Hyundai, Kia recall request overview:
- Who: Attorneys general from 18 states have asked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to recall certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles manufactured from between 2011 and 2022.
- Why: The request is in response to an apparent wave of vehicle thefts coming in the wake of a nationwide TikTok trend that showed how the Kia and Hyundai vehicles can be easily stolen using only a USB cable.
- Where: Nationwide.
Following a rash of thefts, the attorneys general from 18 states have asked federal auto safety regulators to recall certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles over concerns they are vulnerable to being stolen due to an alleged design flaw.
There has been a surge of car thefts — that have led to numerous crashes and at least eight deaths — involving certain Kia and Hyundai vehicles following a nationwide TikTok trend that showed how they can be stolen using just a USB cable, reports Law360.
The group of attorneys general, led by California Attorney General Rob Benta, sent a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last Thursday imploring the agency to step in and officially recall the affected Kia and Hyundai vehicles.
“Thefts of these Hyundai and Kia vehicles have led to at least eight deaths, numerous injuries and property damage, and they have diverted significant police and emergency services resources from other priorities,” the letter states.
The attorneys general are asking the NHTSA to “use its authority” to recall Hyundai and Kia vehicles manufactured from between 2011 and 2022 that have “easily-bypassed ignition switches” and are missing engine immobilizers.
A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia in October, arguing the company failed to equip their vehicles with engine immobilizers, leaving them vulnerable to theft.
Attorneys general argue recent voluntary software updates not enough to fix Hyundai, Kia vehicle theft issue
The attorneys general argued in their letter that recent voluntary software updates implemented by Hyundai and Kia as an attempt to fix the problem have not done enough to end the vehicle thefts.
“Unfortunately, however, (the software updates are) an insufficient response to the problem and does not adequately remedy the safety concerns facing vehicle owners and the public,” the letter states.
Hyundai, in a statement on Thursday, said the company is committed to ensuring the quality and integrity of its product while noting it has rolled out a free anti-theft software upgrade for its affected vehicles, Law360 reports.
Just last month, the city of Cleveland filed a lawsuit against Hyundai and Kia over claims the automakers put the safety of the public at risk by allegedly failing to prevent their vehicles from being able to be stolen without a key present.
Have you been affected by the wave of Kia and Hyundai vehicle thefts? Let us know in the comments.
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280 thoughts onState AGs ask regulators to recall Hyundai, Kia cars after thefts, deaths
Everyday I have to stress about my car being stolen and it taken. Kia needs to do something about this!!
EVERYONE THAT HAS A 2014 OR NEWER KIA OR HYUNDAI SHOULD HAVE THE CHOICE OF RECIEVING A $25,OOO FOR THE PURCHASE OF NEW VEHICLE OR KIA/HYUNDAI REPLACE ALL 2014 OR NEWER VEHICLE WITH A 2023 VERSION OF THE VEHICLE, SINCE THEY HAVE SINCE RESOLVED THE ISSUE ON NEWER MODLES. IT IS WRONG FOR THE CONSUMER TO HAVE TO RELY ON THE MANUFACTURER TO DETERMINE THE RESOVE FOR THIS OVERWHELMING VEHICLE DEFECT EPIDEMIC, THAT HAVE LEAD MANY TO THEIR DEATH AND OTHER TO OUT OF POCKET EXSPENSES BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR VEHICLE IN FOR UPGRADES KIA/HYUNDAI MAKE THE DECISON TO SAVE THEMSELVES MORE MONEY AND DISQUALIFY MOST OF THE DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. IT IS A NATIONAL CONSUMER WRONG. THEY ARE RESALING THESE VEHICLES ON THEIR CAR LOTS EVERYDAY AND HAVE NO INTENTION OF CHANGING THAT IF THEY ARE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEY HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR YEARS AND THE VEHICLE ARE STILL IMPORTED YEAR AFTER YEAR.
Kia was broken into cost 💲 with insurance they need to change how they make there vehicles or offer a check
Kia was broken into cost 💲 with insurance they need to change how they make there vehicles
My 2013 Kia optima was stolen
Please add me.
I just rented a Kia from Enterprise and it was broken into ! I was held liable, is there anything I can do?
I took my 2015 Sonata SE to the local dealership to get the software upgrade. They gave me back the car, giving me the impression that all was taken car of. A week later I learned (not from the dealership) that they had determined that my particular car could not receive the upgrade. I contacted Hyundai directly and was told that, if the dealership had determined that I could not get the upgrade, then I couldn’t. They offered to reimburse my for the cost of a club. That’s all they could do. Since then Hyundai has continued to contact me by mail and email, claiming I hadn’t yet taken the car in for the upgrade, and urging me to do so. I contacted Hyundai about this, but they will not stop sending me this stuff. It’s clear that nothing is going to be done about those cars that can’t get the software upgrade. I’ve yet to learn how my insurance will be affected in the long term. I bought and am now using a club, but I’m sure not going to let them off the hook by letting them reimburse me for it.