In response to the growing number of thefts involving specific Kia and Hyundai vehicles, prompted by a TikTok social media challenge, the two Korean automakers took action by implementing a software update to improve theft prevention. However, the first case of a vehicle being stolen post-update has already been reported.
The victim was Taylor Rose, a 19-year-old resident of New Orleans. He had owned his 2020 Kia Optima for only 18 months when it was stolen on April 15, less than 24 hours after he had it back from the dealer, where the software update had been installed.
Rose told WWLTV that he couldn’t believe what had happened, and that he dropped to his knees after leaving his house to go for a drive and not finding his Optima where he had left it. Kia told the outlet that this was the first reported case of a theft occurring after its update had been installed.
Read: California, New York And 15 Other States Call For Recall Of Hyundai And Kia Cars Over Rampant Thefts
Last year, thefts of certain Kias and Hyundais skyrocketed following the circulation of videos demonstrating how they could be easily stolen using basic tools and a USB cord. The software update implemented by the automakers aimed to address this vulnerability and make it more challenging to exploit.
After Rose’s car was recovered, photos revealed that the plastic cover over the steering column had been torn off, and a USB cord was connected to a port near the ignition. While the exact method used by the thieves to steal the car remains unclear, Taylor’s father, Sergeant Scott Rose of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, expressed dissatisfaction with Kia’s software update.
“After all the updates that they just did, it’s still stolen. This was incredible,” he said. “So, my question is my only one question for Kia Corporation. What are you doing? What are you doing to rectify this? Because we’re buying your vehicles to live out our day-to-day, and what are you doing to fix this?”
Kia told WWLTV that it will inspect the vehicle to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, Taylor Rose is left without a car after the thieves who took his Optima totaled it. Although his insurance company offered him a rental car, he can’t drive it because he’s under 25. He and his family say they’re now on the hunt for a vehicle with better security features.