How Kia and Hyundai’s new software program replace thwarts viral TikTok automobile thefts

Kia and Hyundai are rolling out a free software program replace for automobiles that could be targets of the “Kia problem” — a viral TikTok problem that has impressed automobile thefts nationwide. The software program replace will likely be free for thousands and thousands of Kia and Hyundai house owners, the US Nationwide Freeway Site visitors Security Administration (NHTSA) stated Tuesday.

The problem went viral in 2021, in response to CNBC, encouraging younger individuals to steal sure makes and fashions of 2010-2021 Kia and Hyundai automobiles. The focused automobiles lack an immobilizer — an digital safety system that stops somebody from beginning a automobile engine with out the best key. Movies on TikTok and different social media channels display how one can successfully hotwire one in all these automobiles with a USB wire. 

In Los Angeles, the viral problem led to an 85% year-over-year improve in Hyundai and Kia thefts in 2022, CNBC reported. Thefts of Kias and Hyundais skyrocketed in different components of the nation as properly, whereas the thieves posted movies of themselves stealing the automobiles. Tags like “Kia boys” raked in tens of thousands and thousands of views on TikTok, regardless that the social media firm stated it will take away any such content material that it discovered. 

The problem has resulted in a minimum of 14 reported crashes and eight fatalities, in response to the NHTSA.

With the software program replace, you will must put the proper key within the ignition to activate the automobile, the NHTSA stated. The replace will even prolong the size of the alarm sound from 30 seconds to 1 minute.

The NHTSA stated house owners of those automobiles ought to contact Hyundai (toll-free at 800-633-5151) or Kia (toll-free at 800-333-4542) for info on the replace.

Hyundai stated in a launch that the free software program improve will likely be out there to just about 4 million automobiles, beginning with greater than 1 million mannequin 12 months 2017-2020 Elantra, 2015-2019 Sonata and 2020-2021 Venue automobiles. The remaining eligible automobiles ought to be capable of get the improve by this June. 

Automobile house owners must take their automobile to a Hyundai dealership to get the improve. The set up ought to take lower than an hour. The Hyundai set up additionally comes with a window decal alerting would-be thieves that the automobile is provided with new anti-theft expertise.

At www.hyundaiantitheft.com, Hyundai prospects can enter their automobile’s Car Identification Quantity (VIN) to seek out out when it’s eligible for the software program improve.