Korean automakers Kia and Hyundai each urged a U.S. judge to reject lawsuits in 17 different cities. It’s the first legal pushback from the companies after a nationwide spike in Kia and Hyundai thefts. If granted, it could set a precedent that people who steal cars are liable rather than the car company that built it long before the crime.
Over a year ago a group on social media called the Kia Boys noticed a security vulnerability in some low-end Kia and Hyundai models. Many from between 2011 and 2021 that use a physical key don’t have an engine immobilizer. That means that little more than a screwdriver and a USB dongle is enough to start and drive the cars.
As a result, criminals across the nation have gone for the low-hanging fruit, and theft rates for both Kia and Hyundai have shot up. The problem is so bad that many major insurance agencies won’t even cover affected Kia and Hyundai products. In addition, Attorney Generals from 23 different states have asked the companies to do more.
More: Thieves Like Hyundais, But They Love Dodge Chargers And Challengers More
Today, Reuters is reporting that Kia and Hyundai have formally asked a U.S. judge to reject lawsuits from 17 cities citing two major concerns. First, it says that these thefts resulted “from an unprecedented criminal social-media phenomenon.” There’s no doubt that without the viral social media firestorm that resulted from the Kia Boys the spike wouldn’t have been so high.
In addition, they cite “lax policing and prosecution policies” and “budgetary decision-making that diverted public safety resources away from the prevention and disruption of auto theft and reckless joyriding” as reasons for the uptick in thefts. How true that is will be something Kia and Hyundai might have to prove in court.
Regardless of who’s actually to blame, Kia and Hyundai have both put forth numerous efforts to assist owners. They’ve offered updated software, physical theft deterrents like ‘The Club’, and even an aftermarket immobilizer kit. On top of that, Dodge Chargers and Challengers are stolen more often (and almost as easily), according to a recent study.
It’s also worth noting that selling a car without an immobilizer isn’t illegal in the USA. Then again, neither is selling one that can go in excess of double the highway speed limit. Let us know when someone manages to shift the blame to the automaker for their 200 mph in a 65 mph zone speeding ticket.
