickly expanded to several Midwest locations as well as as far afield as Colorado and New Mexico. The Highway Loss Data Institute, a division of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, discovered that the car theft claim rate for Hyundais and Kias without immobilizers was 2.18 per 1,000 insured vehicle years. The rate for the remainder of the industry as a whole was 1.21. One car is insured for a full year during an insured vehicle year. The institute evaluated vehicles from the 2015 to 2019 model years before publishing its findings on Thursday. It looked at 2021-era accusations of vehicle theft. Videos show burglars removing the ignition covers from Hyundai and Kia cars, starting them with a screwdriver or USB cord, and then driving off. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper, Hyundai and Kia made up 66% of the 10,476 stolen cars in Milwaukee last year. This year, the city has seen a decrease in the amount of thefts. According to Milwaukee police, there were 6,048 stolen vehicles as of September 12; 58% of them were Hyundai or Kia vehicles. According to the Journal Sentinel, police were able to apprehend one 17-year-old suspect in a viral video regarding Kia thefts by using the video and an anonymous tip. He might spend as much as 22 years behind bars. In remarks, Hyundai and Kia both acknowledged that some of their cars are being stolen but insisted that they adhere to federal safety regulations. It is regrettable that thieves are utilizing social media in a coordinated attempt to target cars without engine immobilizers, according to Kia. Immobilizers were installed in every 2022 Kia either at the beginning of the model year or afterwards. Immobilizers are standard on all Hyundai cars created after November 1, 2021, according to the automaker. According to Kia, company is attempting to prevent thefts by offering free steering wheel locks to owners in the impacted areas. A security package that specifically counters the criminals' techniques will be available for purchase starting in October, according to Hyundai, which is also giving the locks to the local police for distribution to Hyundai owners.