TikTok-Fueled Kia, Hyundai Thefts: MD AG Demands Recall

MARYLAND — Carmakers Kia and Hyundai haven’t done enough to stop the thefts of certain models whose surge has largely been blamed on a TikTok challenge, and federal officials should recall the vehicles, said Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown.

He joined 17 attorneys general in a sending a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that asks the agency to institute a recall of unsafe Hyundai and Kia vehicles made between 2011 and 2022. The officials claim the easily bypassed ignition switches and lack of engine immobilizers make Hyundia and Kia vehicles made in those years particularly vulnerable to theft.

Thursday’s letter calls on the federal government to step in, arguing the vehicles’ systems are out of compliance with federal standards and pose an unreasonable risk to public safety, and the companies have failed to address these safety issues. At least eight deaths have been linked to the theft of the problematic models.

“Car manufacturers failing to adequately address serious public safety concerns is completely unacceptable,” Brown said. “There is a problem with these particular Hyundai and Kia vehicles that puts lives at risk and has even resulted in multiple deaths. These companies must be held responsible for fixing the safety problem without putting the burden to do so on the cars’ owners.”

The letter from the state officials said that between 2011 and 2022, Hyundai and Kia chose not to include anti-theft devices that were a standard feature in most new car manufactured during that period, including the same Hyundai and Kia models sold in Canada and Europe. Hyundai and Kia owners now face unnecessary risk of having their vehicles stolen, as well as struggling to obtain insurance for the affected vehicles.

Local law enforcement have distributed anti-theft devices such as steering wheels locks to owners, but Brown said social media is inundated with videos illustrating how to hotwire these vehicles and challenging others to steal them.

The coalition claims that Kia and Hyundai have not gone far enough in their attempts to remedy their vehicles’ vulnerability to theft. While the companies have offered a software upgrade, this upgrade will not be available for many vehicles until June, and the upgrade can’t be installed in some 2011-2022 models.

In the letter, the states urge NHTSA to take immediate action by instituting a recall of the unsafe Hyundai and Kia vehicles because:

• The vehicles violate federal requirements that vehicles have a starting system that prevents the activation of the engine or motor and steering system when the key is removed;
• The vehicles’ vulnerability to hotwiring and theft has created an unreasonable and well-documented risk to safety on U.S. roads;
• Surging thefts of unsafe vehicles have consumed law enforcement and emergency responder resources; and
• The companies’ response through a phased and voluntary service campaign is insufficient to protect drivers and the public.

According to Business Insider, the original video posted on TikTok showed how to start the unprotected models using a USB charger, leading to the increase in thefts. Those who post videos of themselves stealing the vehicles, use the hashtag “Kia Boys.”

Some U.S. cities saw year-over-year increases in theft of these models of more than 800 percent or even 1,000 percent, according to state officials. For example, Philadelphia saw a nearly 800 percent and 400 percent increase in thefts of Kias and Hyundais. In Chicago, more than 7,000 Kia and Hyundai vehicles alone were stolen in 2022. And in the first three weeks of 2023, Kias and Hyundais made up 44 percent of all car thefts in Washington, D.C., a sharp rise compared to July 2022.

Here are some of the anti-theft devices Hyundai and Kia owners can use to protect against theft:

• Audible and visible devices: These devices, such as a horn alarm, deter theft by bringing attention to an unauthorized attempt to steal or enter a vehicle. Visible devices create a visual threat/warning/deterrence, such as the use of steering-wheel locks, as well as theft-deterrent decals, flashing lights, and window etching.
• Immobilizing devices: These prevent thieves from bypassing a vehicle’s ignition system and hot-wiring the vehicle. Some incorporate computer chips in ignition keys or disable the flow of electricity or fuel to the engine.
• Vehicle recovery systems: These devices use electronic transmission technology that help law enforcement reveal the location of stolen vehicles — and possibly catch the thief in the act.