TikTok Challenge Leads to Car Theft for Kia and Hyundai Owners

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Need to Know from SafeWise
  • Hyundai and Kia’s vehicles are being targeted for a software vulnerability that makes it easier for people to hot-wire the car.
  • The vulnerability has been exploited through TikTok videos and challenges, encouraging people to steal cars.
  • Law enforcement and vehicle manufacturers have been working to help car owners with steering wheel locks and software updates.
  • Kia and Hyundai agreed last week to a settlement for car owners who had their vehicles stolen.

A TikTok challenge started by the “Kia Boys” highlighted a vulnerability allowing thieves to hot-wire Kia and Hyundai vehicles. Engadget reports that at least 14 crashes and eight deaths are linked to the thefts.

Kia and Hyundai are paying out a settlement of $200 million to compensate theft victims. Meanwhile, car owners and cities are suing the manufacturers, claiming that manufacturers did not add anti-theft software quickly enough to protect car owners and residents.

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One of the best ways to protect your car is with steering wheel locks. The locks ensure that only you can access the steering wheel and move the vehicle; however, it doesn’t prevent thieves from breaking into your car and inflicting damage on the vehicle. It’s also important to always lock your car and install a smart car alarm to prevent car theft.

While the Kia and Hyundai car thefts have been ongoing since the start of 2022, the manufacturers and law enforcement officials hope the software upgrades will be a final deterrent to thieves.

How to protect your vehicle

Car thefts have hit major cities and towns across the U.S. In Rochester, New York, the city police department distributed steering wheel locks to people with impacted cars.   

“The number [of car thefts] is starting to trend down, and I’m hopeful we can continue that trend down to zero, whether that’s through these locks, public awareness, or software updates [made by the companies] to bring these thefts to an end,” Lt. Bello told Rochester First.

Kia and Hyundai introduced an anti-theft software upgrade to help over a million vehicles (including Elantras, Sonatas, and Venues). Car owners must upgrade their car software as soon as possible.

However, as recently as this week, Kia and Hyundai car owners still faced thefts in Detroit and Austin, among other metro areas.

What to do if your car is broken into or stolen

If your car has been broken into or stolen, it’s crucial to assess and record the damage and notify the police. Law enforcement officials across the country are aware of and monitoring the Kia and Hyundai vulnerabilities and will be able to assist you. 

From there, file a claim with your insurance company and look into ways to protect your vehicle moving forward with a steering wheel lock or car alarm.

Over 9 million vehicles and two dozen makes and models are affected by the TikTok challenge. Last week, Kia and Hyundai released more information on the affected vehicles and settlement.

If your vehicle is impacted, look into updating your software immediately and look into securing your vehicle.

Alex Kerai
Written by
Alex began writing for student newspapers and has managed to turn that into a career. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he wrote about small businesses for Biz2Credit and Business.org. Before that, he spent time in communications for higher education institutions, created marketing materials for nonprofits, and worked for entertainment companies in Los Angeles. Today, he reports on emerging consumer trends and his work can be seen on The Penny Hoarder, SafeWise, Business.org, Reviews.org, Move.org, WhistleOut.com, CableTV.com, HighSpeedInternet.com, and SatelliteInternet.com. When he's not writing, Alex watches too much TV, plays guitar, reads and writes fiction, and goes on nature walks.

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