TikTok-Fueled Car Thefts: Kia And Hyundai Don't Do Enough To Protect Owners, PA AG Says

PENNSYLVANIA — State Attorney General Michelle A. Henry joined attorneys general in 22 other states in a sharply-worded letter to Kia and Hyundai, telling them they haven’t done enough to stop the thefts of certain models whose surge has largely been blamed on a TikTok challenge.

The thefts have not only left some car owners vulnerable but have led to deadly crashes and some insurers have even stopped providing coverage for the models in question. And several police departments in the Keystone State have issued warnings to drivers, or offered free wheel locks to residents with certain year models, as certain communities saw a more than 150 percent increase in thefts since 2019.

Many of the Kia models manufactured from 2011-2021 and Hyundais made from 2015-2021 lack the electronic immobilizers that tell the car something other than a key has been inserted in the ignition in an attempt to turn over the engine. Immobilizers are standard equipment on most other vehicles made during that time.

“Your companies made the choice not to include anti-theft immobilizers as
standard equipment in many of your vehicle models sold in the United States,” the letter from the attorneys general said, noting that this was during a period where other manufacturers were doing this.

Describing the surge in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles as “truly shocking,” the letter said that recent public service campaigns from the companies fall short of a full recall and are “less than what is called for under the circumstances.” The measures announced by the automakers included warning stickers, longer alarms and a software upgrade.

These vehicles are also targeted by thieves to use to break through walls in smash-and-grab robberies, according to local police reports that informed the letter. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, at least 14 crashes and eight fatalities have been linked to the trend.

One of the most deadly crashes that may be linked to the viral TikTok challenge was in Buffalo, New York. Last fall, four teenagers were killed in a high-speed crash of a stolen Kia.

At the time, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia told reporters the teens may have been participating in a TikTok challenge, which police nationwide have attributed to an increase in the thefts of these vehicles.

According to 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” (also spelled "Boyz").

Police in Upper Southampton Township and Abington are among Pennsylvania departments offering free wheel locks for Hyundai and Kia drivers amid the theft trend.

Some U.S. cities saw year-over-year increases in theft of these models of more than 800 percent or even 1000 percent, according to the letter. For example, Philadelphia saw a nearly 800 percent and 400 percent increase in thefts of Kias and Hyundais. Related article — TikTok Trend To Blame For Spike In Philly-Area Car Thefts

A data visualization by USA Facts shows Kia and Hyundai thefts have been rising in several other Pennsylvania communities since 2019, including Cheltenham, Ridley, Pottstown, Norristown, Bensalem, Monroeville, and Bristol. The number of vehicles taken in Cheltenham, for instance, has increased 212 percent since 2019.

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.

The skyrocketing thefts have made it hard for some owners to get insurance — and in states where it’s required, that means some Hyundai and Kia owners can no longer drive their cars.

Through police departments, the companies have distributed steering wheel locks, but “more needs to be done so that every current owner can obtain one of these devices at no cost as soon as possible – especially those owners whose cars are not compatible with the software upgrade you recently announced,” the letter said.

Hyundai said it had arranged with a third-party firm to manufacture a glass-break anti-theft add-on kit, which retails for around $170 before installation, that can be installed by dealers and others. Referring to Hyundai's solution, the attorneys wrote, “we are aware of no information that your companies have invested in delivering these kits to vehicle owners in need at reduced or no cost.”

Software upgrades won’t be available until June, and cannot be installed on certain 2011-2022 models for technical reasons.

“But you have not identified which models those are, nor have you committed to assisting the owners of those vehicles with the free security protection,” the AGs said.

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.

Patch's national desk contributed to this report.